Air mass air flow sensor?

BRIDGETTEPERDUE

MEMBER
2014 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE
3.6L
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC
171,000 MILES

My car’s mass air flow sensor (check engine) light came on, cleaned it with the cleaner and now the traction control light came on and car won’t accelerate. It starts up fine, when I drive it and get passed 40 it starts acting up. Also, I noticed after I cleaned it the battery gauge is higher than it normally is.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Hi,

How high is the battery voltage? Take a look through this link for testing:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

If it is over or under charging, it will adversely affect different sensors, so we need to check what it's doing.

Next, you indicated the traction control light is on. Did the ABS light come on as well? If it did, is the brake fluid low? I know that sounds crazy, but it can cause this.

Now for the MAF. Disconnected and see if it runs better or worse. The vehicle will go into a preset operation with it disconnected and should change how it runs. If it does, replace the MAF.

Additionally, here is what I suggest. Because we have different modules involved, what should be done is this. Have the can-bus scanned for diagnostic trouble codes.

CAN stands for controller area network. Basically, all the different modules communicate with each other via a few wires. A traditional scan tool can't retrieve codes from most of the different modules, so you need one that can read all modules. This type of scan will retrieve codes regardless of the module storing them.

Here is a link that explains how to do what I'm referring to:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe

Also, let me know the exact code or codes you retrieved related to the MAF.