Hello group!

I have been wrestling with this problem in my 96 S500 where it stalls at idle, hesitates and surges all the time. I replaced plugs and fuel filter in hopes that it would go away. To no avail.


Today, I thing I may have solved the problem but want a back up oppinion before I shell out the money for the part...

I disconnected the MAF and the car has stopped stalling and runs like a champ!!!

My question is... is this a pretty good indicator that the MAF is bad??? Also can I drive the car with it disconnected until I get a new one without harming anything??


Thank you very much in advance!

GT

You might try cleaning the MAF sensor first. Use a spray no-residue electrical contact cleaner. Give it a good soaking and reinstall it. See what happens. Also, you should carefully inspect the wiring to the sensor. Make sure it is in good condition. Cut away any tape or wrapping and have a close-up look at the wiring harness.

If cleaning does nothing, and the wires look good by visual inspection, it may be worth laying out the cash for a new MAF. They do simply go bad over time and use. It's a sensitive electrical part in a harsh environment, and yours is now 11 years old (if original). With a capable OBDII scanner you should be able to read the output of the MAF sensor in real time at various rpm's and then compare that to factory specs. I can't give you a reference to factory specs for air flow, however. Maybe someone can. Otherwise just buy a new one and be happy to have a new part on the car.

Yes, you can drive with the MAF disconnected, as long as it runs OK. The car's computer will simply revert to a standard fuel map which may not be optimum but will run the car. The emissions may be elevated and fuel economy could suffer some, again because the fuel map (air/fuel ratios) may not be perfect.

Brett

A possible problem...

http://v12uberalles.com/MAF_rewire.htm

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Thank you Brett and PCMaher for the responses!!