1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Please Help!! How can a fly get suck in the mass air sensor?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by amills88, May 6, 2011.

  1. amills88

    amills88 New Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2011
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    ​
    Please help me I need some help understanding what happened, and what I should do. Ok so I took my 2008 Prius to a Valvaline oil change place,when I noticed that I was near the recommended date ( My miles were still way under the mileage they had on the sticker). Ive been a customer there for years along with my other family members. Well I asked about my car having a couple second lag when I floor it to pull into traffic from my sub, (it's scary the times the car doesn't move rt away bc traffic is coming at 55mph), I said it felt like a cylinder was misfiring. Well they didn't know what was wrong and they couldn't look since my car is a hybrid. when I left not even a mile away my car beeps and flashes and a red explanation point, a engine and a little explanation point in a circle came on and then my car slowed down and eventually stopped. So my car wouldn't start so I had to tow it to the Toyota dealership which is conveniently 45 miles away. When I got my car they said that a fly got stuck in my mass airflow center and that they think it was caused by improper installation of the air filter. So my dad nicely (and I am not being sarcastic) called the oil place and the owner was so rude and mean so now my dad wants to take him to court. The last time I got my oil changed they put in the new filter and this resent time I went they pulled the filter to show me that I didn't need to change it. Was it their fault that this happened to my car? I only have 52000 miles on my car (bought it with 43000) and I take good care of my car. Is there any other ways a fly can get in there? The oil place said that since my car felt like the car was misfiring it was because of the fly in there, but post-fly my car still does that. Is that normal? So what should I do? Please Help!!! Oh and btw this is the first thing that has gone wrong with my car and none of the warning lights have ever came on before.
     
    #1 amills88, May 6, 2011
  2. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Yeah a fly cant pass through a properly installed air filter, so it likely that it got in there while it was in the shop. You're not likely to be able to prove though, so your best option is to just find another shop to do the oil change next time.
     
    #2 uart, May 6, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,041
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yep: incorrectly installed air filter. Good luck proving it. Even for simple jobs the odds are better at a dealer since they are more familiar with the work.

    But note that it is extremely easy to replace the air filter on a Prius. Anyone who can drive can do it. Buy filters from a Toyota dealer or online, and note *very carefully* how the old one is installed; if you're not familiar with it, it kinda looks like it goes in upside-down (which may well be the mistake made by the Kwiky Loob place).
     
    #3 richard schumacher, May 6, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,482
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    1. I agree that the presence of the fly was due to improper air filter installation. If a fly could get into the MAF sensor, then a substantial amount of dirt also got into your engine. This will result in unnecessary engine wear.

    2. If your car is still having driveability issues "post-fly", and you can demonstrate this to your Toyota dealer's service writer, then I suggest that you return to your local dealer for help. When the fly was removed from the MAF sensor, was the sensor and the throttle body interior cleaned? If cleaning doesn't help, maybe the MAF sensor needs to be replaced.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, May 6, 2011
    2 people like this.
  5. tf4624

    tf4624 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2009
    526
    51
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Its simple, in this world anything is possible even this

    Clean it if its broken buy a new one..
     
    #5 tf4624, May 7, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  6. KTPhil

    KTPhil Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2005
    1,379
    20
    0
    Do you have the fly documented? If your dad is angry enough, he can take the shop to small claims court (cost: $50-$75). Once served, the shop may change their attitude. Offer to settle for a refund of the work cost and also your filing fee. Shop won't want a judgement against it (public record), and should agree. But you have to make your case and a written statement from the dealer should do it.

    But you aren't going back there ever, so is it worth the trouble? Maybe a (free) compaint to the BBB or state Consumer Affairs dept?
     
    #6 KTPhil, May 12, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)