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Maf element just broke

Discuss the problems with your X5 (E53).
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nickid
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Maf element just broke

Post by nickid » Sat Apr 29, 2017 11:02 pm

Sprayed my airflow meter with air to clean, and the element blew off.
Can I bridge any wires so she runs ok, until I have money to get a new one?
Please say yes.

X5-D-Sport
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Re: Maf element just broke

Post by X5-D-Sport » Sun Apr 30, 2017 12:11 am

NO, you cannot do that.... do NOT connect anything into the MAF unit. A straight piece of wire will MOST LIKELY blow a Mosfet in the computer... and that will be expensive to replace.

The element is a resistor wire that heats up.
The resistance changes with the cooling effect by the amount of air wizzing past it & this resistance change is measured by the computer & the mixtures/fuelling are set against this..... or some thing along those lines...

If the vehicle will run without doing any more damage to it, then it will likely go into a safe mode, & over fuel the engine to ensure it does not run LEAN & cook the valves... and it will Guzzle fuel.

Used MAF sensors are not expensive on ebay. they are best cleaned with a light spray with brake cleaner ... or better still with some special MAF cleaner spray.
The special MAF cleaner spray is on Flea-bay for about £8 a can, & the spray pressure & nozzle diameter ensures that you wont destroy the sensor... two brief squirts are all it takes to clean them.

Personally, I would simply unplug the MAF unit, & if she runs then ok for now.

Just checked - lots of likely MAF units on ebay right now.

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nickid
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Re: Maf element just broke

Post by nickid » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:20 am

What about those cheap new units? Are they any good

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Re: Maf element just broke

Post by X5-D-Sport » Sun Apr 30, 2017 1:37 pm

Here is a NEW example that will fit my E53 3.0 D-Sport 2004-2006

eBay item number:291605328211

£38 & arrive Thursday - simples, fit it, plug it in, job done.

The MAF device its self is very simple, and I'd have very confidence in the item listed above.

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