MAF disconnect - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

tommy583 · 08-06-2012, 04:07 PM

I have read on this site that it is ok to disconnect the MAF for a while to see if the car runs better. If it does you would most likely have a bad MAF. My question is how long is it safe to leave it disconnected? Five miles? Twenty miles? As always thanks for your input in advance.

Johnny Danger · 08-06-2012, 05:10 PM

You'll know after a short jaunt (say 20 miles), if the sensor is bad. If the sensor is in fact bad, the vehicle should run noticeably better while disconnected . Are you getting a CEL ?

tommy583 · 08-06-2012, 05:26 PM

No i don't have a CEL. I used an Actron scanner and found no pending codes. I have a hesitation at full throttle over 5,000 RPM's. I had another thread on the site about it. I have changed the plugs, fuel filter and air filter. It has not improved. I figured it was free to disconnect the MAF to see if it made any improvements. I just don't want to leave it disconnected for too long and have it cause any damage to anything else. Cats, O2 sensors or anything.

Johnny Danger · 08-06-2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommy583

No i don't have a CEL. I used an Actron scanner and found no pending codes. I have a hesitation at full throttle over 5,000 RPM's. I had another thread on the site about it. I have changed the plugs, fuel filter and air filter. It has not improved. I figured it was free to disconnect the MAF to see if it made any improvements. I just don't want to leave it disconnected for too long and have it cause any damage to anything else. Cats, O2 sensors or anything.

Most will agree, that disconnecting the maf for a brief ride is a safe and effective way to rule out the sensor as being the culprit. Provided, however, that it is in fact the sensor that's causing the problem .

tommy583 · 08-06-2012, 06:13 PM

Well I'm at work. I disconnected it. I now have a 14 mile ride home. I guess i'll see if it helps or not. I'll post back when i hopefully arrive safely at home around 12am EST.

tommy583 · 08-06-2012, 07:15 PM

Well I left work a little early. My findings were: On the positive side dead solid idle. It fluctuated a little before. Pulls strong to 6,500 RPM full throttle.

On the negative side, I got a CEL with in the first mile after i started it.

So at this point i will hook it back up, read the code and then clear the code. I already had the MAF out of the car a few weeks ago. It looked brand new, but i cleaned it with CRC MAF cleaner anyway.

So what do you guys and gals think?

thstone · 08-07-2012, 11:57 AM

If the car runs better without the MAF, clean it. If cleaning doesn't address the problem, then you'll have to replace the MAF.

tommy583 · 08-07-2012, 06:27 PM

Well i don't have any codes besides the ones i had and cleared from unplugging the MAF. I did look at all of the tubing, everything seemed connected and sealed.

tommy583 · 08-22-2012, 02:28 PM

Update. The new MAF came in the mail today. All i can say is WOW!! It's like having a new car. It seems like it has 50 extra HP. Thanks everyone for your help.