MASS AIR FLOW CLEANING

no you don't need anything they're recommending. It's just a way to empty your wallet.

 

Won't hurt your car, really, if you don't do it. But your car may run a bit smoother and with better gas mileage if you do it.

I would never pay a dealer to do this. Buy a can of MAF spray at the auto parts store and search this forum to find DIY directions on how to take off your air cleaner unit to get to the MAF. Shouldn't take you more than 30 min. Get some Throttle Body spray also and clean the throttle body while you're in there. And buy an air filter and change it, too. This all might cost you $40 and take you less than an hour. A LOT cheaper than $170.

 

What you need to do is immediately change dealerships.
If you feel benevolent you can write the owners and tell them that their Service Manager is a thief, but chances are that the folks in the head-shed are at least tacitly supporting this scummy behavior.

Here's why:
A Mass air flow sensor is a piece/part that's usually located behind the air filter, and just in front of (if not part of) the throttle body. The ECU (computer) uses it to measure how much air your car is breathing in so that it knows how much fuel to mix with it to get a proper burn in the cylinder.
Since many things can affect how much (mass) air that you're sucking in, it's important to measure accurately.

OK?

OK.
SO....there are several types but they usually contain a wire (or wires) that can get dirty and affect the readings.
This usually manifests itself in reduced fuel economy or throttle response that the driver WILL notice........and unless you're one of those people that replace your dry paper air filter with an oily rag (e.g. K&N air filter) or you don't replace your air filter at all for 50,000 miles or so yours ISN'T dirty!

I'm only guessing but I deeply suspect that:
1. You didn't notice a decrease in performance or economy.
2. You're not a devote of K$N filters....and.....
3. Your car is nowhere NEAR the usual mileage that necessitates doing a clean and inspect on the MAFS....

Your dealer is bent.
Replace THAT.

Here's the other thing.
Let's pretend that your MAFS *is* dirty.
If this is true, then it's a warranty issue since there's no line item in the maintenance schedule that covers this "repair" and if the MAFS really is dirty on a car with 24,000 miles then you have a big problem with your intake system that requires immediate attention.
Also......
Cleaning the MAFS costs about $5 and takes about 15 minutes if you've never done it before.
$169.95?????
That's criminal.

Good Luck!

 

i've never cleaned mine, or even had it recommended. nothing in the owners manual scheduled maintenance. agree with everyone above, complete and utter rip off. find a new dealer. (although, most are the same) they must attend a ripoff training seminar.

 

Just do this service, and change your engine air filter, and you'll be set. I wouldn't worry too much about the MAF sensor since if it's really bad, it'll set off a Check Engine Light.

 

At 26K you don't need anything other than an oil and oil filter change...maybe a Cabin Filter if you have been hosting parties for Mickey and Minnie Mouse -- but that is it.

Do not clean the throttle body. Do not clean the MAF (mass Air Flow sensor). You could, maybe, check the engine air filter and MAYBE, but not likely, need to change that, but as others have said, this dealer is not exactly telling you as it is -- unless you are facing some (very, very, very, unlikely) major engine issue.

 

No way. I would not do it. At 26,000 miles, they want to rip you off.

 

I think that some body in the repair shop wants a higher commission on build-up absurds repairs.

 

Scotty Kilmer showed on utube how a $10 can of MAF cleaner fluid can do the trick and prob. last longer than you and your familes life of the cars ... no need to drop 2 bills on the operation so u can get some fun home theater , free popcorn and coffee at the toyota dealership ...

 

This is pictures of my MAF sensor after 100000 miles , don’t think yours could be worse than mine ....another scam

 

that doesnt look too bad .. u must live in a 'clean' environment and garage kept

 

No garage , good maintenance with good products...

 

of course just because it 'looks clean' doesnt mean there isnt a layer we cannot see that impedes some of the function --
after 100k miles .. (over 5 years) something is not gonna be the same .. the recommendation is to clean it every 6 months ..

 

Here's a typical MAF sensor that I see in the shop at 80k +.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

do u guys use the CRC spray to clean the MAFS ?

 

Yep. sometimes if the deposits are bad I'll soak a pipe cleaner (fuzzy craft stick) and use that to GENTLY scrub the sensing element (they are fragile!).