There are two common types of mass airflow sensors in usage on gasoline engines. These are the vane meter and the hot wire. Neither design employs technology that measures air mass directly. However, with an additional sensor or two, the engine's air mass flow rate can be accurately determined.
Both approaches are used almost exclusively on electronic fuel injection (EFI) engines. Both sensor designs output a 0 - 5.0 volt signal that is proportional to the air mass flow rate, and both sensors have an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor incorporated into their housings.
When a MAF is used in conjunction with an oxygen sensor, the engine's air/fuel ratio can be controlled very accurately. The MAF sensor provides the open-loop predicted air flow information (the measured air flow) to the ECU, and the oxygen sensor provides closed-loop feedback in order to make minor corrections to the predicted air mass. Also see MAP sensor.
The vane meter approach has some drawbacks:
If air density increases due to pressure increase or temperature drop, but the air volume remains constant, the denser air will remove more heat from the wire indicating a higher mass airflow. Unlike the vane meter's paddle sensing element, the hot wire responds directly to air density. This sensor's capabilities are well suited to support the gasoline combustion process which fundamentally responds to air mass, not air volume. (See stoichiometry.)
Some of the benefits of a hot-wire MAF compared to the older style vane meter are:
There are some drawbacks:
LS1 and onwards engines (as well as others) use a "coldwire" MAF system (produced by AC Delco) where the inductance of a tiny sensor changes with the air mass flow over that sensor. The sensor is part of an oscillator circuit whose oscillation frequency changes with sensor inductance; hence the frequency is related to the amount of air (CFM) passing over the unit. This oscillating electrical signal is then fed to the car's ECU. These MAF units (such as the one pictured) have 3 pins, +, - and F, the F contains the square-wave frequency between - and F.
The mesh on the MAF is used to smooth out airflow to ensure the sensors have the best chance of a steady reading. It is not used for measuring the air flow per se and it is not recommended that you "clean" these units other than ensuring the wire-mesh is completely flat and free of any debris. Manufacturers claim that a simple but extremely reliable test to ensure correct functionality is to tap the unit with the back of a screwdriver while the car is running, and if this causes any changes in the output frequency then the unit should be discarded and an OEM replacement installed.
The VAF sensor measures the amount of air flow into the engine with a spring-loaded air flap/door attached to a variable resistor (potentiometer). VAF sensors measure air volume and not mass. The incoming air strikes or pushes against the internal air flap on the VAF sensor, which also moves the variable resistor’s sensing arm (wiper arm). As air flows into the engine the mechanical air flap rotates further, causing the wiper arm to contact a series of resistors, changing the voltage signal output.
The VAF sensor has an air-fuel adjustment screw, which opens or closes a small air passage on the side of the VAF sensor. This screw controls the air-fuel mixture by letting a metered amount of air flow past the air flap, thereby, leaning or richening the mixture. By turning the screw clockwise the mixture is enriched and counterclockwise the mixture is leaned. In addition to the regular air flow measuring function, some VAF sensors also employ an air temperature sensor (IAT sensor) and a fuel pump switch.
The IAT sensor is found inside the VAF casing and has the same electrical characteristics as a regular air temperature sensor. The VAF sensor flap also closes a set of contacts that activate the fuel pump relay coil (circuit opening relay). The contacts are actually closed as soon as the smallest amount of air pushes on the air flow flap. Once this happens the fuel pump starts running and the engine starts.
One of the main drawbacks of the VAF sensor is that it measures volume of air and not weight. As air temperature changes so does its weight. There are more air molecules present when the air is colder than when it is hotter. As air temperature decreases, more air is absorbed by the engine, so there are drastic changes needed in the air fuel ratio (depending on the temperature of the air). The air temperature sensor inside the VAF somewhat compensates by signaling the ECM of any changes in air temperature.
The HOT WIRE MAF sensor is a fully electronic unit. It senses the amount of air flow into the engine by measuring the amount of current needed to maintain a constant temperature through a very thin (70 micrometers) platinum hot wire. Hence the name hot wire MAF sensor. It also measures air by weight, since it takes into consideration the air temperature as well.
This sensor works as follows. As the air enters the intake manifold through the hot wire MAF sensor it cools down the platinum wire, which is heated at a very precise temperature. When the MAF circuitry senses the platinum wire cooling down it increases the amount of current flow through the hot wire trying to maintain a specific temperature. This varying current flow is then converted to a voltage output signal by the MAF electronic circuitry and is used as an air flow indicator by the ECM. Hot wire MAF sensors have a signal that is directly proportional to air flow. So as air flow increases so does its voltage signal output. This sensor sometimes employs a mixture screw, but this screw is fully electronic and uses a variable resistor (potentiometer) instead of an air bypass screw. The screw needs more turns to achieve the desired results. A hot wire burn-off cleaning circuit is employed on some of these sensors. A burn-off relay applies a high current through the platinum hot wire after the vehicle is turned off for a second or so, thereby burning or vaporizing any contaminants that have stuck to the platinum hot wire element.
The HOT FILM MAF sensor works somewhat similar to the hot wire MAF sensor, but instead it usually outputs a frequency signal. This sensor uses a hot film-grid instead of a hot wire. It is commonly found in late 80’s early 90’s fuel injected vehicles. The output frequency is directly proportional to the amount of air entering the engine. So as air flow increases so does frequency. These sensors tend to cause intermittent problems due to internal electrical failures. The use of an oscilloscope is strongly recommended to check the output frequency of these sensors. Frequency distortion is also common when the sensor starts to fail. Many technicians in the field use a tap test with very conclusive results. Not all HFM systems output a frequency. In some cases, this sensor works by outputting a regular varying voltage signal.
VAF sensors are mechanical in nature. Their measuring element (wiper contact, pivot bushings and sensor resistors) get worn out over time. A binding air flap door is also a major problem with these sensors. The air flap mechanism is extremely precise and does not tolerate any misalignments. Always make sure that the air flap can travel freely all the way to its full open position. A broken air duct pipe will also render the VAF useless, since most of the air will be bypassed and enter though the broken duct hole. A thorough air duct check is always a good idea. The resistors also tend to wear out over time, sending the wrong voltage signal to the ECM. This will certainly throw off the air-fuel ratio.
The air temperature sensor and the fuel pump switch are the other reasons for VAF failures. This fuel pump switch activates the fuel pump relay and its contacts also wear down over time, causing a no start-no no-fuel pressure condition. A simple continuity test will quickly reveal a bad fuel pump switch. The air temperature sensor also follows the same electrical characteristics of a normal IAT sensor and the same ohms to temperature tables could be used for diagnostics.
Hot Wire MAF sensors are very prone to sensing wire element contamination. A condition referred to by many technicians as “growing hairs” happens when debris, dirt from cheap air filters and outside air stick to the sensing wire element, shielding it from the incoming air. This shielding effect prevents the MAF sensor from correctly measuring the air flow and mass causing severe air-fuel ratio control problems. An ECM not in control while at pre-load is a strong indication of a dirty MAF.
In any fully electronic device, the electrical connections and circuitry fails after a certain lifespan of operation. An output signal voltage test will surely reveal a bad MAF sensor.
Hot Film MAF sensors tend to get electrical damage more often that the other type of sensors. The tap test ,as mentioned before, is a useful and simple procedure that usually reveals a bad hot film MAF sensor. Contamination or a broken air duct is also a problem for this sensors.