What's up CL. I have an 01 GS430 with 93k that I just got. I took it to mechanic today to change the brakes and clean the MAF. I thought the MAF had to be removed but instead the mechanic kept the car on and told me to rev the gas hard while he is spraying it. He said its better to clean it that way because it sucks out all the dirt from inside the car. Is this bad what he did or is it fine? He's a very experienced mechanic but I've never heard of it being done this way so I just wanted to make sure he didn't just do it the lazy way and mess something up.

 

To clean the MAF, the sensor must be isolated out so you can clean every angle of it. Also, the sensor should be cold before cleaning it. The MAF sensor has a hot wire that senses heat, the hotter it is, the more air the CPU detects. So if the sensor is contaminated, it will show the car is running LEAN. In which the computer will compensate by increasing the fuel injector on-time. But in reality, the car isn't running LEAN because CPU is detecting a false reading from the MAF sensor because it's contaminated, which causes a rough running condition/poor performance.

If the hot wire is HOT, and you are spraying a cleaner to clean it, your risking a chance of damaging the Hot Wire element. Hot and cold doesn't go well together.

 

Well the car was cold when he did it. It was sitting for like a hour before he did it. But you confused the hell out of me. Is it possible that he messed anything up doing it this way?

 

I made myself clear on the post. But if the car is running fine, i wouldnt worry

 

Is there anything I can lookout for to see if he messed anything up?