Thread: Car idles better with MAF unplugged

I am chasing down this cold idle issue. Changed AICV, changed distributer for CPS code, cleaned IACV, Reset TPS, all helped little. The colder the weather, the longer and higher the cold start idle. The warmer the ambient temp the worst it coldstart idles. I have to hold it open a bit until the temps come up and the idle stables off. Ok. Today I decide to unplug the MAF while it was stalling and it did not stall. As a matter of fact it leveled off to 750-850rpm. Is this the sign of bad MAF?

It would seem the maf is giving bad reading or you have an air leak in the intake tube. Disconnecting the maf causes the engine to use other means to keep the idle stable and not relying on the maf signal. This is how I thought it worked which would mean an issue with maf or intake is probable.

Then again I'm no expert but I would swap in a known good maf or test the voltage on the one you have.

I begin to sound like a broken record when I ask if you checked the grounds, because mine were absolute shit and it caused so many problems. Including very poor idle.

rob i need your number

Sounds like your MAF is toasted

MAF can fail in more ways than being just dirty. It can also present random voltages during idle. Sort of like noise on the line.

I have this problem with my MAF. It's got 220k on it. Idle is a little jumpy, and once every few months, it will die from a warm start.