New maf sensor?

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
Hello everyone, I am currently getting P0174, p1173, P0159, P0150. I have had a slight exhaust leak where the y pipe meets the exhaust manifold (even due to extensive attempts at repair) that kept p0159 and p0150 on. I am currently on a business trip away from my home and will be for another month, so I am unable to fix the issue for a bit. I didn’t have any negligible performance due to this issue, and checked the codes weekly to make sure they stayed the same. Approximately 24 hours ago, I began having intermittent rough idling. I took it to the shop, and P0174 appeared, with a suggestion of MAF sensor being the culprit (autozone). Today, I have a strong smell of gasoline from the exhaust, and still intermittent rough idling. This would make sense for that code, however I was wondering if there is anything else I should check before pulling the trigger on a new MAF. For background, I began having issues with oxygen sensor codes about a year ago, which led me on a wild goose chase of purchasing new oxygen sensors, switching them to check if one was broken, etc. I ultimately hypothesized that the cats are bad since the truck is 20 years old, and was just going to suck up the payment cost to when I got back (in case anyone wonders if I am going to fix those codes). So, I am not worried about those codes, but the ones that could be causing rough idling (unless they are intertwined, which would be odd because I have driven with those codes for almost a year now, and never had an issue). To be clear, I am seeing if there is anything else I should check for this specific rough idling issue? It began out of the blue yesterday, which is what makes me curious as well. Thanks for anyone’s help!
 

kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
428
160
Tucson AZ
Yup, vacuum leaks first; exhaust leaks second; MAF last.. Unplug the MAF, if it runs 'okay' or better it was the MAF.

To note, I've purchased 5 new MAFs. 4 of them failed within 10 miles each! Watching the readings while it happened, they worked 0-1 and then poof they pegged at 2.4 while cruising. Had to unplug it to get back home, as it was power surging badly..

Cleaning it will help.. Measuring things first before tossing parts at it will save you a lot of time and money... Buy an ELM327 and the torque app on Android..

Used MAF is the best idea if it is dead.
 
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kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
428
160
Tucson AZ
And Lastly, when changing the MAF or fixing Major issues it's best to reset the fuel trims with RobertFs android app. Which is a godsend! Thanks again Robert!
 
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kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
428
160
Tucson AZ
Yeah looking at long-term fuel trims and short-term fuel trims is actually how I found I had a massive vacuum leak. Which happened to be the brake booster.
 

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
Yup, vacuum leaks first; exhaust leaks second; MAF last.. Unplug the MAF, if it runs 'okay' or better it was the MAF.

To note, I've purchased 5 new MAFs. 4 of them failed within 10 miles each! Watching the readings while it happened, they worked 0-1 and then poof they pegged at 2.4 while cruising. Had to unplug it to get back home, as it was power surging badly..

Cleaning it will help.. Measuring things first before tossing parts at it will save you a lot of time and money... Buy an ELM327 and the torque app on Android..

Used MAF is the best idea if it is dead.
Thank you this helps a lot, I will unplug the maf and see if I notice a difference. How far can/ should I drive it without the maf?
 

kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
428
160
Tucson AZ
Again, Rovers get a bad name Mostly from people working on it themselves and cutting corners because of said repair costs. Plus a lot of them are farm vehicles.

Now, that doesn't mean you can't have a daily out of this vehicle.

Your reply of "how long can I drive with the MAF unplugged", is in indicator of how repairs are being done; only as needed to move.

Unplugging the MAF is a "test" not a solution. It's there for a reason. But sure you can limp around without it the same way you don't really need 4 tires as it'll move with 3..

Now I'm not trying to knock the crap out of you. Just saying that you need to diagnose things, use volt meters, read the RAV Bible on these issues, fix things properly like the exhaust even it it takes a day filing it flat. I assure you, these things are fixable if done right.

Now Rovers are not the most dependable vehicles compared to a Toyota or Honda. But with proper care, I maintain aircraft twice my age that are airworthy.

Yes I am upset, because with what I told you and an ELM327 for 10 bucks you/we would know so much more; rather than wack a mole.
 
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kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
428
160
Tucson AZ
Tools may only last a decade, but the knowledge you learn working on stuff yourself will last you a lifetime....

Take the time, learn what you need to, buy the tools you need, do it right once.
 
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SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
Yeah looking at long-term fuel trims and short-term fuel trims is actually how I found I had a massive vacuum leak. Which happened to be the brake booster.

Again, Rovers get a bad name Mostly from people working on it themselves and cutting corners because of said repair costs. Plus a lot of them are farm vehicles.

Now, that doesn't mean you can't have a daily out of this vehicle.

Your reply of "how long can I drive with the MAF unplugged", is in indicator of how repairs are being done; only as needed to move.

Unplugging the MAF is a "test" not a solution. It's there for a reason. But sure you can limp around without it the same way you don't really need 4 tires as it'll move with 3..

Now I'm not trying to knock the crap out of you. Just saying that you need to diagnose things, use volt meters, read the RAV Bible on these issues, fix things properly like the exhaust even it it takes a day filing it flat. I assure you, these things are fixable if done right.

Now Rovers are not the most dependable vehicles compared to a Toyota or Honda. But with proper care, I maintain aircraft twice my age that are airworthy.

Yes I am upset, because with what I told you and an ELM327 for 10 bucks you/we would know so much more; rather than wack a mole.
Oh no, I meant how long can I drive it with the maf unplugged to test it? I don’t want to drive it too long unplugged when trying to test it, bc the rough idle is intermittent and not all the time. 🙂
 

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
Tools may only last a decade, but the knowledge you learn working on stuff yourself will last you a lifetime....

Take the time, learn what you need to, buy the tools you need, do it right once.
The way you interpreted what I asked definitely isn’t what I meant; I just meant for testing!
 
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SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
Again, Rovers get a bad name Mostly from people working on it themselves and cutting corners because of said repair costs. Plus a lot of them are farm vehicles.

Now, that doesn't mean you can't have a daily out of this vehicle.

Your reply of "how long can I drive with the MAF unplugged", is in indicator of how repairs are being done; only as needed to move.

Unplugging the MAF is a "test" not a solution. It's there for a reason. But sure you can limp around without it the same way you don't really need 4 tires as it'll move with 3..

Now I'm not trying to knock the crap out of you. Just saying that you need to diagnose things, use volt meters, read the RAV Bible on these issues, fix things properly like the exhaust even it it takes a day filing it flat. I assure you, these things are fixable if done right.

Now Rovers are not the most dependable vehicles compared to a Toyota or Honda. But with proper care, I maintain aircraft twice my age that are airworthy.

Yes I am upset, because with what I told you and an ELM327 for 10 bucks you/we would know so much more; rather than wack a mole.
Furthermore, I spent about 2 weeks working on the exhaust leak issue, and took both manifolds and y pipe to a machine shop to have it filed flat and had a stripped bolt machined out. The reason the leak came back is because they unfortunately knocked the thread, making the bolt fall out. The code never went away in the 50 ish miles that there wasn’t a leak, which is why I have determined after everything with my 02 sensors that the cats are bad. I am going to most likely put in a new exhaust system, unless I find another way to take the code off. I understand you misinterpreted what I said, but I’ve had this car since I was 14 and have been wrenching on it since I was 15. I want the best for the vehicle and have put a lot of time trying to fix issues, but yes I need a way to get to work sometimes. Hard to tell what people mean through text, so no harm no foul.
 

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
Tools may only last a decade, but the knowledge you learn working on stuff yourself will last you a lifetime....

Take the time, learn what you need to, buy the tools you need, do it right once.
Also, the elm327 is a obD2, correct? Want to
Make sure we are talking about the same thing
 

kris812

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2014
428
160
Tucson AZ

YMMV if it works to reset Fuel trims with RobertF tool. BAFX (sold out) is also one I know that works.

Keep on wrenching man! Sorry to sound like an ASS..

Try some Blue lock tight on the exhaust bolts, but keep all 3 in there for sure! If it has leaked any, NEW GASKETS!

Once you get some O2 Readings / charts of all 4 off the free torque android app (worth paying for) you will know what's going on better, if not we will and can help.

As for MAF unplugged test... SEND IT DUDE.. It just makes the ECM run "open loop" with a default fuel map.

Clogged CATS... Umm ROD them badboys out as a "test", but the REAR most resonator are known to 'clog' on some..

IF you require emissions testing or not is the REAL question....
 

LRDONE

Well-known member
Dec 3, 2020
420
144
Michigan
I had a mass air flow sensor fail on me one day on my way to lowe's. Rough idle, stalling at stop lights and what not. Got to lowe's, did my business, unplugged the maf and drove 20 minutes home. Ran fine. You'll just get even worse fuel economy. You'll be fine for testing.
 

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
I had a mass air flow sensor fail on me one day on my way to lowe's. Rough idle, stalling at stop lights and what not. Got to lowe's, did my business, unplugged the maf and drove 20 minutes home. Ran fine. You'll just get even worse fuel economy. You'll be fine for testing.
I attempted this, but then the thing started rough idling like crazy, didn't even remove it from park. I assumed that was a sign the maf isn't the issue? I'll test for it again, thanks!
 

SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
^^ confirmed to work a couple years ago I got some of these to reset fuel trims
I bought the wired one and realized the software isn't compatible with my computer; I'll go ahead and buy the bluetooth one you sent from ebay to connect to my iphone. Thanks for your help, I'll let you know my findings!
 
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SlippytheDisco

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2023
123
8
United States
^^ confirmed to work a couple years ago I got some of these to reset fuel trims
As I said earlier, I unplugged the maf and it seemed to make the idle either rougher or about the same; I never took it out of park with the maf off though because of it. Should I have driven through it for a few minutes to see?