Tips To Maintain The MAF Sensor Of Your Porsche
by schearerswpadmin June 29, 2018Although the mass airflow (MAF) sensor is intended to last for the entire life of the car, your Porsche may encounter a damaged MAF sensor over time. This sensor is a small component of your Porsche, but it plays a critical role. Not all mass airflow sensor parts are the same, so it’s important to get the help of a professional Porsche specialist to ensure any repairs or maintenance tasks are performed properly. In this article, we’ll go over the importance of the MAF sensor, how to detect a failing MAF sensor, and what you can do to adequately maintain the sensor.
What Function Does The MAF Sensor Serve In Your Porsche?
The MAF sensor in a Porsche lends significantly to its overall function and performance. This important little part is responsible for the huge task of determining the right fuel-to-air ratio that the engine needs in order to combust and ignite efficiently and reliably. Your Porsche’s MAF sensor reports data to the car’s ECU about the air that flows through the engine, and then the ECU determines how much fuel is appropriate for the specific needs of the engine. When the MAF sensor begins to fail, malfunction, or becomes damaged, it causes evident problems with your car’s functionality. If the problem persists, it could lead to further engine problems and damages that can add up over time.
Symptoms Of A Struggling MAF Sensor
Your Porsche’s performance surprisingly relies heavily on the proper function of the MAF sensor. It’s important to keep an eye on how your Porsche performs on a day-to-day basis, and to document any changes in its functioning. As we previously mentioned, the longer the problem persists the more damages your car can encounter. It’s best to bring your Porsche to a specialist as soon as possible if you notice any of the following symptoms in your own car:
Idling Roughly
A rough idle can indicate any number of things are going wrong with your Porsche; however, a rough idle in combination with any of these other symptoms points heavily toward MAF sensor failure. Notice how your car idles at red lights or while you’re parked.
Stalling
When the MAF sensor begins failing, it cannot communicate the engine’s combustion needs (i.e. dispersed fuel amount) appropriately. This often leads to engine stalling, usually right after ignition. If this occurs, your check-engine light may come on, which can be helpful for diagnostic processes.
Issues Starting the Car
If you’ve experienced difficulty starting your Porsche, it’s probably best to have it towed to the nearest, trustworthy Porsche repair shop in town. Starting issues aren’t inherent to MAF sensor failure, but if the engine cannot get the fuel it needs, you may go through a painful, tedious process of starting and stalling.
Decrease in Power
Porsche’s are known for the get-up-and-go spirit—they don’t waste any time upon acceleration. If your MAF sensor isn’t working right, you’ll notice a significant impediment upon acceleration. This is a concerning sign of MAF sensor failure, but it can also be related to other engine or transmission issues.
Lowered Fuel Efficiency
Porsche’s aren’t particularly well liked for their fuel economy; however, MAF sensor damage or issues can cause lowered fuel efficiency, which is a red flag for automotive specialists. It’s important to report lowered fuel efficiency along with any of the other mentioned symptoms so that your Porsche specialist can rule-out other causes of fuel issues.
How To Prevent MAF Sensor Failure In Your Porsche
Although the MAF sensor is intended to last for the life of your car, regular maintenance can reduce the amount of strain put on the sensor over time. Here are a few things you can do to prevent MAF sensor failure:
Remove and clean the sensor
Inspect and maintain the PCV valve
By keeping up with these basic tasks, your Porsche can avoid the frustrating symptoms associated with MAF sensor issues.
Porsche 980 Carrera GT
How Schearer’s Can Help You
The Porsche specialists here at Schearer’s Sales and Service Inc. have avoided MAF sensor for clients from the areas of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Macungie, PA, through routine, preventive care; however, we are confident in our ability to properly diagnose, assess, and treat MAF sensor failure. If you’ve experienced any of the aforementioned signs of MAF sensor problems, please contact us right away to restore your Porsche to its former performance standards.
* Red Porsche 718 Cayman S image credit goes to: bensib.
* Porsche 980 Carrera GT image credit goes to: DarthArt.