The mass air flow sensor is a small, electronic device that monitors the amount of air entering your engine. It sends a signal to the computer which tells it how much fuel to inject.
The computer works on the basic principle that oxygen is needed for the engine to run. The more oxygen that comes into it, the more fuel that will need to be burned within your cylinders. After your car’s powertrain control module sees how much air is coming in, it can calculate how much gas should be sent to each of your cylinders. Once you give it some pedal, this ends up producing greater speed and performance than before.
This calculation takes place hundreds of times per second or at least 20 times every complete crank of the engine. What does this mean for you? It means that even if you’re driving around town looking for that perfect parking spot, the car is still receiving some of the benefits of the computer working well.
The air mass sensor works in concert with a number of other components in your vehicle to produce optimal performance. For instance, the oxygen sensors that also monitor how much-unburned oxygen comes into contact with your catalytic converters have an integral role in making sure that you get the best gas mileage possible.
If you suspect there is a problem with your air mass sensor, bring it to a mechanic as soon as possible so they can diagnose and fix it for you. You don’t want this going on too long because if it malfunctions completely, your car’s speed will be drastically reduced which could lead to accidents or slow downs while driving.
Before going through the trouble of having your air mass sensor replaced, a mechanic might advise you to clean it with a spray or an electronic cleaner. This generally works but if that doesn’t fix the problem then it may be time to replace your mass airflow sensor entirely.
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