Help with MAF and ESP

[iamproph]

So I left my car with my friend for two weeks and show back up to a broken car. Apparently he randomly turned it on and it had a check engine light. He brought it to a local shop and they ran I assume a VAG and got a mass airflow sensor issue. Also, now when I turn on my car the ESP symbol is automatically on, like it turned it off by itself. I have a full FI exhaust, K&N drop in and APR chip. Is there any real issue here or can it wait a couple of weeks with me still driving it to get it fixed?

[Justincredible]

First check to see if there is any damage to the MAF of the Wires going to the MAF.

Your ESP is triggered off of the MAF. If the MAF readings go out side a certain limit the car thinks the tires are spinning (at given RPM And MAF reading)

So do this. Try disconnecting the MAF then start the car. See if the ESP goes away (it shouldn't) then reconnect the MAF but make sure to clear the codes. Don't drive the car just start it and see if the ESP light comes back on after the car runs for about 3 min.

Feel free to post the ACTUALL code the car got. You might just have a bad MAF and all the info above is not going to fix anything

[iamproph]

The code is P0101 , hope this helps, can anyone help?

[B18b1ex]

That is a MAF Code. You probably need a new MAF, some dealers have reman one for about half the price of new one.

[...Mark...]

I was researching filters a while back and it seemed as if K&N's are notorious for fouling up MAF's due to the amount of oil in the filter. Your friend probably isn't bullshitting you, about the CEL, its probably the filter that fouled it up and it just so happed to crap out during the time frame where you let him drive it.

Reading about experiences like yours is the main reason why i just got a new OE filter and called it a day..

[HIERLEVELZ]

bingo!

I was researching filters a while back and it seemed as if K&N's are notorious for fouling up MAF's due to the amount of oil in the filter. Your friend probably isn't bullshitting you, about the CEL, its probably the filter that fouled it up and it just so happed to crap out during the time frame where you let him drive it.

Reading about experiences like yours is the main reason why i just got a new OE filter and called it a day..

[B18b1ex]

I was researching filters a while back and it seemed as if K&N's are notorious for fouling up MAF's due to the amount of oil in the filter. Your friend probably isn't bullshitting you, about the CEL, its probably the filter that fouled it up and it just so happed to crap out during the time frame where you let him drive it.

Reading about experiences like yours is the main reason why i just got a new OE filter and called it a day..

I had a K&N for more than 20k miles before min crapped out, they do just go bad. Yes if you have too much oil you can kill it prematurely but a sensible person can have a K&N and a working MAF.

[ieatfishburitos]

When my MAF died (same code) after putting in a K&N the ESP light also came on. The car is in limp mode thus ESP is disabled (that is what the service manager told me)

[...Mark...]

I had a K&N for more than 20k miles before min crapped out, they do just go bad. Yes if you have too much oil you can kill it prematurely but a sensible person can have a K&N and a working MAF.

True but at the same time i didn't want to risk it or deal with this kind of headache all for what... 3 or 4hp? Not worth it in my book especially seeing that Audi would not cover the MAF under warranty if they saw the aftermarket filter there.

In my mind its not worth the expense of the filter and the fact that i was exponentially increases my chances of having a MAF fail which i would have to pay for out of pocket as well all for a minimal horse power gain. When shopping filters i talked to one of the guys at Stassis at length and found out they run OE filters in all their cars for the reasons i posted above.

[ieatfishburitos]

True but at the same time i didn't want to risk it or deal with this kind of headache all for what... 3 or 4hp? Not worth it in my book especially seeing that Audi would not cover the MAF under warranty if they saw the aftermarket filter there.

In my mind its not worth the expense of the filter and the fact that i was exponentially increases my chances of having a MAF fail which i would have to pay for out of pocket as well all for a minimal horse power gain. When shopping filters i talked to one of the guys at Stassis at length and found out they run OE filters in all their cars for the reasons i posted above.

FYI, audi covered my MAF under warranty when I rolled in with a brand new K&N and a dead MAF. They did make me buy an Audi filter and replace the K&N with it.

[...Mark...]

FYI, audi covered my MAF under warranty when I rolled in with a brand new K&N and a dead MAF. They did make me buy an Audi filter and replace the K&N with it.

Wow.. My guess is they kept your k&n right..

[ieatfishburitos]

Wow.. My guess is they kept your k&n right..

Nope... They put in a box and gave it back to me. Told me they wouldn't cover it if it happened again and I had the K&N. They did charge me for the new air filter and 1/2 hr labor, but the MAF itself was free.

They also refused to give the "wrecked" MAF to K&N for analysis.

[jaybquick@JHM]

The Bosch MAFs are a common failure.

We have a bunch of them in stock. You only need to undo 2 torx screws and replace the drop in sensor portion. Plus it is a lot cheaper that way. No need to change the plastic housing.




Here they are on our site --> MAF Sensor Electric portion only for $90

[iamproph]

Does everyone think thats a good idea? Besides the MAF and it throwing code P0101 , am I fine running my car for a little bit with the CEL and ESP off? I turn off ESP everytime I get in my car anyways so thats not a problem, so should I just get the replacement from JHM or go to audi, have them replace and get a stock filter?

[B18b1ex]

Does everyone think thats a good idea? Besides the MAF and it throwing code P0101 , am I fine running my car for a little bit with the CEL and ESP off? I turn off ESP everytime I get in my car anyways so thats not a problem, so should I just get the replacement from JHM or go to audi, have them replace and get a stock filter?

If I'm nor mistaken the dealer will charge more than twice what JHM is asking. You can wash the K&N and don't oil much or some don't oil at all.

[Justincredible]

Does everyone think thats a good idea? Besides the MAF and it throwing code P0101 , am I fine running my car for a little bit with the CEL and ESP off? I turn off ESP everytime I get in my car anyways so thats not a problem, so should I just get the replacement from JHM or go to audi, have them replace and get a stock filter?

Its your car but 90% of the info the car uses comes from the MAF. So you might want to make sure you have that issue taken care of. The car is going to be running richer then normal with out the MAF working properly...

Check to see that the air box is sealed and that the MAF and the air box are mated properly. You might have a leak some where. But in the end its not all that great of a idea to keep driving around with a bad or failing MAF

[Bravest NY S4]

Its your car but 90% of the info the car uses comes from the MAF. So you might want to make sure you have that issue taken care of. The car is going to be running richer then normal with out the MAF working properly...

Check to see that the air box is sealed and that the MAF and the air box are mated properly. You might have a leak some where. But in the end its not all that great of a idea to keep driving around with a bad or failing MAF

Any pics of where the MAF is located in the engine bay...pleez??

[jaybquick@JHM]

Any pics of where the MAF is located in the engine bay...pleez??

Here is a pic I found of an S4 engine (Eddieman's) He has a cold air kit but you should get the point. It is the black thing hooked to the big hose, it will have a connector on it close to the firewall. Normally it bolts straight to the airbox if you have a stock airbox.