Maf Causing Flat Spots

[DaveM]

This has been going on for a long time, so i'll try and summarise.

I'm not sure if any of this is related, but it all appears to come from the same area of the engine compartment.

Here goes :

 

My 2.8V6 1998 'S' plate Galaxy was serviced by an indepant (but Ford trained garage, I know this as i've known the garage owner since his Ford apprentiship days)

 

After the service there was a popping noise that appeared to be comng from under the air filter box

 

The mechanic said there was nothing to worry about, so bring it back the following week and he'd sort it out, (whilst it was booked in for a new exhaust)

 

whilst he was looking under the box, he also moved a small pipe with a T piece in it that broke. He taped up the straight section (as it was making some serious sucking noises) and left the lower pipe flapping about. the straight section of pipe appeared to be attached to the lower part of the air filter box and the other end dissappeared behind the engine block. He also said that this wasn't a problem and he'd replace the taped up pipe whilst he did the exhaust.

 

The car then started to run very 'lumpy' no problems under load. only when cruising or slowing down. it also had problems to maintain a consistent idle rpm. (sometimes cutting out)

 

This problem was only intermittent. the car either run very sweetly or it was a nightmare (flat spots)

It's now also started to do nothing when you put your foot down, just hesitate and almost cut out)

 

the problem would dissappear if you stopped, turn the ignition off, then on again. but then come back again.

 

The garage had it back last week and cured the popping noise. (didn't tell me what it was, just said he'd cleaned out something or other, (throttle housing ?!)

 

The small T piece pipe was on order from ford, so that is still broken.

 

it run sweetly for a couple of days then the flat spot/idling/no oomph problem started again.

 

i popped it by his garage so he could plug in the diag vag/com thing.

 

I can't remember exactly what it said, but there were about 5 faults found. (all intermittent)

 

one states something about 'evap' which he said was something to do with the exhaust and was nothing to worry about.

there was also an oxygen level warning of some sort then 2 x maf sensor faults (intermittent)

 

He reckoned that the MAF was the reason for the flat spots/idling/cut out problem.

 

it's booked in for monday.

 

Sorry for the lack of technical speil, (i'm not a mechanic)

 

Do you think all the above are connected, i.e. something the mechanic did during the service which produced the popping noise that then screwed up the MAF ?

 

I know the MAF can be a problem, (mine is from new, so 10 years old) but does it sound like the cause of my problems.

 

AND what is this little broken pipe that "doesn't matter".... is it related to my problems

 

oh, and is 40-50 quid about right to replace the MAF

 

cheers

[Bigjeeze]

Sounds like the T piece is a vacuum connector and as such could be very important to the smooth running of the engine. MAF is normally anywhere between

[tiny]

Got to be worth saying though, the failing MAF issue is more a problem on Diesels than petrols.

Get the pipe sorted before you throw money at it.

 

 

[DaveM]

Got to be worth saying though, the failing MAF issue is more a problem on Diesels than petrols.

Get the pipe sorted before you throw money at it.