Maf troubles causing crazy stalls?

tekimp · Post by **tekimp** » 12 Jul 2008, 20:52

Hello everyone! I am new... just got me a Volvo 850 GLT less than a month ago. I've looked at this site and the volvo enthusiats site for help with minor problems... but this problem I have now is beyond me!

Okay here we go!

Yesterday, it was raining like crazy! Drove the car from 0530 to 1250 no problems... then it started stalling... I got to my unit luckily(I am in the Army). Then I had to drive home, forgot some stuff. Anyhow.. on the way home... it was a nightmare! Stalled out on the busiest street on base. Luckily I was able to get the car going (stalling like crazy) and parked at a gas station. Couldn't solve the problem there... so I had to get home.... stalling, sputtering... ugh... I wanted to die!

Anyhow, after talking to all my mechanic friends and neighbors... they said it was either the fuel pump or fuel filter. I checked those... and they were totally new... still changed the fuel filter... cheap enough.

Went to get a fuel pump... EXPENSIVE AS HELL! That wasn't the problem.

Anyhow... I read and read and read... I checked the Cam sensor... good... I cleaned the throttle body... good. I cleaned the MAF... good... but the car runs rough and stalls still.

I accidentally left the MAF sensor disconnected and BAM! It ran like a champ!

I ain't gonna drive it... but I ordered a refurbished MAF from ebay.

Hopefully that's the problem... I mean, the car ran when it was disconnected.

I I know other people have gone through this problem... but they never responded back with if it was the FIX. So I am trying to be cautious... is it really that significant a part?

Well, thankyou for ya'll time... I love this forum already! SO much info!

Cheers,
ACE
82nd ABN DIV

P.S.- It's a 1996 Volvo 850 GLT... very nice... got it for $1500 from a soldier going to Japan... Feel like I got a lemon now... but still... IT'S A DAMN NICE CAR AND A DAMN GOOD RIDE!

Japedo · Post by **Japedo** » 12 Jul 2008, 21:11

Did you drive it around with the MAF unplugged or just let it idle? Also whats the milage? Im not a mechanix I work on people, but I know this info will make everyone's job at analyzing your problem easier.

Peace

Japedo

94 850 T5 199kilometers (parts buggy)
94 850 T5 469kilometers
01 V70 XC 110miles

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 12 Jul 2008, 21:45

ACE,

God bless you and the rest of the 82nd, welcome to the forum. I think you found the source of your problem with the MAF but I am concerned about the term "Refurbished MAF". There really is no refurbishment procedure for that part that I am aware of short of spraying it down with MAF cleaner. If the MAF cleaner doesn't fix it then it is time to replace it. Hopefully your new part will work.

...Lee

tekimp · Post by **tekimp** » 13 Jul 2008, 08:50

Thank you both for responding so quickly! WOW! Just awesome!

I disconnected the MAF and drove the car around the neighborhood and the car ran (like before the stalling started).

I am also aware that when you un-plug the MAF, the car goes into a "limp home mode"? Couldn't find a good explaination as to what this mode is about. I am not a mechanic... I a Parachute Rigger... LMAO! I'll pack parachutes, rig vehicles to drop from planes, rig cargo of all sorts to drop from planes... HELL I'll drop from a plane 1~3 times a month. LMAO... it's fun... as long as the Parachute opens.

Anyhow, I am gonna see what I can do about getting the codes off the OBD.

Thank's ya'll again,
Ace

P.S.- here is the ebay dealer I got the "after-market" MAF from... they say it's "new"... so it should be good... pretty much the only reason I am getting it... but it's WAY cheaper than the dealership in Fayetteville... that place is such a rip-off!

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/merchant/mpg_auto

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 13 Jul 2008, 09:16

If you had the bad MAF in and had trouble and no trouble with it unplugged, then it's most likely the MAF Unless you've blown a huge air leak. Btw, the "limp mode," is simply the computer adjusting itself for you to be able to drive with the most conservative air/gas mixture possible- so it would take into account any air leak (for unmetered air) or unplugged MAF. On a turbo car, this means you wouldn't be able to boost the turbo at all but it will get you home (as the name implies).

My in-law's are retired military and still live in Fayetteville. I know what you mean by the dealership there....they know not their A$$ from a hole in the ground and they're way over-priced to boot. Last year, I test drove a new S80 there because of a free Volvo emergency kit associated with the test drive. Never got the kit. I'm sure the dealer didn't send in the paperwork he was suppose to. Got tired of trying to get it after a few phone calls from Knoxville to the dealer in F-ville and just gave up. I wouldn't set a foot in there unless I absolutely had to.

tekimp · Post by **tekimp** » 22 Jul 2008, 15:43

Wow!

I was seriously worried that I had wasted my money on an expensive part... but it fixed the problem!

Took the car on a long haul road trip... it did amazing! 27~30 mpg on the highway! TOTALLY AMAZED.

Yet, it still has problems... when trying to start it... well... I gotta give it gas now. More than likely something wrong with the idle control valve... or... vaccum line problem... I dunno.

At least she runs!

YAY!

Thankyou all for your help!

Cheers,
Ace

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 22 Jul 2008, 16:23

Ace,
Did you reset the adaptives by unplugging the battery for 20 minutes (don't do this without the radio code)? If you haven't, this could help your "giving it gas" syndrome as your ECU might still think you have the old MAF in there.

db130 · Post by **db130** » 23 Jul 2008, 06:38

There is indeed a method of rebuilding a MAF but it is not a DIY job. Both A1 Cardone and AC Delco offer remanufactured MAFs for our cars. There are MAF rebuilders online that will rebuild a dead one if you mail it to them but it's obviously faster to just buy a rebuilt one.

Free2drive! · Post by **Free2drive!** » 23 Jul 2008, 13:10

Great to hear you got it fixed, are you at Bragg??
Matt

tekimp wrote:Wow!

I was seriously worried that I had wasted my money on an expensive part... but it fixed the problem!

Took the car on a long haul road trip... it did amazing! 27~30 mpg on the highway! TOTALLY AMAZED.

Yet, it still has problems... when trying to start it... well... I gotta give it gas now. More than likely something wrong with the idle control valve... or... vaccum line problem... I dunno.

At least she runs!

YAY!

Thankyou all for your help!

Cheers,
Ace

darkstarsinner · Post by **darkstarsinner** » 23 Jul 2008, 15:30

He should be if he is in an 82nd unit. The only reason I didn't stay at Bragg myself is to do my RIP School.