deadphoenix52

any words on the carb and choke cleaner? sorry to seem impatient but i was hoping to get this done tonight. i dont want to use something that is going to harm it.

deadphoenix52

never mind, i went out and bought the real stuff

SumRX8

hey guys, i disconnected it and rubbed the IAT sensor, it broke. I figured it would be ok without it cuz its not the maf, and i cant imagine the car needing to know what the air temp is.

Anyways, I sprayed 409 in there to clean it, and it took FOREVER to dry.

BUT that wasnt the problem as patience is a virtue and my patience paid off, because i reinstalled everything and the car started right up, but now it wont idle...whats wrong??

User24

iTrader: (1)

In addition to the 409 kitchen/toilet cleaner you mentioned, I'm guessing you are just kidding? I hope so.

Updates: I don't remember any difference in gas mileage.

CNC products: They have many similiar automotive cleaning sprays, and often they are sold side-by-side on the shelf which adds to the confusion.

Here is CNC's website with their product/chemical descriptions:

Air Intake
http://www.crcindustries.com/auto/co...=05078%2D6&S=N

MAF
http://www.crcindustries.com/auto/co...x?PN=05110&S=N

Electrical
http://www.crcindustries.com/hd/cont...x?PN=02180&S=Y

wcs

iTrader: (2)

409 LOL
You broke the IAT and now it won't idle?
MMmmmMmmmm lemme think.... ...

Maybe the spider gears are out of sync from the giggle rod
<free post>

SumRX8

nope...checked that

DOMINION

Dam how did you brake it?
Rubbing it to hard?

I'm going to be cleaning my MAF sensors and bulb this Thur with a q-tip and air can duster lol I dont want to brake it

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I am their MAF and Electrical Cleaner user. couldnt be happier. Just spary the crap out of it. and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then reinstall.

Happy Idle.

DOMINION

Found it! This is a great post!
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...9&postcount=48

vk6xre

Brilliant DIY I used CRC Electrical contact cleaner. It took longer to drive to the Auto Parts store than to clean the MAF.

ManicMechanic

Simply use rubbing alcohol, and a clean, soft toothbrush. Take your time and be gentle. Brake cleaner or carb and choke cleaner are too harsh for a MAF sensor!! There is nothing wrong with this as regular maintance. Do it every time you change your spark plugs, more often if you run a POS K&N air filter. The filter would be ok, but most of the **** you clean off of your MAF is filter oil!! Don't over load your filter!! more is better? I don't think so!!

kanedrz

iTrader: (2)

bump

Socket7

Does one disconnect the battery before unplugging the MAF? or does it get no voltage at all when the car is off?

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

No need to unplug, just unscrew and spray away.

....but yes, off means off!

S

DOMINION

I find it a PITA to unplug but hey thats just me. I like unpluging things lol i mean unplugging the MAF then spraying it

mrinno

Thanks for the info

Delmeister

How can a 'harsh' cleanser such as carb or brake cleaner damage the MAF? What would you be concerned about damaging? The active components are very inert (platinum?) and there is no significant voltage to short out. I say the harsher the better (within reason -- don't use battery acid).

ManicMechanic

Carb and choke cleaner won't harm the MAF but it can melt the plastic arround it. It also leaver a nasty residue on the wire that might make it more dirty than when u started. Thete is no voltage across the MAF as long as the key is OFF!!! CRC Mass flow cleaner works the best, but I have had good luck with rubbing alcohol. After carefully cleaning it with an old toothbrush and alcohol blow it dry and go for a test drive.

ManicMechanic

You should use a magnifying glass and a bright light to inspect the wire before cleaning it to make sure it needs to be done. Too much cleaning will not hurt it, but u take a chance of breaking it every time it is cleaned. On the other hand if u clean it regulary there is no need to scrub!!

ManicMechanic

By the way, what do u expect this to do for your 8? Do u know what a MAF is, or what it does???

Delmeister

A MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor measures air flow by sensing the effect of the heat transfer rate from a wire (usually platinum) placed in the air flow. The wire has a know temperature coefficient of resistance. In one of several possible implementations, a constant current is passed through the wire. This heats the wire up, and its resistance changes with the rise in temperature. Because the current is constant, the voltage drop across the wire is a direct measure of its resistance, and hence the temperature of the wire. The higher the air flow, the higher the heat transfer from the wire, hence the lower its temperature. Therefore the voltage across the wire decreases as the air flow increases (mass flow actually, because the heat transfer coefficient is dependent on both air density and velocity). There is a correlation between mass air flow and sensor temperature (voltage). The voltage is small.

I didn't use an actual MAF but as a quick test of you comments, I sprayed some carb cleaner on a wire. I couldn't detect any residue. Also sprayed a couple of different plastics and they didn't melt (the spray nozzle is plastic). I have never cleaned my MAF (a '04) but do you know of cases where carb cleaner has actually caused problems?

Delmeister

Hold everything!!!
I did those tests on a dish in the kitchen. I then inadvertently threw the dish in the sink which was half filled with soapy water. I later emptied the water and.....a ring was melted into the acrylic (plastic?) sink at the surface of the water. The stuff must have floated. I guess it depends on the type of plastic. Can't wait till my wife sees it. She loves that sink. It took months for her to find just the right one.

Socket7

There is no reason not to buy MAF cleaner spray. It's in every auto supply store and it's dirt cheap.

Use the right tool for the job. Hell, anyone in norcal can drop by my house if they have MAF issues and they can use my can of MAF cleaner to clean their MAF. I'll even help to make sure you don't break anything.

You especially want CRC brand MAF cleaner, as it guarantees you'll get 4 to 10 HP just by using it!

Socket7

Deny everything. Blame her cooking.

ManicMechanic

I would like to applaud "Delmeister" for his excellent discription of how a MAF works! I couldn't have done a better job myself. about using carb cleaner causing problems, yes, I have seen it cause problems. It was not on an 8, it was on a Buick 3.8 litre. A tech I work with was getting ready to use carb cleaner on it's MAF, and I said "I wouldn't do that". He said he knew what he was doing, and when it melted (became distorted) and the car ran worse I had to say "I told u so".