VW Golf MAF question and help needed

[chenko]

My 2000 Golf 2L has been running sick of late, accelerator not responding to foot plant, lacking power up hills and have to shift down when i never had to, and sometimes trouble starting and when it does start after such an occassion it will rev itself for a minute or two up to 3500rpms and then eventually settle down before i can drive off.

Took it to my mechanic and their diagnostics showed coolant temp sensor but they replaced that and no better if anything worse. Then they possibly suggested it was the MAF but its too late to do anything today so am carless at the moment. My questions are does it sound like a MAf problem to the more knowledgeable? If so how much can i expect to pay for this? Can it just be cleaned rather then replaced?

Also read there was a recall on this part by VW for similar Golfs. My car is 10/00 so guess i would get no joy from VW for free replacement?

Car has 120k on it now.

This is a problem that has been building over last couple months i guess but only really affecting drive quality more recently.

Bit strapped for cash so trying to learn as much as i can.

Cheers for any help

[h100vw]

Disconnect the MAF and see if it goes any better. VAG-COM would be useful to prove it is outputting the right data to the ECU.

Highly likely to be the problem though. Have a hunt on ebay but only buy Bosch, nothing from China!!

There are plenty of places in the UK and US that do mail order parts.

Gavin

[chenko]

Thanks mate

Problem is i am not so mechanically savy so dont feel entirely comfortable doing any tickering beyond an oil change.

And am really up sh*t creek without a car so need it back asap.

Saw the part for around $100 US but would take ages to get here i would expect and right now its that bad its not driveable.

Know the members here might roll their eyes, but have been using the local Midas for maintenance however for something like this they are pretty in the dark too and anything i learn they seem to need educating too.

Will suggest they disconnect they MAF to see whether that helps.

[gpk_gti]

vw do a swap on maf units...now only about $170ish....that was for a mk4 1.8t maf,,doubt the 2l will be worth more.

[chenko]

vw do a swap on maf units...now only about $170ish....that was for a mk4 1.8t maf,,doubt the 2l will be worth more.

Nice sounds better then $400+

Guess will try Denlo Parramatta tom

Hope that solves the problem


Other thing i tended to notice lately from car is the fuel smell seems richer, smellier if i can describe it that way. Only ever used 98RON fuel.

[gpk_gti]

try disconnecting it first and see if it makes a difference.then you will know if its the maf.

[h100vw]

The MAF is fitted into the side of the airbox, in the pipe that goes to the inlet manifold.

You don't need to be paying someone to disconnect a plug for you.

It is certainly in the same difficulty category as doing an oil change.

Gavin

[chenko]

Thanks all for the advice, will have a go myself tom

Hope for clarity sake that is the problem

My 75 microbus was so much less complicated

[balkanac]

I dont think its the MAF. When mine blew, the car ran better than ever, but with ECU and ESP lights on. Never revved like that, and always started normally.

[torque]

Nice sounds better then $400+

Guess will try Denlo Parramatta tom

Hope that solves the problem


Other thing i tended to notice lately from car is the fuel smell seems richer, smellier if i can describe it that way. Only ever used 98RON fuel.

If it is running rich, that is either the MAF or the ECU. But ECU's don't just stop working so let's hope it is the MAF as that is the cheapest to fix