Cleaning The MAF
by: Mike Adler (Mike79)
Is your 03-04 Cobra running a little rough at low RPM’s? This is why!
An explanation and step-by-step process of how to take apart and clean your MAF on a 03/04 Cobra.
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There are a few reasons as to why you should clean your MAF at least once a year. Any K&N style air filter uses oil to catch the fine particles of dirt and dust within the filter. The bad part about this, is that some portion of the oil is pulled off of the filter, and sucked into the engine. On its way to the engine, it passes through the MAF, and coats the sensors with this oil. This will make your car run rich, because your computer thinks the car is running lean, and the computer compensates for it accordingly, robbing you of power. Also, it causes the “low idle surge” that so many 03-04 Cobras seem to have. So lets see how we do this.
Step 1- Remove the negative battery cable. Anytime you work with anything electrical, such as the MAF, you want to do this. It also re-sets the computer and fuel tables, which you want to do, this way the MAF and computer can communicate correctly.
Step 2- Take the air filter cover off, and remove the air filter itself. The air filter cover here is being held on with one bolt, and the filter itself is held on with a band clamp.
Step 3- Disconnect the MAF plug. Remove the MAF housing itself. It’s held on by one band clamp. Some twisting of the MAF housing may be needed in order to remove it. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT touch the inside of the MAF tube, where the sensors are located. They look like simple wires located at the top of the MAF tube.
Step 4- You will now clean the MAF sensors. To do this, you will use CRC QD Electric Cleaner. You can get it at Pep-Boys or AutoZone. It’s normally around $6 or so. Its important not to use something that is very strong on the MAF wires, otherwise you can harm them. Spray the wires with the cleaner, don’t be afraid to use too much. It evaporates very quickly.
Step 5- After a few minutes, you can put the MAF back onto the intake tube. Repeat the process backwards to reassemble the MAF onto the intake tube. Again, make sure NOT TO TOUCH the MAF wires! Plug the MAF plug back into the MAF housing.
Step 6- The rotation and alignment of the MAF has a big effect on the mass air transfer function...align it to line up with the sensor in the air tube so they point the same direction at the top...in the picture mine is pointing towards 12'oclock, I need to point it so it's approx. 10'oclock, (thanks to Hermann from SVTP for pointing this out, I forgot to mention it.)
------DISCLAIMER for Step 6: Mike, and I recommend keeping the MAF in the same position as it was in before the cleaning job. We have seen a MAF rotation without re-tuning the vehicle result in various lean or rich air fuel conditions and DO NOT recommend the rotation until a re-tune is available.------
This is also a great time to clean your air filter since it’s out of the car. You can get oil-based filter cleaning kits at Pep Boys or AutoZone. K&N, as well as Steeda supply these kits. You simply spray down the filter with the cleaning spray, wash it off after it has sat for 15 minutes or so, let it dry, and re-apply the oil. Walla!
Step 7- Then, put the filter back on, and the cover. Re-attach the battery cable. Let the car idle for ten minutes, to let the computer reset. DO NOT drive the car hard for the first time out. It will run a little lean for that first session. Afterwards, drive it like you stole it. You will notice the car runs a lot smoother, and the low idle surge should mostly be gone. Here you see a nice clean MAF and air filter. Enjoy!
