check engine light is on

Did you OIL the CRAP out of it, then immediatly put it on?

i bought it from idriveb5 used and he oiled it before shipping it. before i installed it i let it sit out for about 4 hors to try to dry some of the excess oil. i don't think that it was over oiled, but i don't really know. if it was over oiled what could that do and can it be fixed cheap and easy.

oil on the maf is what he is getting at

bump

Like said above....it is not uncommon for a recently oiled filter to cause the check engine lamp on because of oil on the MAF sensor. I usually keep a spare paper filter to put in when I oil up my K&N....this way it can dry up a little before putting back in. Did 'Autozone' clear the code? If so...did it come back on?

If you do have to buy a new MAF you can use the one for the 2.0 and pay 70 for it at the dealer or you can use the 1.8 and pay 220 for it. I have the 2.0 in my car right now and notice no difference in the way it runs.

yes they cleared the code yesterday and today after about an hour of driving it came back on.

20vbruster said:

yes they cleared the code yesterday and today after about an hour of driving it came back on.

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It sounds as if the MAF sensor is fouled & probably need a new one. I would recommend getting it scanned with someone or a Dealer with a VAG-Com to make sure it is the MAF before you spend $ on the part. I assume Autozone used the generic OBDII scanner wich should be pretty accurate but I would make sure....

If you do have to buy a new MAF you can use the one for the 2.0 and pay 70 for it at the dealer or you can use the 1.8 and pay 220 for it. I have the 2.0 in my car right now and notice no difference in the way it runs.



does anybody know how accurate this info is. because if it is true then 70 sounds better than 220

i don't notice any difference in the driving of the car. no hp losses no rough ideling. i guess the question is will it hurt to leave the MAF , if so what will the damage be. could i just clean the MAF?

20vbruster said:

i don't notice any difference in the driving of the car. no hp losses no rough ideling. i guess the question is will it hurt to leave the MAF , if so what will the damage be. could i just clean the MAF?

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I never heard of using the 2.0 MAF ..... anyone heard of this? Maybe it's possible without problem? Could you leave the bad MAF in...sure, but down the road you could run into a lean or rich fuel concern with the bad MAF. I'm not sure about cleaning the sensor or what you would use to clean it....I'm sure someone will chime in about that. Good luck with it.

Check the Information forum on as to how to clean the MAF. Some people here had luck cleaning it but I hear that the sensor is very sensitive. Good luck

I have a KN filter on my car myself and havent oiled it, I am actually thinking of slapping back my paper filter on there.

if i switch back to the paper filter will the check engine light go away?

Dont think the engine light will go away if just swapping to paper filter, you have to replace/clean that MAF...

What year is your car?

it's a 98 5-speed. i searched the info forum and the only post on cleaning the MAF the pics don't work. what will happen with a lean or rich fuel.

20vbruster said:

if i switch back to the paper filter will the check engine light go away?

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If the oil from the K&N caused the check engine lamp the paper filter will prevent future check engine lamps caused by that but first you need to clean/take care of the problem.....check this link out Natskiboy suggested:

http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57334&sid=b787e53b717cf65630132e17a22e3aae

http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewto...af+clean&sid=b787e53b717cf65630132e17a22e3aae

2000PASSAT20V said:

20vbruster said:

if i switch back to the paper filter will the check engine light go away?

Click to expand...

If the oil from the K&N caused the check engine lamp the paper filter will prevent future check engine lamps caused by that but first you need to clean/take care of the problem.....check this link out Natskiboy suggested:

http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57334&sid=b787e53b717cf65630132e17a22e3aae

http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewto...af+clean&sid=b787e53b717cf65630132e17a22e3aae

Click to expand...

it still doesn't post all of the pics.

bump :thumbup:

How long did you run the car before the CEL came on after installing the filter? It is certainly possible for oil from the filter to foul the sensor, but it wouldn't be an immediate thing. From your first post it sounds like the CEL came on as soon as you started the car. It is possible that the wiring to the sensor became loose or got damaged as you were changing the filter. The MAF is installed in the top of the air box and the wiring gets a work out when you change the filter. Check to be sure the connector is properly attached to the MAF sensor and that there aren't any obvious breaks in the wire harness.