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Mass Air Flow Sensor, Checking






Diagnostic Procedures

Mass Air Flow Sensor, Checking

• Use only gold-plated terminals when servicing terminals in harness connector of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor.

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Multimeter (VAG1526) or multimeter (VAG1715)

• Connector test kit (VAG1594)

• Wiring diagram

Test requirements

• Fuses in E-box (in plenum chamber, left) must be OK:





• Motronic Engine Control Module (ECM) Power Supply Relay (J271) must be OK, check:

• Respective fuses of Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor (G70) and Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor 2 (G246) in fuse box (instrument panel, left) must be OK:





• Battery voltage must be at least 11.5 volts.

• All electrical consumers such as, for example, lights and rear window defroster must be switched off.

• Parking brake must be engaged or else daylight driving lights will be switched on.

• For vehicles with automatic transmission, selector lever must be in P position.

• If vehicle is equipped with an A/C system, it must be switched off.

• Ground (GND) connections between engine and chassis must be OK.

• Coolant temperature must be at least 80 °C , Diagnostic mode 1: Check measured values; PID 5, Coolant temperature.

Function test

- Connect diagnostic tester.

- Start engine and let run at idle.

- Under address word 33, select "Diagnostic mode 1: Checking measured values."

- Select the measuring value "PID 16: Air flow quantity at Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor".

- Check specified value of air flow quantity at Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor at idle:





- End diagnosis and switch ignition off.

If specified value is obtained, but a DTC concerning Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors 1 and 2 is stored in DTC memory:

- Check voltage supply of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors.

If specified value is not obtained:

- Check signal wires and Ground (GND) wires of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors.

Voltage supply of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors, checking

Cylinder bank 1

- Disconnect 5-pin connector from Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor (G70) with Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor (G42) arrow.





Cylinder bank 2

- Disconnect 5-pin connector from Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor 2 (G246) (arrow).





Cylinder bank 1 and 2

• Cylinder bank 1 = in driving direction, right

• Cylinder bank 2 = in driving direction, left

- Connect multimeter to terminal 2 of connector and engine Ground (GND) for voltage measurement.





- Start engine, and let run at idle.

Specified value: at least 11.0 V

- Switch ignition off.

If there is no voltage:

- Check voltage supply at 5-pin connector terminal 2 according to wiring diagram:

- Erase DTC memory of Engine Control Module (ECM) , Diagnostic mode 4: Reset/erase diagnostic data.

- Generate readiness code.

If voltage supply and wires are OK:

- Connect multimeter to terminal 4 of connector and engine Ground (GND) for voltage measurement.





- Switch ignition on.

Specified value: at least 4.5 V

- Switch ignition off.

If there is no voltage:

- Check signal and Ground (GND) wires of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor.

Checking signal wires and Ground (GND) wires

Cylinder bank 1

- Disconnect 5-pin connector from Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor (G70) with Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor (G42) arrow.





Cylinder bank 2

- Disconnect 5-pin connector from Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor 2 (G246) (arrow).





Cylinder bank 1 and 2

• Cylinder bank 1 = in driving direction, right

• Cylinder bank 2 = in driving direction, left

- Connect test box to control module wiring harness , connect test box for wiring test.

- Check wires between test box and °-pin connector to Engine Control Module (ECM) for open circuit according to wiring diagram.





Wire resistance: max. 1.5 ohms

Cylinder bank 1





Cylinder bank 2





Cylinder bank 1 and 2

- Also check wires for short circuit to each other, to vehicle Ground (GND) and to B+.

Specified value: infinite ohms

- Erase DTC memory of Engine Control Module (ECM) , Diagnostic mode 4: Reset/erase diagnostic data.

- Generate readiness code.

If no DTCs are found in wires:

- Replace the respective Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor.:

Cylinder bank 1

• Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor (G70) with Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor (G42).

Cylinder bank 2

• Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor 2 (G246).

• Cylinder bank 1, in direction of travel, right.

• Cylinder bank 2, in direction of travel, left.

- Erase DTC memory of Engine Control Module (ECM) , Diagnostic mode 4: Reset/erase diagnostic data.

- Generate readiness code.