944's MAF Sensors....A thought! source new PCB's ??? Any one been there before

[jellytott]

Monkeythree recently posted a question about ATP a company that offers a refurbishing MAF's.

All of us will at some stage will have the option to do the following:
1) look for a new unit from Germany, USA but as time goes my becomes fewer and fewer and no doubt price will go up.
2) Go for a rebuild/recon or refurb,,,,perhaps getting ripped off perhaps the company used the original parts with the quick fix in No3 below!
3) The possible fix of taking the black lid off and bend the sweep arms to move to fresh carbon track, if its been done already farting around bending the sweep arm to fresh track thats if there's still unused track to move too !!(those new to this trick ...search on your tube "how to refurb MAF on a 944")

The weak design in the MAF sensor is the small pcb with the carbon track, so does any one know if this is available as a refurb kit / supply only ??
Surely as time goes on more and more of us will run out of track to bend the arms too??

Has anyone investigated this already ?

John aka Jellytott

 

[Monkeythree]

Of course the idea of sourcing the PCB as a service item is an attractive one but realistically, I can't see Bosch being pursuaded to do so and the chances of getting someone to reverse engineer and produce new boards in relatively small numbers is equally slim.
My read on the OE situation is that Porsche and Bosch have control over the OES supply chain and can/will dictate price and availability of new units.
In regards of remanufacturing, I think it might be worthwhile having a meeting with ATP to establish exactly what they do and to explore the possibility of a small batch "production" run of remanufactured units. I am happy to try them and see what they say and report back.

 

[vitesse]

Wasn't the same Barndoor AFM used by Volkswagon,Mercedes,Audi,Rover(in Lucas guise),Volvo,BMW etc in fact by all cars using the same or similar Bosch L-Jetronic Pulsed Injection system normally with Electronic Ignition but not necessarily a full engine management control system although the later Motronic system still used this AFM-surely this widens the field at carbreakers when trying to find a S/H replacement.

I know I tuned my 1st Rover Vitesse(single plenum) having this(Lucas) system & a major adjustment having fitted Piper road/rally cam & HD lifters plus a larger Jaguar air intake was to weaken the coil spring setting in the AFM by removing the black top & moving the spring ends on the notched black plastic wheel thus allowing a quicker response to the better air intake flow.
I have done the same to our grey 924S giving an improved throttle response.

 

[John Sims]

With a plethora of after market engine management systems available, and most with far greater functionality over the original fitment, I can't see it being a viable proposition. The only limitation on the after market systems is obtaining a suitable off the shelf map to get you up and running.

 

[jellytott]

Good point John Sims, but wouldn't it be nice to have a simple fix with the PCB verses a after market refit and getting it working correctly,,,
Vitesse, had spotted that others used the MAF/AFM from Bosch but didnt realise it went so far across vehicle manufacturers. I suppose its worth a punt just to see exactly what may come up on answers from other forum members. Its just a shame that Bosch went down the positioner reading on resistance track that then inturn the pickup arm wore out the carbon track, if only there was a little old guy in a shed knocking out small tacho to resistance mod pcb's ....oh hey if only !!!but you never know if you don't start asking.