Spiffyjiff

i'm in a bind - i am throwing codes P1511 and P1517, and in between those, ALL of my cylinder misfires plus P0300. my code description cheat sheet is at work and i am at home...any idea what these are?

very rough idle (if it holds idle at all) and hesitant in the low RPM's. thanks for any help you can give me tonight...

USMC_DS1

Are those codes coming from a Durametric Tool? Did this just happen? Anything change with the car recently?

zirrah

Could be an O2 sensor. Many things though in reality. Let us know.

Spiffyjiff

yep, durametric. yes, it just happened for the first time at startup this afternoon. immediately conked out then wouldnt keep idle/VERY rough idle. no changes in the last month and before that it was just fluid changes and an oil pressure sending unit but i highly doubt that has anything to do with it. car has 50k miles and about 5k of those are track and this is the first real issue engine-related. :\

i have a list of code descriptions/testing/possible solutions, etc but it's at work. i'll be there tomorrow but just thought i could set my mind at ease tonight that it was something "easy". the first code on the list is P1511 "Throttle adjusting unit adapt. canceled due to environ. condit." then the next is P1095 "Air mass (HFM) ahead of throttle valve - implausible". then all the cylinder misfires, etc. somewhere down the line i also threw a P1517 which has the same title as P1511.

given all that, maybe emission/MAF/O2 sensor? coil/spark related? i.e. something outside the engine is causing misfires, it doesnt appear to be internal engine issue...

Spiffyjiff

yep, my $ is on that..but then again, i used to lose a LOT at the casino so who the hell am i to bet on it.

neanicu

It's your MAF(Mass Air Flow Sensor).
Disconnect it and see if she runs better. If yes,take the MAF out and clean it with MAF cleaner. If she runs good afterwards problem solved,if it's not you might need a new MAF.
What kind of air filter are you running? Is it clean?

Spiffyjiff

i was thinking about doing that actually, but i dont have a security torx bit - any way around that? i have a feeling if i just unplug it i will get more/other errors. stock filter and was changed last summer.

neanicu

You're going to have to get that torx.
It doesn't matter you'll possibly get more errors,you're looking at an improvement at idle.

neanicu

Believe it or not,all those codes thrown are related to a single problem : MAF.

USMC_DS1

You can also try some MAF cleaner spray to see if that will do it. GL and let us know the outcome.

Spiffyjiff

oh man, you guys are genius (altho truth be told, it's probably a little more of me just being an IDIOT but...)

worked like a charm. unplugged it and she purred like a kitten. the only slight issue i have is that when i plugged it back in and tried again it ran fine also - no more problem! i'm thinking this may be a fluke/maybe it finally "cleared" whatever gunk was on there?? who knows but in any event i will get those torx and will clean it this weekend. i am thinking i will buy a new spare just to have on hand as well.

so one question - if this damn MAF is the source of so many ills (incl. a post on here somewhere by me where a 996 turbo was going into ABS/PSM mode while accelerating down a main track straight, all due to bad MAF!) why cant we just run without it permanently??

thanks again guys!

KeninBlaine

OK, I have to ask: what is a security torx bit?

USMC_DS1

Might be the contacts within the connector and/or the MAF line itself. Try some contact cleaner as well. I have not had to replace my MAF but I service/clean it with MAF cleaner spray each year JIC. BTW, here's an interesting thread on troubleshooting the MAF with the Durametric... http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...urametric.html

USMC_DS1

Torx bit with a hollowed out center. http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piec...set-68460.html

neanicu

Because an engine is nothing more than a huge lung. It sucks air and after combustion it releases gases. All of the air sucked in has to be controlled by the computer,for the DME to know how much gas to spray. The MAF does this exact thing : it tells the DME how much air it's being sucked in. If you didn't have a MAF you'd be running either too lean or too rich,which would be leading to bad gas mileage,high emissions,cats running too hot or destroying O2 sensors.