My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

My mass air flow is not functioning for what reason I don't know. The code picked up MAF and my car won't start but it seems like it wants to start but something is stopping it from starting.
My car's transmission is unknown to me.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
As you may know, the mass air flow sensor is a unit in the intake system that monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. When this fails, this can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which oftentimes results in the engine starving for air or fuel.

This is what causes the non-starting problem you describe. This can also cause the engine to struggle to idle for the same reason. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and replace this sensor.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Contamination is a key reason why MAF sensors fail and require replacement. As air, dirt and other debris get into the sensor, the parts become contaminated and fail. Drivers often notice sluggish performance, rough idling, poor acceleration or even stalling. There may also be a more frequent need to refuel.
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.
A bad MAF sensor can cause your vehicle to experience poor drivability issues such as engine stalling, jerking or hesitation during acceleration. This could happen while speeding up on the highway on-ramp or cruising down a city street.
Does a mass airflow sensor need to be programmed? Well, it`s strongly recommended that you disconnect the battery for around 10 to 15 minutes so that the engine or the vehicle computer gets sufficient time to forget the parameters it had previously learned and to adjust to the new setting.
Without a proper signal from the mass air flow sensor, the powertrain control module (PCM), which manages the engine, transmission, and other systems in your car, won`t know how much fuel the engine needs. This can either cause the engine to run too lean (too little fuel) or too rich (too much fuel).
Why does my car not accelerate when I push the gas? A car not accelerating properly can be caused by a number of things. It could be due to the throttle body, gas tank, spark plugs, or the ECU. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter.
Another common occurrence after the replacement of a faulty MAF sensor is the vehicle not idling correctly or a flat spot on acceleration, leading to the sensor being incorrectly blamed again. It is not uncommon for an engine to run a little rough and not idle properly initially after replacement.
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.
Mass air flow sensors are designed to last the lifetime of your vehicle. In fact, they have no scheduled replacement interval.
Check the MAF sensor and clean it out with dry air. Then put it on and disconnect the battery for 12 minutes and hook it up. This will clear the computer to want to relearn itself. Then drive the vehicle and see what happens.
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.
To identify the source of any MAF sensor faults, consider the following steps: Conduct an electronic test of the MAF sensor and read any fault codes using a diagnostic tool. Check the connector for a correct fit and good contact. Check the MAF sensor and measuring elements for damage.
What`s the difference between a MAP and a MAF sensor? A MAF sensor measures how much air is aspired by the engine. A MAP sensor, on the other hand, provides a measurement of the air pressure in the intake manifold. The ECU uses this information to calculate the amount of air that needs to be aspired.
Why do MAP sensors fail? Like most electric sensors, MAP sensors are sensitive to contamination. If the map sensor uses a hose, the hose can become clogged or leak and unable to read pressure changes. In some cases, extreme vibrations from driving can loosen its connections and cause external damage.
“Limp Mode” – If your car won`t accelerate over 25 or 40 mph, it could have engaged `limp mode. ` It is also known as a limp home mode, and it acts as a preservation feature. It is meant to get you home, to an auto mechanic, or safely off the road without destroying your engine.
Worn Transmission Fluid (Automatic Transmission)

Over time, the transmission fluid gathers dirt and grime. This can cause the engine to run roughly, stall or fail to accelerate when you press down on the gas pedal. You may need to have a transmission fluid change before more damage is done.

Disconnect The Battery

When you get the mass air flow sensor installation done, the process has not finished yet. Instead, it needs several additional steps for a complete replacement. After changing a mass air flow sensor, you should disconnect it from the car battery for around 15 minutes.

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.
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.
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.
A good MAF senor should show a steady linear rise from 1000 to 2250. A sensor out of calibration may rise too quickly in reaction to the rpm. This could cause an acceleration problem. A sensor with a dirty sensing wire or not measuring all the air (air leak downstream) may rise too slowly.
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.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My code reader says I have a bad mass air flow sensor ans crank shat sensor test drive ran better shut off & engine Lt. Same code
ANSWER : Hi there. The problem you are describing, sounds like you may have a poor connection in the connector at the mass airflow sensor. Although, sometimes aftermarket parts do not perform as well as factory (OEM) parts. Check for corrosion and/or wide spacing in the terminal ends. Compare the terminal ends in the connector using a flashlight to see better. The terminals can be tightened. If you are not comfortable with doing that, a replacement pigtail (connector) is available. You vehicle may require further diagnosis performed with a scanner that provides parameters that can be viewed as the fault occurs. If that is the case, I recommend having your vehicle’s electrical circuits inspected in order to pinpoint the underlying fault.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

P0300 codes while idling
ANSWER : Hello. If unplugging the MAF sensor causes the engine to run better then there is a secondary air leak into the engine. This means that there is a vacuum leak from someplace. Most of the time on this engine it is from the intake manifold. It may also be a rich condition that can be from the fuel injection unit.

I usually check this by installing a scan tool to see what the fuel trim readings are. This will tell me if it is getting too much air or fuel and where to start. I have seen more intake manifold gasket failures on this engine than anything else. If you are going to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you home or office to diagnose your Check Engine Light and repair it accordingly.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

Mass air flow sensor
ANSWER : Hello. The first thing that I would suggest is that you return the mass airflow sensor and get a new one. The mass airflow sensor you installed could be defective causing the same issue you were having previously. Make sure you inspect the intake tube where the mass airflow sensor is attached. Also check the vacuum hoses for leaks or breaks. These two things could also cause the code that you received from the powertrain control module (PCM). The worst case scenario is that the powertrain control module (PCM) is malfunctioning. This is a rare problem, but it is possible, and an extensive diagnosis of the trouble code by a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, would be necessary to make that determination.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

My mass air flow is not giving out any codes
ANSWER : As you may know, the mass air flow sensor is a unit in the intake system that monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. When this fails, this can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which oftentimes results in the engine starving for air or fuel.

This is what causes the non-starting problem you describe. This can also cause the engine to struggle to idle for the same reason. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and replace this sensor.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

OD2 scanner read trouble code P0101
ANSWER : Your computer may not be able to correctly interpret the data from the mass airflow sensor on your engine causing the P0101 code to keep returning.

The manufacturer has a Technical Service Bulletin that came out January 30th of 2015. The bulletin number is NTB12-051J and it is for the engine code P0101 returning over and over again. The computer program will need to be reprogrammed using the CONSULT scanner with the latest calibration files from the manufacturer.

You can consult a mechanic like one from YourMechanic to make sure this is the problem by scanning the Check Engine Light for other codes first. You may have to get the Nissan dealer to reprogram the computer and perform all steps in the service bulletin after reprogramming it to relearn the throttle and idle controls.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

Intake air flow leaking. What makes this happen?
ANSWER : Hi there. When having the code P0171, the fuel system is too lean. This could be the fuel pump is not working, the fuel filter is dirty or plugged, or the injectors are plugged or not working properly. Check the fuel system and make sure that the fuel system is having a pressure of 35 psi or higher. Also, check the spark plugs and look for any burn marks. This would indicate that the spark is hotter than normal and the fuel system needs cleaned or repaired.

For the intake air flow leak, check the intake for any vacuum leaks on both sides of the throttle. Check all of the hoses from the air cleaner box to the throttle and check the manifold and all vacuum line including the brake booster line for any leaks. Put a vacuum hose on the engine and see what the engine vacuum is at idle. The vacuum should be 17 hg to 22 hg on the gauge. If there is a vacuum less that that, then there is a leak. If you need further assistance with your fuel system and a vacuum leak, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

The car keeps cutting off, i brought idle air contol, mass air flow, and map sensor. What could be wrong
ANSWER : There are many faults that can cause a vehicle to stall. A faulty engine speed sensor or weak fuel pump just to start. If the Check Engine Light is on, the vehicle can be scanned for fault codes. The fault codes will not tell the mechanic what to fix, but will be a good place to start when looking for problem components. I recommend getting a second opinion on the issue. The stalling problem should be thoroughly diagnosed by an experienced mechanic who can check several parameters in order to track down the bug before moving forward with repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

Rough idle after replacing Mass Air Flow Sensor – trouble codes P0171 and P0102
ANSWER : The P0171 refers to a possible lack of fuel pressure, a leak in the intake air system, or a possible vacuum leak. The P0102 also leans towards a leak in the intake air system. It is possible that there is a problem with a BARO (barometric pressure) sensor that is reading faulty. Its purpose is to measure atmospheric pressure, the amount of air entering the engine, and supply the ECM with a calculated reading that allows the engine to make corrections accordingly.

If the BARO sensors readings are off, the supplied amount of fuel will be incorrect, and can therefore cause running issues. I would first check all of the intake plumbing to be sure it is all seated and tight, and then test the BARO sensor for correct function.

I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why your car is idling rough and if the barometric sensor needs replacing.

Read Full Q/A … : My mass air flow is not giving out any codes

Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.