$5 and 5 minutes to a better running car :)

[Big Sky WRX]

I know it's been covered some time before, but a nice little reminder for those that haven't seen it- clean your MAF sensor- it's easy and cheap

The MAF is simply unplugged and then two phillips head screws (use a rather fine phillip head so you don't round the screws) and it's it out.

I use CRC MAF cleaner- $5 a can and specifically made to clean MAF's



Before and after pics of the MAF- first one it's black and kind of sooty looking, the second you can see the wires cleaned and the almost amber color of the "bulb". Simply give it several sprays from several different angles- let it dry good and put it back in.

This is a good time to throw a new filter in as well

[ezzzey]

Pardon my newbizm, what does this do exactly?
never mind, i read the info on the bottle

[kiger0183]

thanks for the reminder. I should get mine done
what part of Montana are you from.
My mom lives in Baker, MT in the boonies!

[Big Sky WRX]

The MAF is what measures the air coming into the sytem for the ECU. A dirty MAF can cause rough idle, stumbling, rich conditions- nothing good.

I'm just west of Baker, the metroplis of Miles City

[Redline927]

nice, i will buy some next time im at the autoparts store.

[Sasquatch]

Did you notice a difference? Was this the first time you did this? And finally, how many miles do you have on the WRX (or previous cleaning)?

[RayfieldsWRX]

I should probably do this on my 60K wagon.

[overwrxed24]

I just bought this today, I'll try it sometime next week. Thanks for the tip Big Sky!

[uncle lewie wrx]

I did this a few times on my 04 wrx. Dirty MAF air sensor, car no likey. No one will see gains, unless the thing is caked with dirt, but it will help.

[Big Sky WRX]

I do this w/ every air filter change ~ 15,000 miles. It does run better after cleaning- if it's not dirty it probably won't

If you happen to run a oiled filter- K&N, ITG etc- you absolutely need to be cleaning the MAF regularly- less so w/ a paper filter.

[uncle lewie wrx]

I do this w/ every air filter change ~ 15,000 miles. It does run better after cleaning- if it's not dirty it probably won't

If you happen to run a oiled filter- K&N, ITG etc- you absolutely need to be cleaning the MAF regularly- less so w/ a paper filter.

Yeh the oiled filters can harm the MAF sensor. Not worth it imo.

[SonicYellowWRX]

yeah, i used to clean my maf sensor constantly cuz i ran a K&N... i've since switched to a blitz sus filter, so i'll be good for a while. i've cleaned it with brake cleaner and with alcohol in a baggy... people say "brake cleaner is bad" so i tried the alcohol baggy, which left it wet far too long. im sure that stuff is similar to brake cleaner in that its quick drying.

[Wrinkleboi]

and just so those reading this arent misled, that bulb in the photos is not the MAF sensor, it is the intake air temp sensor. the MAF sensor is inside the plastic tube and is very fragile... you should not spray it directly with the cleaner, which is why most prefer to shake it up in a plastic bag and try to clean it that way. i know some use a q-tip and gently wipe down the wires but i hear that is risky as well.
but thanks for letting me know a specific maf cleaner exists, for $5 i'd rather use that then brake cleaner.
bryan

[testes1010]

and just so those reading this arent misled, that bulb in the photos is not the MAF sensor, it is the intake air temp sensor.

true...

[Jje121]

I should proabablydo this I have 64K