The_Phantom

Does anyone using this forum clean their Mass Airflow Sensor? If so, which part of the MAF needs to be cleaned? The wires? There are wires on the outside of the MAF and there appear to be wires inside as well (which I circled in yellow) as you can see from the picture below. Do they both need to be cleaned? Also there appears to be a window or film on my MAF that was somewhat dirty (under where the inner of the two arrows is in the last picture), does that need to be cleaned? What do you guys use to clean the MAF? The posters in thread in the 996 Turbo forum used either intake cleaner, carb cleaner or electronics cleaner but no one there was specific as to which part of the MAF to clean.

By the way, if anyone wants to clean their MAF and has never done so before, I'd recommend an offset ratcheting screwdriver so that you don't have to remove the air filter housing, in the event that you would like to clean the MAF but do not need to replace the air filter. Also I bought a set of the torx security bits on ebay for $3.00 which work great with the offset ratcheting screwdriver.

Incidently, my MAF wasn't that dirty. The pictures were all taken before I cleaned it. I have about 19k miles on the car and I use a K&N filter, do they usually get dirtier by then?

The_Phantom

By the way, this is the link to the thread from the 996 Turbo Forum:

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-turbo-forum/239069-cleaned-my-maf.html#post2918152

nycebo

Great photos. As per a question I had in a post earlier, I am going to clean the sensor this weekend. To answer your question, couldn't hurt to clean both wires, right?

By the way, it looks like you just unscrewed the whole MAF sensor housing rather than muck around with trying to unclip it. Is that correct? I recall that Dell uses that technique as well.

The_Phantom

I unscrewed the MAF sensor from the housing and it was then easier to unclip. But then I did unclip it and take it inside to take pictures. However, I might not have unclipped it if I didn't need to take pictures, maybe I could have put a towel on the air filter housing (to catch the excess cleaning fluid) and then sprayed it with whichever cleaner and screwed it right back in.

PorschePhD

This is the area you want to clean. Use CRC electronic cleaner and spray in the hole. The sensor is inside there and when you spray it will spray across the sensor and clean it. DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR!

1999Porsche911

Yes, clean all areas of the MAF, plastic (below O ring) and metal. The MAF has various exposed resisters that can get gummed up. I make cleaning the MAF as part of every oil change. It cannot be cleaned too often. When you spray it, saturate it in order to wash any contaminants out.. This cleaning is not only necessary if you have an aftermarket filter, but often is required with the stock filter setup. The moisture in the air contains alot of contaminants, and some minerals will attached themselves to the MAF over time.

Riad

OK, I've owned 996's since my 2001. I've never cleaned the MAF, is this something the dealer does automatically when you get the oil changed?

What happens when you don't clean it?

What happens if you fill the entire area with Play-Doh?

1999Porsche911

Riad:

Chances are that if you never clean the MAF, you will have no negattive symptoms. And, no, the dealer will not clean at an oil change. As far as Play-doh....you got me there.

smackboy1

Where can you buy this CRC Electronic Cleaner?

Eli K

Good stuff...

PorschePhD

Autzone or most large Auto Part stores.

The_Phantom

My car has a slight fluctuation to the idle 700-900 RPM. I don't remember if it was always that way. What about your cars? Do they have a steady idle?

nycebo

We just talked about this a couple days ago on a different thread. Here's the link:

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/262690-rpm-needle-jumping-around.html

ToolPants offered a link lower down to the exact same concern that I raised and that you have. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Pugnacious P

Dumb Question, but what kind of tools are they (Fishman's 1st pic)? Is it some kind or ratchet screwdriver?

Sorry, but long term Boxster owner and short time 996 owner, not used to needing tools or seeing engine.

Riad

It's just an angled ratched set with multiple bits... pick one up at Sears, then start taking **** apart.