I bought a used 99 Dodge Intrepid a couple months ago. Soon after, it stalled in the hwy at 65 mph with no warning. The tach simply dropped to zero. Other than the cruise control light coming on, nothing was different. I pulled off with my flashers and it started right back up. The next night, it happened again- took a few minutes to start back up. It has since progressively become harder and harder to start. The other night, it wouldn't start for a few hours. So, the online "research" I've done overwhelmingly points to the camshaft and/or crankshaft position sensors as well
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Stalling Engine
Because the MAF measures the air that flows into the engine, it can actually cause the ECM to make changes to the air and fuel mixture that will cause your engine to stall if it`s sending incorrect air readings. Your engine might be fuel-starved or flooded.
A faulty mass airflow sensor is a common reason why a check engine light comes on. If the engine control module receives a MAF error code, it will turn on the check engine light to let you know that there is a problem with the engine.
Stalling, jerking, or hesitation during acceleration
A bad MAF sensor can cause too much fuel to be left in the combustion chamber, creating untimed detonations. You`ll experience this as poor drivability such as hesitations or sudden jerking motions, particularly during acceleration.
Some of the most common sensors that lead to engine stalling include the mass airflow sensor (MAF), engine coolant temperature sensor (ECT) and manifold absolute pressure sesnsor (MAP). The idle air control valve (IAC) and exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGR) are also well known for causing engine stalling.
Will a bad O2 sensor cause rough idle and loss of engine power? You bet. Moreover, you may also notice poor acceleration, engine misfires, and even stalling. Bad oxygen sensors disrupt all kinds of essential engine functions, including engine timing, combustion intervals, and air-fuel ratio.
The MAF sensor malfunctioning can also cause your car to throw a check engine light (CEL). Furthermore, it can cause different check engine codes such as the O2 sensor, “low air volume”, or something else.
The air filter may be the MAF sensor`s first line of defense via the engine`s air intake system, but a clogged, low quality or dirty air filter can actually become the source of MAF sensor damage if any contamination bypasses it.
The Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) measures the amount of air the car needs to accelerate. Once it gets that measurement it sends this information to the ECU which notifies the throttle to open accordingly. If the MAF is faulty and not measuring the airflow properly then you could experience a serious loss in power.
Reset the MAF sensor by idling your engine without the sensor installed for at least 10 seconds. You can also reset the MAF sensor by removing the negative battery terminal and waiting 10 minutes. You may be able to drive without the MAF sensor, but it`s bad for your engine to drive without the sensor for too long.
The lifespan of a MAF sensor can vary, but in general, it is expected to last for the life of the vehicle.
MAF sensors can become damaged, but more often they just get too dirty to do their job well. In this case, they can be cleaned but if it is a mechanical or electrical failure, they must be replaced.
Another symptom commonly associated with a problematic crankshaft position sensor is intermittent stalling. If the crankshaft position sensor or its wiring have any issues, it can cause the crankshaft signal to be cut off while the engine is running, which can cause the engine to stall.
A failing camshaft position sensor begins losing its ability to quickly transfer data. Mismatched fuel delivery and ignition timing, even if off by a few milliseconds, will cause your vehicle to sputter, accelerate poorly, lack power, stall or even shut off.
If you`re ever riding on the highway and smell something harsh from your car, that could be a quick sign that your O2 sensor is failing. If you ever begin to pick up on some changes like bad powertrain performance, engine misfires, or loud noises, that could be a symptom of your O2 sensor probably having issues.
A functional oxygen sensor will be an important cog for a consistent running car. Still, a poor oxygen sensor will most likely cause poor fuel economy, a bad odor from your car, and tamper with your engine`s performance capability.
Mounted in the air intake duct or air filter housing, a MAF sensor detects the air density as it heads into the engine intake to be mixed with fuel, noted autoguru.com.au. On the other hand, the oxygen sensor monitors how much unburned oxygen is present in the exhaust as exhaust exits the engine.
– the air/fuel ratio sensor provides a higher level of sensitivity than the traditional oxygen sensor. This allows the EMS to respond to the needs of the engine with higher accuracy, which enables the fuel to burn more efficiently, therefore producing lower emissions and increasing the vehicle`s fuel economy.
It can create an erratic or incorrect signal on initial take-off, which can cause an elongated shift. It can deliver an incorrect signal at higher engine speed, which can create shudder that could be mistaken for torque-converter-clutch (TCC) problems.
A faulty mass airflow sensor will cause problems similar to low compression or low vacuum, and will also show symptoms similar to when your vehicle has low fuel pressure from a faulty fuel pump.
Not all makes and models of cars will need the ECU reset after replacing the MAF sensor, but the majority will. Do you have to reset a mass air flow sensor? Yes, disconnecting the battery for around 10 to 15 minutes is an important step to take after replacing the MAF sensor to ensure that the sensor resets.
Yes, the MAF sensor should be calibrated for the injector size. And yes, at some point you`ll likely have to increase injector size if you keep adding horsepower. At that point, you`ll also want to match the MAF sensor up to the increased fuel injector size.
Oxygen (O2) sensor An oxygen sensor monitors and analyzes the amount of oxygen in a vehicle`s exhaust system after combustion. A dirty, damaged or malfunctioning O2 sensor (or sensors) affects the air/fuel mixture, causing the engine to idle rough.
A faulty MAF sensor can cause your vehicle to run too rich or run too lean. You`ll notice if the tailpipes eject black smoke or when the engine runs rough or backfires. You may also notice you`re filling up at the gas station more than usual.
MAF Diagnostics with a Multimeter
Basically, all MAF sensors have four wires. If the MAF has more than four wires, the extras are for the intake air temperature sensor that has been incorporated into the MAF housing. guesswork with a basic multimeter. The real key to testing with a multimeter is the signal return lead.
