It could potentially signal a damaged or faulty mass air flow sensor. Regardless of whether there are any other signs of an issue, you should have your car checked out by your local mechanic if the light comes on. The most common sign of mass air flow sensor failure is a lit-up check engine light. A bad air flow sensor may show as code B1479 when scanned by an automotive repair specialist. In many vehicles, especially those made by Toyota, flow sensors built into the compressor have a high rate of failure. Even becoming too dirty can cause it to stop working, so it’s important to have a local mechanic take a look if you notice any of the following symptoms in your vehicle’s performance. This is due to the fact that it is constantly exposed to moving air, which is full of exhaust fumes, debris, and dust. Over time, your mass air flow sensor can degrade and become prone to failure. This can cause a myriad of other problems for your vehicle. A faulty mass air flow sensor can make it difficult or impossible for the engine control module (ECM) to calculate fuel injection correctly. Acceleration requires AFR of up to 12:1, while cruising requires levels as low as 22:1. This is important for calculating the amount of fuel to add to achieve the proper air-fuel ration (AFR), Ideal AFR is 14.7:1 (14.7 lb of air to 1.0 lb. Mass air flow sensors measure the air mass flowing into the engine intake.

Both outputs are sent to the engine control module to help regulate air-fuel mixture in the car’s automatic transmission system. Digital sensors send a frequency output, while analog mass air flow sensors produce a variable voltage output. However, there are various types of air flow sensors and all require different maintenance.

In some cars, the intake air temperature (IAT) sensor is built into the mass air flow sensor. It is located between the air filter and the engine’s intake manifold. The mass air flow sensor (MAF) is a key component of the electronic fuel injection system in a car.

Audi a4 mass air flow sensor problems