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Locating/Removing Mass Air Flow Sensor

29740 Views 11 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  2000 Forester, 
2000 Forester
Can anyone please tell me where can I find the MAF sensor on a 2000 Forester?

Backstory: I'm getting a rough idle when stopped uphill or when A/C is on, plus some shuddering and bogging down while driving.

The only CEL code is for the MAF and I'm hoping to get away with either cleaning or just unplugging the thing. Seems like replacing it can run as high as $500 or as low as $60, though the forum does not generally seem happy with the cheaper part on this one.

Opinions on that would be greatly appreciated as well.
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2.5x_sleeper
I see this is your first post, so welcome to the forum from Oregon! :biggrin:

I don't know that much about the earlier Subarus, but I'd guess you have a MAP sensor on the side of the throttle body. My '03 X has a MAP sensor & my '07 has a MAF sensor. :wink:

I just looked over the repair manual & it looks like the MAP is on the top of the throttle body, #14 on the attached PDF. :smile:

This link on MAP vs MAF may be helpful.

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

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2000 Forester
Wow. Thanks for the welcome and the detailed reply.

Is this repair manual for a 2000? It does not look quite like what I'm seeing under the hood. I assumed I was looking for a MAF (vs MAP) because that's the CEL code it spit out at me...but maybe the scanner uses the term generically?

Either way I may have located the thing (though unplugging it gave me a flashing check transmission light). It doesn’t appear that I’ll get away with blowing on it like an old Nintendo game and having it work fine for another decade.
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funkymonkey1002
It should be right in the pipe after the airbox on the right hand (when in the car) fender.

Also where are you located and is it a 2.0 or 2.5 forester?

You can get MAF cleaning spray, but you have to be careful as they're delicate, if its spitting a code its likely that you'll need a new one though.
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2.5x_sleeper
The PDF is for '99-'02, but I've found there can be differences from what is actually on the engine. The MAP sensor on our '03 X is marked "boost sensor", which I always thought was odd, since it's not a turbo. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
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2000 Forester
I'm in Erie PA. 2.5 Forester. Rockauto seems to think I want a MAP not a MAF.
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2000 Forester
funkymonkey1002 said:
It should be right in the pipe after the airbox on the right hand (when in the car) fender.

Also where are you located and is it a 2.0 or 2.5 forester?

You can get MAF cleaning spray, but you have to be careful as they're delicate, if its spitting a code its likely that you'll need a new one though.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm in Erie PA. 2.5 Forester. Rockauto seems to think I want a MAP not a MAF.
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2.5x_sleeper
2000 Forester said:
I'm in Erie PA. 2.5 Forester. Rockauto seems to think I want a MAP not a MAF.
Click to expand...
Sound correct to me. Did you looked over the link to Peaty's thread that I gave you on post #2? :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
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2000 Forester
2.5x_sleeper said:
Sound correct to me. Did you looked over the link to Peaty's thread that I gave you on post #2? :wink:

Bobby...


I did (and learned a lot). Please stay tuned for update though.
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2000 Forester
DANGER: Learning Curve Ahead (UPDATE)

Okay, let's start over for a minute.

When the Advance kid read me my code, he gave me the right number but the wrong diagnoses. He thought the issue indicated was Mass Air Flow Sensor, but after returning to the store and running the OBD myself, it said P1133: Manufacturer Control Fuel Air Metering, which my research tells me points to a defective O2 Sensor.

I'm a little skeptical that a bad sensor would lead to my idle issue, which is a rough idle when the engine is under slight load (A/C on or stopped on hill), but in the spirit of scientific troubleshooting am planning to replace in anyway.

Thoughts?
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2.5x_sleeper
If you haven't changed the front O2, Air/Fuel, sensor, it can't hurt. It's critical for proper engine operation & it starts failing long before it drops a CEL code. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]
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2000 Forester
2.5x_sleeper said:
If you haven't changed the front O2, Air/Fuel, sensor, it can't hurt. It's critical for proper engine operation & it starts failing long before it drops a CEL code. :wink:

Bobby...
Click to expand...
Thanks. I need to go buy a wrench and we'll how she runs with a new sensor.
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