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MAF sensor failure

1.9K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  jimmye4golf  
#1 ·
Just making sure on something here. I have a 2002 passat 1.8T AWM and 145k miles with trouble code P0102. It all started one day last week when I started the car on a cold morning, lots of odd noises could be heard. It almost sounded like the SAIP was failing. The check engine light came on. I hooked up the vag com last night and verified the code again. I also checked the airflow and it showed 0 g/s at idle and same while driving around. Is it normal for a MAF sensor to fail completely? A lot of the search results seem to show the MAF sensor still reading something, even if not much. I pulled the MAF sensor and nothing obvious shows up. I have cleaned it a couple of times in the past, so maybe it's just time to replace it. I guess what I'm asking is if it could be something else. Just making sure before I buy a new one without ruling other things out first. I'm using the limited version of VCDS-lite, so I cannot check fuel trim, MAP, or other things.

Thank you.
 
#3 ·
I just ordered mine from ECS Tuning. $85 with S&H. Ive read on here that its a good reputable company. Mine has been giving me fits too. It wouldnt startthe other night, just kept spinning over and over. I unplugged the MAF and it started up but acted as if it was flooded then smoothed out. I plugged it back in and it seems to be running fine again. I bit the bullet and ordered a new MAF, just waiting for itto arrive. Good luck with yours.
 
#4 ·
So you went with the MTC brand? I don't typically like going with MTC or other cheaper brands but with the price difference in this case, I don't blame you for trying it. I found a new bosch MAF on drivewire.com for 122. Not a real user friendly website though. Multiple MAFs listed without part numbers, so I had to guess which one was right. I was skeptical at first but when I got it, it appears to be the real thing and either I guessed which one was right or there's no major differences between the two bosch brand MAFs they offer. I installed it and the car runs well again. As jaythesnork recommended, I unplugged the failed one and ran it a few days before the new one arrived and the engine didn't run that much better. I suspect my MAF has been on it's way out for a while now. Even the idle isn't as rough as it used to be.
 
#5 ·
Just a note on part numbers here. In my last post, I mentioned guessing the correct MAF on drivewire.com based on installing it and no further issues. However, the Bosch part number is different than the one that was installed and failed. The new one I received is 0280218100 and the one that was in the car (original as far as I know) is 0280218063. I did a search for both part numbers on ECS and 0280218063 states "Fits all AUG engine codes, Fits AWM up to VIN 3B-2-100 000 split is in the 2002 model" and 0280218100 is for AWM from VIN 3B-2-100 000. My VIN is ...3B12P184619, so part 0280218100 should be the right one. Not sure if there are any differences in the two. Would be nice to know for those wanting to replace it since the earlier one is cheaper. Also, given that ECS offers a remanufactured Bosch MAF for about the same as drivewire's "new" one, I'm thinking the one from drivewire isn't new. Just a hunch. Doesn't matter as long as it works a while.
 
#6 ·
I wonder what a "rebuilt" MAF is. Do they clean a used MAF and call it rebuilt? Put a new sensor in a used MAF housing? It's not like our type of MAF sensor element can be taken apart and put back together like you would a starter. Maybe I'm wrong?