Control Module replacement on 1997 850

Post by **misha** » 19 Sep 2016, 13:02

...Or try to start and run the car with maf sensor disconnected.
If it runs better with it disconnected....it's bad.

DavidB · Post by **DavidB** » 19 Sep 2016, 15:29

misha wrote:...Or try to start and run the car with maf sensor disconnected.
If it runs better with it disconnected....it's bad.

I disconnected the power to the MAF and instead of turning itself off it started hovering between 900-1100 RPM, like it kept correcting itself. Is that a pretty difinitive "yes" on the MAF being bad?

Post by **misha** » 19 Sep 2016, 17:18

Turn it off and start it again while Maf is still disconnected.
If it runs and idles better or ok...it's the maf or it's connector.

DavidB · Post by **DavidB** » 20 Sep 2016, 09:29

It is working much better with the MAF disconnected so I went ahead and bought a refurbished one from O'Reilly for $108 (I'll get it in today) I've left the MAF with the power cable disconnected and have driven it like that. Hopefully this doesn't hurt the car. I will get the new MAF installed after work (wife has the car now).

Post by **misha** » 20 Sep 2016, 11:02

That will not going to work.
Return it and buy oem one....new or used it's up to you.
These cars just don't work with anything else than oem.Refurbished sensors are NOT even the option on them.

Post by **erikv11** » 20 Sep 2016, 11:56

misha wrote:That will not going to work.
Return it and buy oem one....new or used it's up to you.
These cars just don't work with anything else than oem.Refurbished sensors are NOT even the option on them.

This is totally correct, you're likely wasting your time (and $) with the refurb MAF. Occasionally they do work, but it is rare.

For a 97 I would get a Bosch one from the junkyard if you don't want to pony up for a pricey new one. Almost every MAF in the junkyard is working, get two if you are unsure. The car will be fine for a while with the MAF unplugged, it will just run a little rich.

DavidB · Post by **DavidB** » 20 Sep 2016, 12:45

Ok, I guess I had assumed that when they said refurbished they meant that it was an OEM part (Bosch?) but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet or install it. I'm going to put it in anyway, and just see (it takes 3 screws and probably less than 5 mins.) O'Reilly said they have a 1 year warranty on it so I took that to mean they will take it as a return if it does not seem to work.

So, I'm guessing that what you are saying is that it will work, but less than ideally or are we saying that it will not work at all? I have a pretty fair idea of how the car ran before this started so .. even if it "works" if it doesn't have the same pickup (or the check engine light does not turn off) I will definitely take your suggestion.

Edit: thank you all again for all of your help! Absolutely a life saver!!

Post by **misha** » 20 Sep 2016, 13:41

It will send wrong values to ecu.
It will work intermittently and will make a nightmare to you in troubleshooting of future faults...if you're lucky that it will work at all.

Maf MUST work ideally.....it works or it doesn't...but aftermarket and refurbished units are wrongly calibrated.

It's your choice.

DavidB · Post by **DavidB** » 20 Sep 2016, 14:15

Okay, Okay, you are the experts, I'll get the OEM part. Looks like it is only $30 more than I was going to pay for refurb. I don't mind putting down some $$$ if this will last a while, and at 137k I think I can put a good amount of miles on it if I take care of it.

That said: does this look right? It has the same part listed for both the 2.3l and 2.4l turbo:

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php ... 96&jsn=437

Edit: are their any brands other than Bosch that are acceptable? My wife is going to take the refurb back to O'Reilly, but they don't have the Bosch MAF and I'm not sure she understands what I mean when I say OEM parts... So she might try to buy one that is new, but not Bosch....

Post by **misha** » 20 Sep 2016, 14:37

From '96 up to '99 all of these cars have the same Maf.
Bosch 0 280 217 107.
There is no need for new one.....just pick oem one from junkyard.They are pretty cheap there.

Btw....did you checked connector?