A week ago I put up a post about my "check engine light" coming on in my
2000 Golf.
Turned out to be the MAS air flow sensor. Is this a reasonable problem?
About what should it have cost to replace? Does VW have a list that the
dealer go by for repairs?
I feel so helpless about these things. I don’t know what a MAS sensor it,
let alone if it actually need to be replaced, was replaced, or charged
fairly.
"JS" <JohnSmith4…@hotmail.com> wrote in message <news:%%AMa.428$rr7.149@news02.roc.ny>…
> A week ago I put up a post about my "check engine light" coming on in my
> 2000 Golf.
> Turned out to be the MAS air flow sensor. Is this a reasonable problem?
> About what should it have cost to replace? Does VW have a list that the
> dealer go by for repairs?
> I feel so helpless about these things. I don’t know what a MAS sensor it,
> let alone if it actually need to be replaced, was replaced, or charged
> fairly.
I just replaced the MAF Sensor on my 1999 Golf IV about a month ago.
It was replaced once before by the original owner (I bought the car in
August of 2002), and now once by me. I had to pay for it out of
pocket since the car is out of warranty and the previous repair was
done over a year ago. However from what I have read the part is known
to be faulty – so the 1st replacement may have been faulty, hopefully
the new one I just got is not.
In total, it cost me $170 USD (before tax) for the part and labor. I
think all dealers can do this repair.
Basically, it controls the mixture of gas and air being sent into the
engine. When it starts to go the engine is usually getting too much
gas – aka running richly. It is something that needs to be fixed, but
not a super urgent thing.
I heard that it is easy enough to change yourself (just a plug you
remove and then pop the new one in(?)) – the part itself is between
60-80$. But I don’t really know much about cars either, and due to
not having a Bentley manual handy, I just let the dealer do it. Or
for all I know they just disconnected the sensor and screwed me over.
Bastards. :o)
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
What engine do you have in your Golf? TDI, 1.8T, VR6, 2.0L?
The 2.0L MAF’s are $40 or so…the other MAF’s are rather expensive — in
the $300-$400 range if you buy from dealer.
There are online sources which can sell them cheaper, ie: http://www.vwparts.com
and others. If you have a TDI, i think that someone is selling, on
http://www.tdiclub.com, OEM replacement MAF’s for around $180 which is a
substantial discount.
And yes…the MAFs in VW’s tend to be problematic and prone to failure.
There are a few workarounds available — look for posts entitled, ‘Pierberg
MAF’s’ on tdiclub.com’s forums if you want some examples of workarounds that
are available.
"JS" <JohnSmith4…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%%AMa.428$rr7.149@news02.roc.ny…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> A week ago I put up a post about my "check engine light" coming on in my
> 2000 Golf.
> Turned out to be the MAS air flow sensor. Is this a reasonable problem?
> About what should it have cost to replace? Does VW have a list that the
> dealer go by for repairs?
> I feel so helpless about these things. I don’t know what a MAS sensor it,
> let alone if it actually need to be replaced, was replaced, or charged
> fairly.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
"ztip guy" <dont.spam…@sasktel.net> wrote in message
news:vg76ksc74o6685@corp.supernews.com…
> What engine do you have in your Golf? TDI, 1.8T, VR6, 2.0L?
> The 2.0L MAF’s are $40 or so…the other MAF’s are rather expensive — in
> the $300-$400 range if you buy from dealer.
It is the 1.8T, so I guess the price wasn’t so bad after all, thanks.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
MAF sensor failure is pretty common in VWs, though many people never
have the problem. You may be covered under emission components
warranty, depending on the state you live in.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
"Ken Sternberg" <ksternbe…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fdf9d657.0307021926.1e0c8354@posting.google.com…
> MAF sensor failure is pretty common in VWs, though many people never
> have the problem. You may be covered under emission components
> warranty, depending on the state you live in.
Any idea about NY and a 2000 Golf?
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Your owner’s manual should have an emissions warranty section
explaining what’s covered and for how long.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
"Ken Sternberg" <ksternbe…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fdf9d657.0307030428.7d06cbce@posting.google.com…
> Your owner’s manual should have an emissions warranty section
> explaining what’s covered and for how long.
Thanks, it does. Two years; oh well.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
I’d read that section again. Emissions equipment usually has a 60 to 80
thousand mile warranty by federal law. Most people dont know this, and I’m
sure the de(ste)alers arent going to go around broadcasting it since these
parts are not cheap. IF it IS covered under an emissions law (I honestly
dont see why it would be, but it could be), then give ti a shot at getting a
new one. the worst they could say is no.
–Andy P
"JS" <JohnSmith4…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:luXMa.4$hf1.3@news01.roc.ny…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> "Ken Sternberg" <ksternbe…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:fdf9d657.0307030428.7d06cbce@posting.google.com…
> > Your owner’s manual should have an emissions warranty section
> > explaining what’s covered and for how long.
> Thanks, it does. Two years; oh well.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
I think the emissions equipment is also covered for about seven years,
so it’s worth looking into it further.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
I think that’s only in California! A lot of items that one would think is an
emission warranty isn’t anymore. But if the car is under 3 years old and
36,000 miles VW may pickup the repair or maybe just the parts.
"Ken Sternberg" <ksternbe…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fdf9d657.0307031724.7435df28@posting.google.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> I think the emissions equipment is also covered for about seven years,
> so it’s worth looking into it further.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
But many states, like Mass. where I live, follow California’s lead and
enforce the same regs. Call you state envt’l agency.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
"Woodchuck" <stv_euro…@yahoo.comXXX> wrote in message <news:3f058c4d$0$41419$4d5ecec7@reader.city-net.com>…
> I think that’s only in California!
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Since you 1.8T is probably AWD engine (150hp)
You should be able to use 2.0 MAF which is a lot cheaper (~$40).
2.0 has a different plastic housing, but the internals are the same.
Just move the internals from the 2.0 housing into yours.
It will cost you $40 and 20 min of work instead of $180 for parts or
$350 at a dealer.
VW knows about this and asks for a 2.0 VIN when people are ordering
2.0 MAFs.
A VIN from any 2.0 at a parking lot comes handy here…
Good luck.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
"JS" <JohnSmith4…@hotmail.com> wrote in message <news:%%AMa.428$rr7.149@news02.roc.ny>…
> A week ago I put up a post about my "check engine light" coming on in my
> 2000 Golf.
> Turned out to be the MAS air flow sensor. Is this a reasonable problem?
> About what should it have cost to replace? Does VW have a list that the
> dealer go by for repairs?
> I feel so helpless about these things. I don’t know what a MAS sensor it,
> let alone if it actually need to be replaced, was replaced, or charged
> fairly.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
It may very well work but consider this. All 2.0L engines use all 5 wires on
the MAF but most 1.8T’s only use 4 wires. Will it work, and work
correctly… maybe! But I would not take the gamble of using a part which is
not designed for the car. After all that’s why they have different part
numbers.
"Alex" <a701…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d3598430.0307041257.6ddef02f@posting.google.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Since you 1.8T is probably AWD engine (150hp)
> You should be able to use 2.0 MAF which is a lot cheaper (~$40).
> 2.0 has a different plastic housing, but the internals are the same.
> Just move the internals from the 2.0 housing into yours.
> It will cost you $40 and 20 min of work instead of $180 for parts or
> $350 at a dealer.
> VW knows about this and asks for a 2.0 VIN when people are ordering
> 2.0 MAFs.
> A VIN from any 2.0 at a parking lot comes handy here…
> Good luck.
> "JS" <JohnSmith4…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
<news:%%AMa.428$rr7.149@news02.roc.ny>…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> > A week ago I put up a post about my "check engine light" coming on in
my
> > 2000 Golf.
> > Turned out to be the MAS air flow sensor. Is this a reasonable problem?
> > About what should it have cost to replace? Does VW have a list that the
> > dealer go by for repairs?
> > I feel so helpless about these things. I don’t know what a MAS sensor
it,
> > let alone if it actually need to be replaced, was replaced, or charged
> > fairly.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
In article <fc7fa7d.0307021002.306fd…@posting.google.com>, Pete Foley wrote:
> I just replaced the MAF Sensor on my 1999 Golf IV about a month ago.
> It was replaced once before by the original owner (I bought the car in
> August of 2002), and now once by me. I had to pay for it out of
> pocket since the car is out of warranty and the previous repair was
> done over a year ago. However from what I have read the part is known
> to be faulty – so the 1st replacement may have been faulty, hopefully
> the new one I just got is not.
I just replaced mine last week. (99.5 2.0 Jetta) Dealer said $180 P&L.
$60 for just the part. Needless to say I just bought the part. Took
like 20 minutes to install, including the time spent trying to find
my bigass Channel-Locks to squeeze that compression ring loose. I had
to drive it a few times before the computer was satisfied enough with
the readings to extinguish the Check Engine light.
…Sean.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Did you know that the connector that goes to the MAF also should be replaced
to prevent reoccurring problems!
"Sean" <Stalky1…@excite.com> wrote in message
news:slrnbid8v4.1eh3.Stalky15-1@thehill.comcast.net…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> In article <fc7fa7d.0307021002.306fd…@posting.google.com>, Pete Foley
wrote:
> > I just replaced the MAF Sensor on my 1999 Golf IV about a month ago.
> > It was replaced once before by the original owner (I bought the car in
> > August of 2002), and now once by me. I had to pay for it out of
> > pocket since the car is out of warranty and the previous repair was
> > done over a year ago. However from what I have read the part is known
> > to be faulty – so the 1st replacement may have been faulty, hopefully
> > the new one I just got is not.
> I just replaced mine last week. (99.5 2.0 Jetta) Dealer said $180 P&L.
> $60 for just the part. Needless to say I just bought the part. Took
> like 20 minutes to install, including the time spent trying to find
> my bigass Channel-Locks to squeeze that compression ring loose. I had
> to drive it a few times before the computer was satisfied enough with
> the readings to extinguish the Check Engine light.
> …Sean.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Glad it worked.
I own a ’94 GTi, and I suspect the MAF going faulty, the car is very
slow and it has allways had good maintenance.
I’ve read a few threads about the MAF for the A4 2.0 beeing cheaper
now.
The MAF for a A4 2.0 is 80 bucks, for my ’94 ABA 2,0 is 280 bucks.
Shouldn’t they work in either car?
Has anyone tried this out?
Maybe the housing is different, but it is possible to adapt the new
sensor to the old housing.
Bob//
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
In article <3f271f58$0$80501$4d5ec…@reader.city-net.com>, Woodchuck wrote:
> Did you know that the connector that goes to the MAF also should be replaced
> to prevent reoccurring problems!
You mean the electrical connector? Looked okay to me. I even sprayed it
with some contact cleaner to make sure it was clean.
Guess I’ll just have to take my chances.
…Sean.
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 12:44 pm