Amazing what a new MAF can cure

[Steve Brookes]

Over the last month my boxster had developed starting problems. Often a prod of the throttle was needed, there was lots of blue/black smoke and it was very lumpy at idle for the first couple of minutes. Over the last 18 months I'd changed the AOS, all the coil packs and fitted new plugs, so presumed the ignition side was all fine. The O2 sensors were changed a couple of years ago too.

However, in my near 5 years of ownership the car had not had a new MAF so I bit the bullet and bought a new one. I bought the Bosch equivalent from Design 911 for £190 + VAT which is a significant saving on the Porsche original price. Interestingly, when I opened the Bosch box and looked at the MAF, it not only had the Bosch Part number on it but it also had the Porsche part number on (986 606 125 01). Once installed, the starting problems disappeared and the car is now running again as good as it ever has. []

Since a failed MAF is normally only associated with loss of power at high revs, I thought I would share my experience of how a new one cured my starting problems.

 

[spyderman]

Interesting, Steve - how easy was it to change?

 

[Steve Brookes]

About 15 minutes max. Put the hood in the service position, remove the engine cover, disconnect negative lead of battery (keys in ignition), remove two security torx screws (you need the torx keys with the hole in), unplug it from the harness, put the new one in and everything back. Let the car idle for a few minutes when you start it up for it to re-adapt DME and off you go []

 

[colinbythesea]

Thanks for this. I have some rough idling when cold and occasional hunting around on idle. I asked the specialist on the last service to check the MAF and whilst not bad they advised the replacement price being the Porsche part price at stupid £hundreds. When I was looking for a new one for my model they were available for just over £100.

However the rough idling went away after the service so I thought the plug to the MAF might have been dirty or loose and was better for being taken off and on to test it. I do have a couple of corroded coil packs though from the coolant tank splitting some time back so the question is what to try first as it hadn't logged any faults at the service in October and I understand it won't if coil packs go.