Re-Bitten Hero

After this we thought it would be a good idea to see who else has this problem.

Basically the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor on M99 and MY00 turbos seems to be a weak part, and its performance degrades over time such that the fuel mixture becomes too weak at higher revs, the engine runs lean and overheats, and eventually it goes bang! Net result: melted piston; new short motor needed, total cost around 2500-3000 quid .

It seems this is becoming an increasingly well known problem - for instance both mine and Puff The Magic Wagon!'s cars have gone in this way in the last few months.

So if this has happened to you, please could you post here with details of your car so that we can find how many people have been affected? Thanks .

Richard



To start the list:

Re-Bitten Hero: MY00 PPP 50000 miles
PTMW!: MY99 PPP 77500 miles

SiDHEaD

My MAF failed but it was changed and the engine didn't blow. Am I to be worried... It's already had one new engine

Andy

drb5

iTrader: (4)

Re-Bitten Hero: MY00 PPP 50000 miles
PTMW!: MY99 PPP 77500 miles
drb5: my99 44,500 miles

chrome

could it not be down to the fact that the MAF was long gone causing det etc that then caused the damage?

get a knocklink.
I did and saved my engine when my MAF was near dead.
I know it doesnt help you tho'..

Re-Bitten Hero

Normally when the MAF sensor goes totally, the readings go out of tolerance and you get a Check Engine Light and the car goes into limp home mode. Unfortunately it doesn't detect a gradual decline

I'll look into a Knocklink - always fancied christmas tree lights in my car anyway .

Richard

nom

Just out of interest...
I'm pretty sure that the fugly, when it came out in the US, was recalled fairly shortly afterwards to have all the MAFs replaced with new ones, which is why we have finally got the much tougher, uprated ones here. Except we have to pay for them. Lovely, eh?

Re-Bitten Hero

Where can I buy a knocklink? I've tried the usual places and can't find it

Thanks
Richard

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

so the 2 cars that blew up were both PPPd !!!!!

interesting!!!!

I presume as the PPP is the only mod available that does not effect your Warrenty that both of you will get your engines replaced by subaru?????????

Gav

didn't blow my engine but my maff went without warning[img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

the engine check light came on then!!

gav..my00

johnfelstead

BR Developments.

Re-Bitten Hero

Steve - still on a crusade against the PPP then . And drb5's wasn't PPP'd so .

John - thanks, sorry, didn't mean to double-post/mail you about it. I'll talk to Bob now. Group buy on KnockLinks anyone?

Cheers
Richard

Graz

Engine okay, but I do have a MY00 and I'm concerned.

Would you be able to see a failing MAF with SECS? I think it reads the MAF voltage so you may be able to see if the value is significantly wrong on WOT.

I've had a thought, would it be possible to make a simple guage, like AFR, to monitor the MAF voltage. If it starts reading lower air volume on WOT then you would know it's time to replace the MAF sensor?

OllyK

Re-Bitten Hero

Jap Innovations do them as well, £88.13. This is using the standard sensor. The replacement sensor is extra but the price is not quoted.

Could be interested in a Group buy on this...

johnfelstead

NEVER use the standard sensor with a knocklink, always buy the bosche sensor to use seperately.

Not a problem Richard.

Re-Bitten Hero

Could we keep technical stuff on this thread please?

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...=278873&Page=1

Thanks .

Trouble is I don't really have time for a Group Buy... sorry!

Cheers
Richard

IN THE STICKS

Engine OK (at the moment ) but I'm picking up a new MAF on Saturday because mine's fooked I think MAF

MY99 with 36,000 on the clock

Dave

[Edited by IN THE STICKS - 12/10/2003 1:54:50 PM]

[Edited by IN THE STICKS - 12/10/2003 1:55:32 PM]

[Edited by IN THE STICKS - 12/10/2003 1:56:58 PM]

CraigH

engine blew, when it was put back together the maf was dead.......

STI V so no-one cared anyway

scoobymoo

Engine didn't blow but both maf and lambda sensor had to be replaced due to very dodgy idle.
MY99 PPP 36000miles

Iwan

Engine didn't blow but MAF replaced (MY99) last week under warranty at 41k miles due to dodgy idle. No CEL warnings, just the dodgy idle...

Now idles better but still 'hunts' occasionally (once in the last week), could be the lambda sensor but at least that doesn't cause further damage if it goes.

Soapy Sam

Had Ecutek done at Scoobysport this summer on my MY99 (64k miles)and Pete replaced the MAF sensor then as it was failing (and I had no idea... thanks, Pete)

misty

It would appear from the previous posts, that when the idle starts to go on the blink, it would be a good time to change the MAF?
dave

Re-Bitten Hero

Thanks guys... keep 'em coming! Seems there's a lot of it about !

Misty - spot on. But then mine seemed to idle perfectly until it was all too late...

Richard

[Edited by Re-Bitten Hero - 12/10/2003 2:23:10 PM]

EvilBevel

Naughty naughty for doubting that Richard

FWIW I had 4 MAF's totally fail on me (was due to a certain induction kit) and 2 MAF's going gradually in 4 years time.

At all times my knocklink/lambdalink/EGT gauge saved me from it.

I also personally know of 5 confirmed cases in Holland with blown engines due to MAF "degrading" only.

Re-Bitten Hero

Unbelievable!

"MAF sensor... the Silent Killer. Save your car - buy a KnockLink now!"

TopBanana

MAF sensors seem to be the weak point on lots of cars - not just subarus. They ECU really should raise a check engine light if the knock sensor gets a consistent rise in activity - as it would have done in these cases.

A Knocklink is a wise investment for any Scooby owner regardless of age. It would pick this up early.

sonu

Hi

Got me worried.

I'm interesting in getting the knock link, but who can fit this? Need someone who knows how to fit it properly. Any recommendations please?

Thank

Sonu

scooby-zeus28

Mine went on satuday morning went 2 start it engein light came on and went in 2 limp mode. Lucky my engine is ok. I had it booked at a rolling road on satuday 2. Lucky or what

ScoobyDoo555

This is an interesting one - when I bought my MY99, as I went to collect it, had a call from the dealer saying that #3 piston had gone (they'd only found out when the emissions were too high on the MOT)

Obviously, after some haggling and a replaced set of parts/engine etc, I was on my merry way.

But then I noticed that the car would stall on idle.... a faulty MAF was diagnosed and replaced (under warrantee).....

Makes you think that I was lucky with my timing If the piston had've gone after I'd picked the car up, well, God only knows what the outcome would've been......

Car now got about 70K on the clock, and apart from a replaced Knock sensor, all has been well (lucky rabbit's foot, touch wood, fingers crossed etc!!!)

But this thread DOES join up some dots as to why my car had problems before I even picked it up....

Interesting.

Dan

Ps Hope you get your car back on the road quickly.....

EvilBevel

OK, maybe important to interject this... Sonu, last time I started a thread on MAF sensors on the Dutch BBS, there was much "worry" and also accusations of scare mongering.

Since then I never bothered to reply anymore.

But I think quite a few of the knowledgeable people on here will confirm that the MAF sensor is really a very very weak part on the Subaru(and Golf/BMW/Audi/Seat of the same era...)

There have been many threads on "Number 3" and my personal opinion is that these, although great, technical threads, have taken away the attention the "MAF" should get.

I'm not saying that MAF failure is the only thing wrong with the Impreza, far from, but my gut feeling is that there are more engines blown due to this than any other reason.

Anyway, sorry to somehow get OT from the factual question: how many people had their engines fail because of a MAF sensor problem.

ScoobyDoo555

Like I said, even though #3 was the fault with the engine, all fingers point to a faulty MAF as the actual cause,

Will deffo be looking at a Knocklink...

Dan