Mass air flow sensor Kalina signs of malfunction

When controlling the operation of a car engine, the electronic unit acts according to the readings of a group of main sensors. These include a meter for the amount of air sucked into the intake manifold through an open throttle valve. Receiving this data, the controller increases or decreases the fuel supply, achieving the optimal ratio of the components of the combustible mixture. Failure of the flow meter significantly impairs the performance of the power unit to the point of making it impossible to move further. Therefore, it is advisable for novice drivers to study the signs of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor (abbreviated as MAF).

Flowmeter design

Knowing the design of the air sensor, you will quickly understand the principle of its operation and understand why a faulty meter cannot be repaired, but only replaced. The device is not difficult to find - it is built into the air duct connecting the filter - air flow purifier with the throttle valve block. The exact location depends on the make and model of the car.

The majority of vehicles in use are equipped with hot-wire or film meters. The difference is in the design of the sensing element; the operating principle remains unchanged. An anemometer flow meter is a housing in which 2 platinum threads are placed - a measuring and a reference. How does the mass air flow sensor function in a car:

The controller supplies power to both threads. As they heat up, they change resistance equally.
When the engine is running, the first thread is washed by air passing through the throttle and cooled. The stronger the air flow, the more intense the cooling.
The electronic unit records the difference in resistance between the measuring and reference threads. Having made the calculation, the ECU determines the mass of passing air and directs the corresponding amount of fuel to the injectors.

Reference. In modern cars with turbocharged engines, mass flow sensors are replaced by absolute pressure meters (MAP) - more reliable devices with a long service life. Manufacturers began to equip new naturally aspirated engines with similar products.

The film measuring device operates on the same principle, only instead of threads, platinum-coated ceramic elements are used. That is why it is quite possible to check the mass air flow sensor, but not to repair it. A burnt thread or damaged coating cannot be replaced, only the entire product.

MAF Lada Kalina

The internal combustion engine does not run on gasoline or diesel fuel, despite the obviousness of the statement.
To perform the work of the piston, a fuel-air mixture is required, in which the liquid fraction and air are mixed in a certain proportion. Maximum energy release occurs at a ratio of 1 kg of gasoline to 15 (more precisely 14.7) kg of air saturated with oxygen. Modern LADA Kalina engines (no matter 1st or 2nd generation) are controlled by an ECU, which sets this very proportion. It commands the injectors to deliver an exact portion of gasoline into the combustion chamber. But how does the electronic “brain” know how much air will get into this very chamber? The air flow is controlled by the throttle valve. When we press the gas pedal, we don’t think that air is supplied first, and then gasoline in the right proportion. The ECU must receive information about how much air is entering the intake manifold. The mass air flow sensor, abbreviated as MAF, is designed to measure it. The illustration shows a LADA Kalina 1118 flow meter.

In any version of the engine, it is installed in front of the intake manifold immediately after the air filter.

Consequences of sensor failure

When, for various reasons, the sensor fails or produces incorrect readings, the controller changes the operating algorithm. He begins to prepare the air-fuel mixture, focusing on the throttle position meter and lambda probe. Due to the lack of data previously received from the mass air flow sensor, the electronic unit “does not know” about the real amount of incoming air and cannot mix it with gasoline in optimal proportions.

By switching the controller to emergency operation mode, you can determine the main symptoms of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor:

on the driver’s dashboard, the control unit turns on the Check Engine light display, indicating problems in the fuel supply or ignition system;
idle speed is unstable - it either rises to 1500 rpm, then drops to zero (the engine stalls);
“When cold” the engine starts with great difficulty;
incorrect preparation of the combustible mixture causes an increase in fuel consumption, regardless of driving conditions and operating mode;
There is a decrease in the power of the power unit and frequent unreasonable jerks while driving.

Note. The inclusion of the Check Engine indicator does not provide the driver with specific information about the nature of the breakdown. The inscription calls for diagnosing engine systems using a computer connected to the service port. In this way, you can check the performance of the mass air flow sensor and other sensors in a service station.

Indirectly, a malfunction of the flow meter is indicated by the appearance of black smoke from the exhaust pipe. If the vehicle does not have an on-board computer and it is impossible to track instantaneous gasoline consumption, it is worth unscrewing 1-2 spark plugs from any cylinders and inspecting the electrodes. A layer of black soot will confirm excessive enrichment of the mixture due to emergency operation of the electronics.

Signs of a faulty air air sensor on Lada Kalina and Granta: how to check and clean the air sensor

When the internal combustion engines that modern cars are equipped with operate, a fuel-air mixture is burned, for the formation of which, as you can easily guess from its very name, it is necessary to mix fuel with air, and in strictly defined proportions.

Accordingly, the systems that are responsible for the formation of this substance must accurately “know” the consumption of each of its components at every moment of operation of the power unit. The value of this indicator for one of them helps to determine the mass air flow sensor (MAF).

It should be noted that it is present in the design of only injection engines, and if drivers notice signs of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor, then it should be checked and, if necessary, replaced.

Why do you need a mass air flow sensor?

What does a mass air flow sensor look like on a car?

The mass air flow sensor is an important sensor located directly behind the engine air filter, or more precisely, just between it and the throttle assembly. It is designed so finely that it allows you to accurately measure the flow rate of only air that is well cleared of mechanical impurities

During operation, the mass air flow sensor transmits signals to the electronic engine control system, which are processed and interpreted as the volume of air that is supplied to form the fuel-air mixture. For normal operation of the power unit, the volumetric ratio of liquid fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel) and air in it should be close to 1x14. If this proportion is violated, then either a significant loss of engine power or excessive fuel consumption occurs (these, by the way, are the main signs of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor). The information received by the ECU from the sensor that determines the mass air flow helps to avoid this.

The mass air flow sensor measures the amount of air that enters the fuel rail per unit time. It transmits this data to the ECU, which instantly calculates the amount of liquid fuel that needs to be supplied to form the mixture, and gives the appropriate “instructions” to the engine devices responsible for this. Thus, if, for example, you press the accelerator pedal, more air immediately begins to flow, the mass air flow sensor instantly detects this, sends data to the computer, which increases the supply of gasoline or diesel fuel in the appropriate proportion. If the amount of air decreases, then the volume of liquid fuel supply decreases.

From a design point of view, there are three types of such sensors that are actively used:

Based on pitot tube;
With hot-wire anemometers;
With film meters.

Mass air flow sensors built on the basis of a pitot tube are considered obsolete and are not used in the newest engine models. They are so-called vane flowmeters, the main elements of which are plates connected to potentiometers and softly fixed to the axes. Changing their position under the influence of air flow, they act on the potentiometer, which changes its electrical resistance.

Mass air flow sensors with hot-wire type meters are quite expensive, although they are very effective. They are equipped with special heat exchangers consisting of two platinum filaments, which are heated by passing electric current.

One of them is blown with a flow of air, the second remains a control one, and based on the difference in the current passing through them, the ECU calculates the amount of air supplied to form the fuel mixture. Mass air flow sensors with film meters are considered the most modern.

According to their principle of operation, they are almost similar to hot-wire anemometers, only they do not use platinum threads, but ceramic elements coated with platinum.

Main symptoms of a malfunctioning mass air flow sensor

A malfunction of the mass air flow sensor, as noted above, leads to either an over-enrichment or a depletion of the fuel mixture with gasoline or diesel fuel, which negatively affects the functioning of the engine and can lead to serious damage. Most often, malfunctions of the mass air flow sensor are associated with a clogged air filter: the air is poorly cleaned, and the mechanical particles contained in it get into the sensor, which is the cause of its failure. It should be noted that mass air flow sensors are non-repairable devices, and if they fail, they must be replaced with new ones.

Practice shows that the main signs of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor are as follows:

A Check Engine error appears, which indicates that the signal level of this sensor is very low;
The engine consumes more fuel than usual;
The power unit does not start well, its power decreases, it begins to stall;
The car accelerates poorly;
The engine runs either at high or low speed.

Of course, all the signs may also appear during other vehicle malfunctions, but in any case, if at least one of them is detected, this is a good reason to visit a service station. However, you can check the mass air flow sensor for malfunctions yourself, without contacting service station specialists.

Causes of problems

The air flow meter becomes unusable for the following reasons:

a lot of dust and dirt gets on the measuring elements, because the car owner rarely changes the air filter;
on heavily worn engines, gasoline and oil vapors penetrate into the mass air flow sensor through the crankcase ventilation pipe;
a hole in the corrugated air duct from where dust is sucked in;
accidental damage due to unqualified repairs;
break in the wires connecting the sensor connector to the controller.

In addition to the above reasons, natural wear and tear of the device also occurs. The service life of a new mass air flow sensor is 50–250 thousand km, depending on the make and origin of the car.

What mass air flow sensors are installed on LADA Kalina cars

In two generations, these cars were equipped with engines of 1.4 and 1.6 liters with 8 and 16 valve cylinder heads. Of course, there is no point in selecting a personal mass air flow sensor for each Kalina model, so there are only 4 options. To find out which sensor is in your Kalina, you need to read the ECU version in the passport (it can be “BOSCH MP” or “January”). The correspondence table is shown in the illustration.

So, we see varieties of flow meters with indexes 004, 037, 116 and 010. Structurally they are identical, the only difference is in the ECU firmware for each specific sensor. The engine control program contains calibration of the correspondence of the voltage at the signal output of the flow meter to the air mass in kg.

Is it possible to replace an old mass air flow sensor with a new one of a later version? No, the ECU will not work correctly. You can change the firmware, but this will not benefit the engine. Moreover, all versions of the sensors are on sale both from BOSCH and domestic analogues.

Diagnostics in garage conditions

The above symptoms also appear during other failures, for example, failure of the oxygen sensor or throttle position. In all such cases, the electronic unit operates in the same way - it goes into emergency mode for preparing the air-gasoline mixture. Hence similar consequences.

To test the mass air flow sensor without instruments, follow these simple steps:

Open the hood and disconnect the connector from the mass air flow sensor.
Start the engine and monitor idle speed. The controller must raise the crankshaft speed to 1500 rpm and hold it stably. If the idle speed continues to float, the flow meter is most likely working.
Make a test drive over a short distance, observing the behavior of the car. If the engine starts to work even worse, then the problem lies elsewhere.

This technique does not allow one to accurately determine the “culprit” of problems, especially when there are several of them. For example, at the same time the lambda probe failed. It is necessary to carry out more accurate diagnostics - check the mass air flow sensor with a multimeter according to the following instructions:

Switch the multimeter to voltage measurement mode. Open the hood and find the sensor connection block.
Connect the red wire from the device to the input signal contact (usually colored yellow). Connect the second clamp with black insulation to the green conductor.
Turn on the ignition and record the voltmeter readings.

A voltage in the range of 1–1.03 V indicates full functionality of the sensor.
If you observe signs of emergency mode while driving a car, it is worth checking other meters that affect fuel supply. Readings of 1.04–1.05 volts indicate that the platinum elements of the sensor are quite worn out, and you should prepare to replace the mass air flow sensor. A value of 1.06 V or more indicates that the air flow meter has died. You need to purchase a new meter and install it on the air duct instead of the old one.

If, as a result of the diagnosis, you received average readings, it would not hurt to clean the sensor. Do not try to get inside the mass air flow sensor with various brushes - for this purpose there is a special liquid on sale that washes away dirt from the air mesh and measuring elements.

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How to choose a new MAF sensor (Kalina 8 valves)

In order to ensure maximum system performance and compatibility with the controller, before replacing an old product with a new one, you must carefully read the markings on the product body. When purchasing new products, beware of counterfeits!

Some recommendations on what you should pay attention to (regarding BOSCH products): - inside the connector of the original sensor, next to the contacts, there are three metal wells that resemble the heads of small nails in appearance. These elements are used at the Bosch plant to program the sensitivity of the mass air flow sensor. On counterfeit products, such elements are absent or have a plastic structure.

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If incorrect operation of the mass air flow sensor is observed, this creates the preconditions for malfunctions in the functionality of the engine. Diagnostics will help identify the problem. If a breakdown occurs, the owner will need to replace the specified sensor.

It is no secret that any component of the Lada Kalina car needs a periodic review of its condition. Prevention allows you to timely identify a malfunction and take prompt measures to eliminate it. Next, we will tell you how to check the mass air flow sensor.

How to check the mass air flow sensor on a Lada Kalina

In the electronic engine control system of the popular Russian small car Lada Kalina, the sensor responsible for the mass flow of intake air (mass air flow sensor) is a very important component. It is located close to the air filter. Its purpose is to determine the mass fraction of air flow supplied to the combustion chambers of the engine. If incorrect operation of the mass air flow sensor is observed, this creates the preconditions for malfunctions in the functionality of the engine. Diagnostics will help identify the problem. If a breakdown occurs, the owner will need to replace the specified sensor.

Signs of sensor failure

Regarding the mass flow sensor, we note that in order to identify incorrect operation or breakdown, the owner should familiarize himself with the main signs of failure.

These include the following points:

reduction in the level of power produced by the motor;
deterioration of the vehicle's dynamic capabilities;
When the engine is warm, it becomes difficult to start;
fuel consumption has increased;
The dashboard was “illuminated” by the glowing “Check Engine” lamp.

If one of the indicated symptoms appears, the first step is to check the mass air flow sensor in the Lada Kalina car.

How do they check the sensor in Kalina?

How to check the DMRV? It is possible to perform diagnostics manually in a regular garage.

The following methods will come to the rescue here.

Turn off the air sensor and start the engine. In this case, the ECU switches to operating according to the emergency program. The air-fuel mixture is prepared only in accordance with the position of the valve in the throttle assembly. We start moving and feel a change in dynamics in a positive direction. Verdict - replace the sensor!
Alternative firmware version of the on-board engine control module. It is possible that the firmware was previously replaced and the owner of the Lada Kalina does not know what exactly is “hardwired” in it in case of activation of the emergency engine operation program (with the mass air flow sensor disabled). In this option, we place a plate 1 mm thick under the damper stop. The revs will naturally rise. At this moment we remove the “chip” from the connector on the sensor. If the motor stops, then the firmware itself is to blame, or rather, the steps of the XX regulator for emergency mode.
We measure the voltage at the terminals of the connected mass air flow sensor. We set the multimeter to a range with a limit of 2 Volts. Turn on the ignition and take measurements. The absence of a malfunction will be confirmed by a voltage value of 1.01-1.02 V.
We inspect visually. Using a screwdriver, remove the clamp and corrugated pipe of the air supply system to the manifold. We remove the sensor itself and look at its external condition. There are no traces of moisture or scratches. If the air sensor is covered with a film of oil, then we suspect the engine for wear of its elements or the crankcase ventilation system.

Replacing the mass air flow sensor in the Kalina model

When the owner of a Lada Kalina feels a deterioration in engine performance along with the presence of the above symptoms, or a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor is identified during a thorough diagnosis, it is not recommended to delay the procedure for replacing the component. If repairs are neglected, the problem will begin to progress, causing the LADA Kalina engine to “lose” its full functionality. The replacement process itself is very simple and does not require detailed comments. It is recommended to observe safety measures regarding preliminary de-energization of the on-board network by disconnecting the terminals from the battery.

Let's sum it up

The mass air flow sensor in the LADA Kalina car is a fairly “tenacious” component of the engine control system. The air sensor does not require any additional measures regarding its maintenance. The owner is recommended to lean towards routine periodic diagnostics of all systems and not to neglect the timely replacement of the air filter, especially since now you know how to check the mass air flow sensor.

How to independently check the mass air flow sensor for serviceability

Diagnostic scanner and OBD-II error code detection program. A method that guarantees 100% results, but requires basic user training.
Check the connector of the connecting cable from the ECU for the integrity of the wires and contacts. Performed with the engine turned off and the ignition key in “ON” position. The connector is first disconnected from the flow meter. It is necessary to make sure that there is a supply of 12 V on contact No. 2, and 5 V on contact No. 4 relative to the negative contact No. 3 (ground).
Checking the functionality of electronic sensors and the control board of the Kalina mass air flow sensor. The connector is connected, the engine is turned off, the key is in the “ON” position. The quiescent voltage of a working flow meter on pin No. 5 should correspond to 1 V (± 0.02 V). If the multimeter shows a voltage of 1.03–1.05 V, the mass air flow sensor needs to be replaced quickly, but can still work. A faulty flow meter will show a voltage of more than 1.05 V.

The driver will immediately feel the symptoms of the malfunction. Traction disappears at the slightest load, the car stalls when going uphill. When the engine is not warmed up, the speed fluctuates and hangs after releasing the gas. The “Check-Engine” indicator light comes on and does not go out.

Tip: To prevent breakdowns of an expensive flow meter, it is recommended to check its condition by inspection each time the air filter is replaced. If dust or moisture is found inside, you need to find and eliminate the cause, and blow the sensor itself with compressed air or wash it with a special aerosol product.

Examination

The sensor can be checked using diagnostics at a service station using ADC channels, or independently using a multimeter. Since the first diagnostic method is quite expensive, we will consider the first one, using a multimeter.

To check, you need to use a regular multimeter for 500 rubles.

Sensor tester

Power circuit

The first step of the test is to measure the voltage on the control circuit. To do this, turn on the car's ignition. On the multimeter, turn on the switch to measure DC voltage 20V.

If everything is in order, we proceed to checking the sensor.

Sensor

We connect the connector to the sensor and measure the voltage between pins 3 and 5; it should be no more than 1V. We compare the obtained readings with the table below and draw a conclusion about the operation of the mass air flow sensor.