Symptoms of A Bad Mini Cooper Mass Air Flow Sensor in College Station

In general, the mass airflow sensor or MAF sensor is an important part of the electronic fuel injection system of the Mini Cooper that is responsible for calculating the total amount of air entering into the engine. Moreover, it can allow the engine computer to adjust the fuel ratio by determining the amount of air drawn in it.

When it is failed, you will notice that the engine is running either too rich or too lean.

Due to these reasons, black smoke is produced from the tailpipe and makes the engine run rough or backfire. Subsequently, you need to visit the gas stations more frequently than usual.

What does the mass airflow sensor work?

Most importantly, the MAF sensors of the Mini Cooper are located between the air filter and the throttle body for measuring the volume and density of the air flowing into the engine.

However, it has one heated wire and ambient temperature wire as well as a microprocessor to measure the amount of air entering the engine by reading the voltage when the air fluctuates. Thus, the sensor has calculated the temperature and sent it to the power control module (PCM).

Then the PCM are controlling the injectors for delivering the specific amount of fuel needed for creating an air/fuel mixture and making it suitable for the engine. Moreover, the MAF sensor is attached to the intake tubing for passing the air through the sensor.

Symptoms of the bad mass airflow sensor

For sending the necessary information to the ECU, the ECU is connected through a wiring harness and uses the data along with the readings from the O2 sensor to determine the fuel mixture. The following points define the symptoms of bad mass airflow sensors in Mini Cooper.

Engine stalling

When the mass airflow sensor is failed, you will notice that no information is sent by the sensor to the ECU and causing intermittent breakage in transmission and making it stall badly. As a result, you will notice the inefficient operation of the engine and make it unsafe for driving it quickly.

Engine misfiring

When the air/fuel mixture inside the engine is balanced, you will notice a smooth combustion process in the car. For any reason, if you notice that the fuel ratio is unbalanced, then the engine is either running too rich or too lean.

As a result, the airflow will cause a lean condition, and the cylinder will be injected with an improper mixture and cause the engine to misfire. Eventually, the engine is suffering from major breakdowns and lead to complete failure.

Hard starting

Generally, the hard starting problem is a clear indication of a bad mass airflow sensor in the car. At this point, you will notice that the engine will take several cranks to start over. Due to the bad readings from the sensor, eventually, you will notice that ECU is lower down the fuel injectors in the system.

If the mass airflow sensor malfunctions, then you will notice that an insufficient amount of airflow is found during startup that can lower down the fuel power of the engine and cause hard starting problems.

Increase fuel consumption

Commonly, the sudden drop of the fuel mileage is the most common sign of bad mass airflow sensor in Mini. When the engine computer starts to dump more fuel in the engine, more air is coming through the intake and responds with proportionately more fuel.

Due to the lack of reading, the engine is consuming more fuel and produces a lot of exhaust in an incomplete combustion reaction. Therefore, your engine is burning more fuel and reducing the fuel mileage with other drivability problems.

Black smoke from the tailpipe

When the engine is running too rich, you will notice that black smoke is produced from the engine because extra fuel is processed in the combustion chambers and burn extra fuel in the exhaust. The most common reason behind the problem is the failed mass airflow sensor.

Due to these reasons, you will notice improper readings from the MAF sensor and require more fuel than necessary to run the engine and allow the engine to run on a rich fuel mixture. Moreover, the improperly burned fuel in the exhaust may produce smoke from the tailpipe and form black smoke.

Way to clean the dirty mass airflow sensor

For the smooth functioning of the engine, the mass airflow sensor needs to be cleaned once a year. You can clean the MAF sensor in the following ways:

Remove the sensor

For cleaning the mass airflow sensor of the Mini Cooper, you have to first remove it from the airbox by using a flathead screwdriver. So, while removing the sensor don't touch the wires because they are fragile and tiny and may damage for any reason.

Clean the sensor

After that, you have to keep the mass airflow sensor in a plastic bag which is filled with rubbing alcohol. By moving the bag, the dirt and grime from the sensor are washed properly. Otherwise, use a specific mass airflow sensor for cleaning the auto parts of the car and spray them on the sensor for cleaning it.

Dry and install the mass airflow sensor

Once you clean the sensor, leave them for 20 minutes and then reinstall them in your car. Before replacing the sensor, make sure that they are completely dry, otherwise, it may damage entirely.

Conclusion

When the mass airflow sensor of the Mini Cooper is failed, you will notice that the dirt is accumulated within the sensor and block it entirely. If you are living in College Station and found that the MAF sensor is failed due to any reason, then take it to a mechanic for immediate inspection and replace it if required.