MAF cleaner

[Rambam]

My 320i E46 is idiling irratically when its cold, drops from between 550 and 1000rpm and sometimes cuts out completely. Also smells like its burning rich for the first few minutes of idiling. Some people have suggested cleaning the MAF as a first easy course of action. What do you guys use to clean this? Will a simple Isopropyl Alcohol solution do?

Thanks!

 

[Nikhil]

I would use a contact cleaner/switch cleaner,isoproyl leaves behind a bit of residue as well as makes things a bit brittle. where about are you based? if you in jhb try rs-components

 

[moranor@axis]

not sure what Isopropyl Alcohol is, but electric contact cleaner is safe... make sure its completely dry before starting the car...

 

[Rambam]

I would use a contact cleaner/switch cleaner,isoproyl leaves behind a bit of residue as well as makes things a bit brittle. where about are you based? if you in jhb try rs-components

Im in Cape Town area, well Stellenbosch/Strand to be extact.

 

[sclass]

not sure what Isopropyl Alcohol is, but electric contact cleaner is safe... make sure its completely dry before starting the car...

Is this good to do even as a preventative measure, or is the MAF not to be F'd with until you get symptoms as above?

 

[Rambam]

not sure what Isopropyl Alcohol is, but electric contact cleaner is safe... make sure its completely dry before starting the car...

Is this good to do even as a preventative measure, or is the MAF not to be F'd with until you get symptoms as above?

Ive read and been told that it should be a routine, maintenance kind of thing, first time I am going to do it in 3 years, hope it helps with the idle.

 

[moranor@axis]

some people clean them when they do the air filter, but i think thats a bit excessive... every second service should be enough to make sure its working 100% unless its broken...

 

[sclass]

Cool, can I just walk into an Autozone and ask for an electric contract cleaner? Specific brand?

 

[moranor@axis]

well i used wynn's and it did not react with any of the plastic... if you buying you may as well ask if they have MAF cleaner... if they dont have get contact cleaner...

 

[sclass]

:thumbs:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Of course, a quick thread regarding this: Changing PS fluid & Cleaning MAF

This is found here: BMW E46 - BimmerWiki

 

[Rambam]

I just used a can of herschel electrical contact cleaner I picked up at South End stores for R39.99. Quick couple of squirts, let it stand open for a few minutes an job done. I also noticed that the hose clamp connecting the hose to the MAF was loose, so tighened her up. This was obviously the cause of my irratic idle and dodgy fuel comsumption. Car goes REALLY well now :thumbs:

 

[moranor@axis]

good stuff :rollsmile: