MAF sensor readings?

Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 KIA SPORTAGE
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 144,000 MILES
Did a resistance test on mass airflow sensor with the following result.

power to ground 14.3 ohm
ground to temp sensor 2.3 ohm
no reading on ground to input

The power to ground reading seems high to me, and I am unsure of the ground to temp reading, do any of these indicate that I have a failed or failing sensor?
Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 8:06 AM

27 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,236 POSTS
Resistance tells you nothing because of the way a MAF is made internally. All it tells you is that things are connected inside. That is why there are no published specifications other than the voltage response curve. What matters is the voltage signals from the temperature and MAF sensor sections. Those are measured with a scan tool or by back probing the MAF with it in operation. Then you look at the voltage curve and look for skewed readings or a bad curve or lack of one. In your case you should see about.5 volts at idle and about 1 volt at 3000 RPMs. That would be the voltage between pins 1 and 3 on the diagram for flow rate. For the air temperature it's easier, the scan tool will tell you the temperature of the air intake and ambient air, on a parked car they should be within a degree or two, if you see -40 the temporary sensor is broken or disconnected, +140 means it's shorted. What is the issue you are having? Any codes or CEL on?
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Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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Having rough idling issues with some erratic idling, no codes related to MAF, but since it is a component that can cause rough idling I wanted to at least rule that out. The only code I had recently was a p0172, also recently had fuel pump and injectors replaced.
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Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Rough idle with a P0172 isn't likely the MAF unless it's skewed high. What are the voltages at the O2 sensor and what are the fuel trims doing? Do you have a scan tool handy?
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Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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I do not have a scan tool capable of any sort of live monitoring, only basic code scans, and because of the design of the connector to the MAF I can't do a backside test without potentially damaging the connector.
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Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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Also have not tested o2 sensors, also both were replaced about 10 months ago.
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Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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A scan tool would tell you a lot more than any other testing. As for back probe testing, you use a needle or a kit like in the image, they are very thin probes that go between the insulation and the seal with no damage. Unfortunately, these days even simple repairs need a scan tool that can read live data at a minimum.
Something like this would work and give you the ability to deal with most issues for a long time.

https://www.topdon.us/collections/diagnostic-tools/products/artidiag-pro
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Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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Thank you for the advice, I have ordered a scanner with live data ability and will do more thorough troubleshooting once I recieve it.
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Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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No rush. One quick test you can try, on some cars you can unplug the MAF, and the computer will substitute data for it. If it suddenly runs better, it might be a sign of the MAF being an issue, but it could also cause it to not run at all.
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Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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I did do that, did not notice any changes. That was while parked though, wasn't sure if I could do a short drive with it disconnected to if there was any drivability change.
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Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Yeah you can drive it disconnected, but if you noticed no change at idle then it's probably not the MAF causing the erratic idle. It could be a dirty throttle body; they get built up with crud and can cause airflow issues that the idle control will try to compensate for.
Was the odd idle before the injectors and pump?
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Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 AT 9:41 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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It had done that prior, but its more pronounced now. While idling after I start it in the morning the rpm will just randomly go up to between 2000 and 2500 then drop to around 500 before evening out at 950 to 1000. Also driving a short trip to the store today it stalled twice while stopping, no codes came up.
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Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Try a snap test, get it warm and slip your foot off the gas and let it snap shut. If the engine shuts down, then take a look at the throttle body. The stalling while stopping could be that. The initial start sounds like it could be as well, a small vacuum leak might as well.
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Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 AT 11:37 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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Did snap test, no stall. Soon as I released pedal, rpm came down then idled a little rougher for about 3 seconds, that was it. When I have more time this weeked I will inspect the throttle body and see if it needs cleaning, will also inspect spark plugs, it has been at least 7 months, but I do alot of travelling so I figure it can't hurt to at least do that.
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Thursday, April 10th, 2025 AT 7:52 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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No rush we will be here.
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Thursday, April 10th, 2025 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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Ran the live data. Stft fluctuated between 1.4 to 3.9 while idling but settled on 3.9 on the playback, ltft at -14.1, tp% was 5.1, o2 at bank 1 at.76 v and bank 2 was.70 v.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 8:50 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Okay, it's adding fuel StFt but overall pulling 10% Was the B1 O2 changing as it should (Normally they run from just above zero to one volt and switch back and forth. If it is staying at.76 then it is still running rich. Try this, watch the fuel trims (graph them if possible) Now at idle pump the brakes a few times, this will simulate a large vacuum leak, the B1 should drop down to almost zero and a moment later so should B2. The engine should chuggle but not shut off. If the O2 still stays high then it has a problem. I would also do an oil change. If the engine had a bad injector it would have added fuel to the oil, as the engine warms up that fuel vapor would go through the PCV and cause it to think it is running rich and pull fuel away.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 9:31 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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The bank 1 o2 did fluctuate between.1 and.7 while I was watching the data. Oil was changed just a few months ago.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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So when hitting brake pedal, both o2 readings dropped to.03 b1 and.05 b2 then back up to between.7 and.8 respectively. If needed I have a pdf file of the live data if you wish to review that.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 10:28 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Okay, it sounds like that side of the system is working as far as the O2 sensors not being stuck. It still sounds like it's running rich though. Long shot but you might want to check the EVAP purge valve. If it is stuck partly open it could be pulling in fuel vapor.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
MUNEWOLF32
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Thinking something in the evap system then or possibly an intake or vac leak?
Will look into the purge valve, should note that it was changed about a year and a half ago in shop.
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Friday, April 11th, 2025 AT 6:34 PM

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