Battery dying?

[kingklick]

So my NB has been acting up for months (even if it isn't mine, it's my brothers but he doesn't know how to take care of anything) I finally ran the car with the MAF unplugged and found out I have a faulty MAF and is causing A LOT of hesitation. Anyways, when I run it with the MAF unplugged it does randomly. I was trying to pull a U-turn and it died on me right in the middle of the turn. I notice the battery light comes on and I have to just start her up again since the wheels lock up and everything. Could it be another problem on top of the failed MAF?

[D2Beetle]

Have you tried cleaning the MAF?

[Smileybug]

Battery or alternator maybe. Autozone and the like will check them for free. I'd get them checked and see whats up.

[kingklick]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

Have you tried cleaning the MAF?

I have no idea how I would do this or what I would need to do this. Would you be able to tell me everything I would need to take out the MAF and clean it. Thank you

Originally Posted by Smileybug

Battery or alternator maybe. Autozone and the like will check them for free. I'd get them checked and see whats up.

I will probably take the car as soon as it cools down in a few hours. Will post back to see if there are any other problems. Thanks!

[D2Beetle]

Here is the MAF Spray Cleaner link... there are a couple of ways to do it, remove the MAF sensor from the air tube and spray it or just disconnect the air tube and spray the sensor in the tube; do it from both ends. Do not touch the sensor with anything, spray and let it dry, which only takes a few minutes. If it is really gummed up you may have to spray it more than once.

Also you might want to clean the throttle body sensor and remember spray the sensor but do not touch it with anything.

[kingklick]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

Here is the MAF Spray Cleaner link... there are a couple of ways to do it, remove the MAF sensor from the air tube and spray it or just disconnect the air tube and spray the sensor in the tube; do it from both ends. Do not touch the sensor with anything, spray and let it dry, which only takes a few minutes. If it is really gummed up you may have to spray it more than once.

Also you might want to clean the throttle body sensor and remember spray the sensor but do not touch it with anything.

So I can just find any MAF cleaner and use it? And also, would I have to remove the other end from the (what I'm assuming since I haven't really looked too much into it) air filter? I'm just nervous that it's going to spray somewhere it shouldn't. I think I'll have to spray it with just the tubes removed since I don't think I have any of the tools, nor do I know what screws to remove. I also went to AutoZone and had them check (the battery for sure, but do they check the alternator at the same time?) which came out as nothing wrong with them. So I'm just putting my chances in getting MAF cleaner and hoping I get rid of this annoying hesitation.

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by kingklick

So I can just find any MAF cleaner and use it? And also, would I have to remove the other end from the (what I'm assuming since I haven't really looked too much into it) air filter? I'm just nervous that it's going to spray somewhere it shouldn't. I think I'll have to spray it with just the tubes removed since I don't think I have any of the tools, nor do I know what screws to remove. I also went to AutoZone and had them check (the battery for sure, but do they check the alternator at the same time?) which came out as nothing wrong with them. So I'm just putting my chances in getting MAF cleaner and hoping I get rid of this annoying hesitation.

I'm not certain about, "...any MAF cleaner...", as I only use the one I posted in my previous post. The MAF spray cleaner is designed to evaporate quickly and should not harm anything as long as you do not try to drown it in spray cleaner.

This thread shows you a picture [CCH DIY 009] of the air box cover with MAF; #2 is the MAF. Step Five is the instructions to get the cover off; all you need is the top half not the bottom.

[kingklick]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

I'm not certain about, "...any MAF cleaner...", as I only use the one I posted in my previous post. The MAF spray cleaner is designed to evaporate quickly and should not harm anything as long as you do not try to drown it in spray cleaner.

This thread shows you a picture [CCH DIY 009] of the air box cover with MAF; #2 is the MAF. Step Five is the instructions to get the cover off; all you need is the top half not the bottom.

Well I sprayed it with an electronics contact cleaner that leaves no residue. I was at a friends house to help me spray it and I gave it a few sprays and left it to dry. I was on my way home when I realized I forgot to plug the cord to the MAF back in, but the car wasn't dying on me. So maybe it would be possible to run without MAF until I figure out if the one I have is really messed up. Although it runs fine without it, I noticed the AC doesn't work with the MAF unplugged. I plugged it back in and it took a few starts to get rid of the ASR light which then led back to the same problems. It doesn't feel that bad, but I'm scared I might have sprayed too much (even if I would do little sprays and would wait for it to dry). I left it in the housing it's in because I don't know where I could find the tools to take the sensor out itself.

[kingklick]

So I cleaned it out and I got more out, I didn't overspray and I got a lot of little black bits and even a bug but it still doesn't drive right. It still has all that hesitation. I also ran it with the MAF unplugged and it smells weird, is that normal? And I really want to find out why the AC doesn't work with the MAF disconnected.

[D2Beetle]

I'm not certain if the "Electronics Spray" was the best thing to use; Little black bits? What about the throttle body sensor, did you clean it? The MAF and throttle body sensor work together.

[kingklick]

Well I read that people have used that and I made sure to get the one that doesn't leave residue. I feel that the initial acceleration has gotten better. I can go around 10 without it hesitating as much. Where is that throttle body sensor? I see the picture of the sensor, but I have no idea the parts of this NB since I am not familiar with any type of car :O

[kingklick]

Well I was thinking my MAF was shot...so I read that people should idle better when the MAF is unplugged. I unplugged my MAF while idling and my RPM dropped and was chugging. It seemed worse with it unplugged, but driving it works fine. I have been trying to figure this whole acceleration issue out without having to drive 30 miles to the nearest dealer that can read the codes for me (which they probably don't even know themselves since they diagnosed the car with "turbo failure") and it's driving me nuts. I was also thinking that maybe it can be a vacuum leak? I noticed that while pressing steady on the gas, the RPM jumps every second or so to where it should be. It feels like your pressing the gas, letting go, then pressing it every 1-2 seconds giving you a jerking. I also notice that sometimes it's hard for the car to change gears on it's own and when it does, it jerks. But once again, when I run him without the MAF he runs almost perfect with the downside that the car will shut off when slowing down (the battery light turns on and I have to put him in park then restart) and the steering wheel locks up and the AC doesn't work. I am running out of ideas and can hardly drive this thing on a street that has a speed limit higher than 25. I really need help here :S