Can I use MAF sensor cleaner to clean the sensor on these cars? I haven't been able to come up with a solid answer.

I posted this question in the lancer forum, but I think i would get a answer faster here

09 lancer gts

thx guys!

 

MAF sensors (Lancer, RA, or even Evo) are sensitive, however, they can be cleaned like any other. There are plenty of youtube videos on it.

The quick and dirty though is you remove the sensor while it's in its housing. You then spray the cleaner at it, and give it a few to dry. The fluid has a low flashpoint so it doesn't take long to dry. Reinstall the housing into your intake setup and once it's nicely dry start your car back up. Verify you have no codes. Should be all set after that.

 

Thanks!

Do you recommend the MAF cleaner, or electronics contact cleaner?

And I see some people disconnect the battery before disconnecting the MAF plug, what do ya think?

 

it's never a bad idea to disconnect the battery, but if the car is turned off, you shouldn't have a problem by unplugging the MAF.

Honestly, I've only used actual MAF cleaner, but I wouldn't be surprised if some compressed air would work just as well.

In most cases the MAFs don't get that dirty, unless you were running without a filter, or you over-oiled a filter. When I cleaned my MAF in my STi, in the end it was just the first symptoms of my MAF failing.

 

When I over-oiled my K&N, I soon started throwing codes. I cleaned the MAF with CRC MAF cleaner, cleared the codes, and it was all fixed in 10 minutes.

If you're using a dry filter or have no reason to believe that your MAF is dirty, I wouldn't touch it. But if you did something stupid (for an example, see the first sentence of this post), then don't be afraid to clean it.

 

Or if you run a ****ty generic filter that actually doesn't filter like the one sold by Vibrant.

 

Yeah I should of added some background. When I did try to clean my MAF it was because I was throwing codes and it was 2 days after having my car detailed, and the detailer did an under-the-hood package, so I thought it was the oil stuff they used to clean with.

But, like I mentioned, turned out my MAF really failed (likely from the cleaning still, since my boost gauge sensor failed the same day too)

 

Clean my MAF with a MAF cleaner and just let it dry out and put it back on. No problems what so ever.