Bad MAF Sensor??

Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's, Olds 98 91-96, Buick Lesabres and Park Avenue 91-96. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
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Don Mega
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Year and Trim: 1999 Pontiac Bonneville SLE

Bad MAF Sensor??

Post by Don Mega »

Hello all,

I have been having this issue with my Bonne bogging down sporadically. I read a post on here before regarding someone having a similar problem but now I cant find it for the life of me. :-) My Bonne starts, idles, and runs really smooth but occasionally, without warning and at any temperature the car will drag at take off. Almost feels like it drowns itself and then clears up after I play with the gas pedal. I bought the car with 80,000 miles on it and it currently has about 86,000. I noticed this problem shortly after I purchased it so I immediately replaced the wires, plugs, fuel filter, air filter, pcv, oil change w/filter and tranny service. That seemed to have fixed the problem, but a week later it started again.

My mechanic buddy told me the MAF sensor might be going bad and advised me to pull it out and clean it with a specific MAF cleaner (which I did). That seemed to do the trick as well but then another week goes by and its doing it again.

Is my MAF sensor about to take a crap??

Any ideas on what my problem might be?

Any help is appreciated and thank you in advance.
wjcollier07
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Re: Bad MAF Sensor??

Post by wjcollier07 »

Thats about dead on as far as the symptoms for a MAF go...are you getting any SES light?

right now, I'd suggest taking the negative cable off the battery overnight resetting everything, strangely enough, sometimes this works.

Otherwise, you'll want to replace the MAF. I don't know that its a very common problem, especially at that mileage, so getting one of the correct code from a JY would be in your best interest.
John
Now: '15 Toyota Prius III | 134 hp 2ZR-FXE | Silver | 36k
Now: '03 Honda CR-V AWD | Slow 4-Cylinder | Dirt | 180k

Then: '07 Ford Fusion SEL | 221hp Gen I VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Tungsten Silver | 150k
Then: '99 Toyota Avalon XL | 200hp 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6 | Diamond White | 189k | Sold: July 2015
Then: '11 Ford Fusion SEL | 240hp Gen II VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Ingot Silver | 84k | Totaled: Oct 23 '14 (Rear-Ended)
Then: '96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra | 240hp Series II L67 | Medium Dark Lichen | Bought: JAN 11 @ 135k | Accident: FEB 3 '12 | Crushed: MAR 1 '13 @ 153K
Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp Series II 3800 L36 | Topaz Firemist | Bought: NOV '09 @ 74k | Accident: MAY 28 '10 | Crushed: MAR 15 '11 @ 84k
Then: '93 Pontiac Bonneville SE | 170hp Series I 3800 L27 | Dark Yellow Green | Bought: JULY '07 @ 92k | Sold: JULY '12 @ 118k
Then: '89 Pontiac Bonneville LE | 165hp 3800 LN3 | Medium Garnet Red | Bought: JAN '05 @ 117k | Sold: SEP 30 '07 @ 152k
Don Mega
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Posts: 22
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:27 am
Year and Trim: 1999 Pontiac Bonneville SLE

Re: Bad MAF Sensor??

Post by Don Mega »

wjcollier07 wrote:Thats about dead on as far as the symptoms for a MAF go...are you getting any SES light?

right now, I'd suggest taking the negative cable off the battery overnight resetting everything, strangely enough, sometimes this works.

Otherwise, you'll want to replace the MAF. I don't know that its a very common problem, especially at that mileage, so getting one of the correct code from a JY would be in your best interest.

That's what I thought. I should be able to secure one for pretty cheap at a junk yard. I'll give that a shot and follow up with ya'll on the results. Thanks for the response!
Don Mega
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Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:27 am
Year and Trim: 1999 Pontiac Bonneville SLE

Re: Bad MAF Sensor??

Post by Don Mega »

wjcollier07 wrote:Thats about dead on as far as the symptoms for a MAF go...are you getting any SES light?

right now, I'd suggest taking the negative cable off the battery overnight resetting everything, strangely enough, sometimes this works.

Otherwise, you'll want to replace the MAF. I don't know that its a very common problem, especially at that mileage, so getting one of the correct code from a JY would be in your best interest.

Oh... And to answer your question no SES light and no check engine light.
Bob Dillon
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Re: Bad MAF Sensor??

Post by Bob Dillon »

The local parts puppies had a sale, so I anted up and installed a new one today. Gimme a coupla hundred miles on this tank and we'll have some data.
462 cubic inches of REAL Pontiac power.
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88bonnsse
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Re: Bad MAF Sensor??

Post by 88bonnsse »

sounds like the maf plus a dirty throttle body and/or a throttle body sensor going bad...
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