A couple of MAF questions...

[Sameoldsway87]

I just bought a SVX about three weeks ago. I absolutely love it. It's everything I wanted in a first car (although, I believe, cars I own in the future, I won't appreciate them like I do this one). When I bought it from the seller, he addressed a problem with the MAF and that it dies intermittently. I thought "I'm absolutely amazed with this car, so if it runs for the most part..." so I think I made the right decision. A few acquaintances who dabble in mechanics told me that an MAF is a $25 part. They didn't know and I didn't fully understand at that point the rarity and intricacy of the SVX. The stalling really started to get on my nerves, so I decided fix it, but my friends who dabble in mechanics said "it couldn't be the MAF, it's clean and you're not showing the CE light when it dies, so you can't run codes on it." So, for the longest time, I figured it was some sort of an electrical problem (keep in mind, I don't know much at all about mechanics) and I knew that would be expensive. About 2 days ago, I ran into this site and many threads confirmed the MAF theory, but I still can't be sure. I still can't run codes, and I don't want to spend 200-400 dollars on a "maybe." I saw on ebay a JECS type A MAF for an Impreza for $50 and it looks exactly the same (except for the part number and color code, of course) and I thought it would work. I know that installing it would depreciate the top-end performance and the economy of my car, but I figured I could use it and stop the stalling while I save up for the correct MAF or find the correct one for a cheaper price. So, I have three questions:

1. Should I buy that MAF?
2. How big of a difference will the weaker MAF have on my top-end and my economy?
3. If I did and install it, will I have to reset the ECU? If I do, could you point me in the right direction of a tutorial on how to do it?

Thank you very much.

[Manarius]

1. In my own opinion, I say no. I think you can get a better deal on a known working SVX MAF.
2. I don't think it would hurt either. I used a Legacy MAF for a few months with 20 city mpg and 28 highway mpg with an LSi AWD.
3. Easy replacement. You may not even have to relearn the ECU.

[CorSVXette]

I would say look in the parts for sale section on this site or post a thread in the parts wanted section for the MAF. You can also try to clean your MAF. Look in the "How-to Docs above. Good luck.

[Sameoldsway87]

Thanks you both very much. I think I'll give it a go until I figure something out. I don't think it'll hurt (except for the $50 plus shipping in my wallet) and it's, I think, a good test to see if the MAF is, in fact, the problem.

Thanks again.

[kwren]

Best to find out what is really wrong with it, but at least try cleaning the MAF first.
Lots of information here on cleaning and having a bad conector re-soldered with great results!!

Good luck,
Keith

[lechnoid]

Congratulations on the buy. What part of the state are you in?

[Sameoldsway87]

I'm in Duluth. The kid I bought it from got it in Bemidji. Other than this issue and some peeling paint on the spoiler (which he sanded smooth, so this weekend I'm getting paint and taking care of it and some minor dings on the body), it's in fantastic shape. Really smooth ride.

I was able to run codes. As I suspected it would, the MAF showed up. Also, the left O2 showed up. That code could've been old, I never reset them and when I took it on the test drive, my buddy talked to the kid and he swears up and down that the kid said he replaced the O2 (he didn't specify which one). Even if, its not a big problem to replace it. Although, my gas mileage is perfect (somehow better than my mom's '01 Outback) so I'm rather skeptical that it's my 02.

Well, the impreza MAF should come within the week. Like I said, I'll use it temporarily until I am able to find the blue label for a good price, or when I can afford it.

Thank you all again. Very helpful.

[oab_au]

Originally Posted by Sameoldsway87

I'm in Duluth. The kid I bought it from got it in Bemidji. Other than this issue and some peeling paint on the spoiler (which he sanded smooth, so this weekend I'm getting paint and taking care of it and some minor dings on the body), it's in fantastic shape. Really smooth ride.

I was able to run codes. As I suspected it would, the MAF showed up. Also, the left O2 showed up. That code could've been old, I never reset them and when I took it on the test drive, my buddy talked to the kid and he swears up and down that the kid said he replaced the O2 (he didn't specify which one). Even if, its not a big problem to replace it. Although, my gas mileage is perfect (somehow better than my mom's '01 Outback) so I'm rather skeptical that it's my 02.

Well, the impreza MAF should come within the week. Like I said, I'll use it temporarily until I am able to find the blue label for a good price, or when I can afford it.

Thank you all again. Very helpful.

It may not be the O2 sensor that is faulty. The code means that the reading for the sensor is "out of bounds". It can be a fuel or air, problem that the ECU can not 'see', so it gives a code that the reading is wrong.

Harvey.

[lhopp77]

Originally Posted by Sameoldsway87

the stalling really started to get on my nerves, so I decided fix it, but my friends who dabble in mechanics said "it couldn't be the MAF, it's clean and you're not showing the CE light when it dies, so you can't run codes on it." So, for the longest time, I figured it was some sort of an electrical problem (keep in mind, I don't know much at all about mechanics) and I knew that would be expensive. About 2 days ago, I ran into this site and many threads confirmed the MAF theory, but I still can't be sure. I still can't run codes, and I don't want to spend 200-400 dollars on a "maybe."

Thank you very much.

Have you actually run the trouble codes???? I don't see where you or anyone has. Go to the How-To documents and follow those procedures.

OTHER bad sensors will give you false readings on oxygen sensors and air flow. Start with the codes if you have not already done so.

Lee