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Air Flow Meter/Sensor: Testing and Inspection






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.