Air flow meter. Air mass sensor
Air flow meter. Air mass sensor
Anonim

In order for the engine to work confidently in any mode, it is necessary that it receives the optimal composition of the combustible mixture. As you know, only one engine is not enough fuel, it also needs air. In different modes of engine operation, a different ratio of oxygen and gasoline is required. The air mass meter is responsible for this.

What is this?

This is a mass air flow sensor. It determines the amount of oxygen that is necessary to fill the cylinders of a car engine under various operating conditions. This device is installed in the intake tract. You can find it after the air filter, in the inlet pipe, or on the body of the filter element itself.

air mass meter
air mass meter

In the operation of the injection system, this is the main system.

How the device works

This sensor is needed, as already mentioned, to measure the ideal amount of oxygen that enters the engine. So, the DMRV calculates the required amount and immediately sends this data to the computer. He calculates the required amount of fuel.

The harder the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the more air will enter the chamberscombustion of the power unit. The flow sensor immediately detects this, and then sends a command to the main computer to send more fuel to the cylinders.

If the car moves evenly, then in this mode oxygen is spent in small volumes, which means that fuel consumption will not be large. This same air flow meter monitors this.

Device, types of sensors, principles of operation

Together with technical progress, the design of these devices is also being improved. At the beginning of the development of the automotive industry, a Pitot tube was used for this purpose. Also, a similar device was called a vane air flow meter. A thin plate was used as the main element. She was softly fastened. The air flow bent the plate. A potentiometer, which was also built into the circuit, could measure how much the plate was bent (resistance was measured). This was a signal to the main control unit.

These devices worked on the same principle on many German cars. So, if you open a BMW air flow meter from the 80s of release, then you can find a sensor with just such a device there. Naturally, modern cars have systems with a different device.

Among the most modern and widespread devices on many cars, plate meters are distinguished. In this device, a heat exchanger with two platinum plates is used as a basic element. The plate is heated by electricity.

audi air mass meter
audi air mass meter

One plate is working, and the other is control. PrincipleThe operation of this design is based on maintaining temperatures on each of the plates, while the temperature should be as uniform as possible. These devices can be found on most cars, this technology is very popular. Only now, platinum wire is used instead of membranes. The Mercedes air mass meter operates on the same principle.

It works like this. When the air flow passes through the heat exchanger, it cools the platinum build plate. To maintain the same temperature on this plate as on the control one, more current is applied to it. The change in current is the data that the ECU needs.

Another air mass meter is a device with film meters. The working elements here are platinum-coated silicon plates. This technology has been used recently, so these designs are not yet very common.

There are still devices with vortex meters. Their work is based on measuring the frequencies of swirls that are created at some distance behind the protrusion in the intake valve.

The most modern design is the diaphragm type flowmeter. A very thin membrane is used here, which is placed in the air stream. Temperature sensors are installed on both sides. When the car is moving, the sides cannot cool evenly. The temperature difference is then sent to the ECU for further calculations.

Modern foreign cars may not have such a sensor at all; an absolute pressure system is used instead.

Signs of problems

There is nothing eternal in a car, the air flow meter sensor also fails, and regularly. Many car enthusiasts are discussing this problem on the forums.

How can you know that this important device has started to fail? Very simple. Those indicators that measure this element are very important in the process of proper preparation of the working mixture of fuel and air. Malfunctions of the DMRV lead to serious malfunctions of the motor, or even the engine cannot be started at all.

If the flow meter fails, the lamp on the dashboard may light up, prompting you to check the engine. Also, malfunctions entail increased fuel consumption, a sharp decline in the power of the power unit. For example, when an Audi air flow meter fails, this is also accompanied by a decrease in the dynamic characteristics of a German car, it becomes very difficult to start the engine, there is no stability in idle speed.

An experienced car enthusiast will say that these are standard signs that may not be related to the DMRV in any way. Yes it is. But the first thing to check for such symptoms is the DMRV.

How to check the air mass meter

Modern diagnostic practice involves the use of several methods of verification.

how to check air mass meter
how to check air mass meter

First method - you just need to turn off the power to the sensor. To do this, simply disconnect the connector and start the engine. After that, the ECU will notify you of serious problems. Fuel will continue to flow, butthrottle.

Next, you need to pick up speed up to 1500, and then it is recommended to go by car. If the unit began to work much faster and more dynamically, then the DMRV is to blame for everything.

Diagnosis with tester

The second method involves the use of a multimeter. Before you start testing, you must remember that the method is not relevant for all sensors. Only a Bosch air mass meter can be tested in this way.

First of all, you need to set the tester to 2 V and put it in constant voltage mode. The diagram from Bosch clearly states that the MAF must have four wires. So, a signal is given through the yellow wire, gray-white - voltage, green - this is the ground, pink-black is powered along with the main relay.

Now the red probe of the tester must be connected to the yellow wire. The black probe connects to the green wire. The engine must be turned off before these measurements, but the ignition does not need to be turned off. Next, the voltage is measured.

If the element is in working order, the tester will show 101-102. Valid readings are 102-103. This is the upper limit at which repair of the air mass meter is required. If the screen of the tester shows 105 or more, then the sensor is broken and needs to be replaced.

Visual inspection

The third method involves diagnosing only by external signs. In order to visually diagnose a breakdown, you should very carefully examine the internal cavity of the pipe on which the sensor is attached. This surface must be as clean anddry.

It should be noted that the most common reason why the MAF fails is the banal dirt that enters the work area. The Audi air mass meter often suffers from this.

Regular filter replacement should be carried out to prevent dirt from entering.

air mass meter repair
air mass meter repair

In addition, traces of oil can be seen on the surface of the sensor. This indicates that the engine has exceeded the oil rate or there is a malfunction in the crankcase ventilation system.

The next step is to remove the sensor. To perform dismantling, you will need an open-end wrench. Two bolts are unscrewed and the element is removed from the filter housing for oxygen purification.

At the time of dismantling, make sure that the polyurethane seal is present. It is often removed along with the sensor. The ring is necessary to protect the system from airing. If it is not in the pipe or in the sensor, then the reason is the absence of this ring.

If there is no ring, then dirt will enter the cavity of the part, which is not considered acceptable.

Air mass meter repair

In most cases, these devices cannot be repaired. They are simply replaced with a similar or universal one. Only those that apply the Pitot tube principle can be repaired. Contamination often occurs, which can impede the progress of the record.

You can deal with dirt with the help of special sprays that are used to flush carburetors. In rare cases, you can restore the operation of this variable resistor by installing it on the board withcontacts. Sometimes it is possible to cope with this problem simply by bending the plates so that the tip works on the not yet worn part of the site.

Many specialists at the service station offer to disconnect the device from the ECU unit. However, nothing good will come of it.

Hot-wire meters are also beyond repair. But you can try to cure the Bosch air flow meter.

How to replace the MAF

If the sensor cannot be repaired, there is only one way out - replacement. Replacing the sensor is very easy.

bosch air mass meter
bosch air mass meter

To do this, turn off the ignition, remove the connector. Then the fastening screws are unscrewed and the intake tract hose, which is connected to the filter housing, is disconnected. Then the sensor can be safely removed, and a new one can be installed instead. Any air mass meter can be replaced according to this instruction. Opel is no exception.

How to extend the resource?

In order for this device to serve faithfully longer, it is necessary to change air filters in time and constantly monitor the technical condition of the engine. To extend the life of the sensor, you can also repair the engine. Often too worn piston rings and valve seals can lead to premature death of the MAF.

How to clean the MAF

It is recommended to clean the sensor only when the platinum coils are covered with dirt.

air mass meter opel
air mass meter opel

It is very important that when cleaning it is forbidden to touch these wires or spirals with your hands. Also not suitable for the proceduretoothbrush.

Before checking the air mass meter, it is advisable to remove and wash it thoroughly. This may be a simple solution to the problem, as the contacts are often dirty.

The first step is to dismantle the sensor. Then it is taken apart.

air mass meter bmw
air mass meter bmw

When everything is done, i.e. the spirals are visible, you can spray a little on the spirals with the help of a carburetor cleaner in the form of a spray. If it is new and it still has high pressure, then it is better to spray from a short distance, so the coils will not be damaged.

As it turns out, the flow meter is a very important sensor, and with proper maintenance, it will not often fail.

So we found out what the mass air flow sensor is for.

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