Aftermarket Air Mass Meters

[Johnson Johnson]

Hi I need a MAF for my 2008 Mondeo 2.5t. I've come to the conclusion that many of the aftermarket brands are just a load of resistors that will keep the engine light off, but aren't actually measuring much if anything at all.

A genuine one is very expensive, and I just missed out on what seems to be one the last Pierberg examples.

Are NGK or Hitachi any good, or do you have any other recommendations?

 

[Kira]

one the last Pierberg examples.

Is Pierberg a manufacturer or style of MAF?

NGK and Hitachi are both good brands...Denso too.
The IAC in my truck is made for Ford by Hitachi, so using a Hitachi replacement is OKed by those who know.

Can you discern who made your original MAF? I'd start there...and you're right, OE ones are dear.

Wouldn't it be nice if older models' accessories and parts, which you'd assume would have an ever-lessening demand, would be made by companies that care.
Alas, there appears there's money to be made by pumping out cheap parts.

I don't have any numbers, but I think an ill matched, aftermarket MAF would result in bad air/fuel mix and be picked up by the O2 sensors.
A CEL is what you'd get.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

I think it's possible to have MAF issues without a OBD2 Code? It is a bit of guess work I have to admit, I probably need to invest in a code reader with live data.

 

[f355spider]

I'm active on BMW and Ferrari forums, and seen enough issues with using anything but OEM as problematic. Modern engine ECUs (Bosch on my cars) is very sensitive to the sensor data and its accuracy. I have seen enough threads about aftermarket MAFs, even from decent well respected aftermarket options, that ended up not worth the hassles and headaches.

I would only venture to an alternate, if you have full return privileges (rare on electronic parts) or it has been tested and validated by multiple users of the same vehicle you have.

I story about non factory MAFs:
There was a thread years ago on the BMW M5 forums about MAFs. The 2000-2003 E39 M5 requires two Bosch MAFs, and they are only about $170 each, yet everyone was trying to save a few dollars. Most aftermarket did not work, but someone found the individual Bosch sensors were available separately...or they assumed they were the same (they were for a VW), the part number differed by one digit or something, but visually looked identical. You just swap the sensor out of the plastic housing. A bunch of people started using them successfully...no CE lights, and cars drive fine. One guy was a little suspicious as his "butt dyno" told him something wasn't right. So he took his car to a dyno shop and swapped the sensors back and forth between the new Bosch sensor and the oem Bosch. Confirmed 30hp drop with the non factory sensor.

So there is that concern as well...it fits and works but not performing optimally.

 

[Drifter]

I agree with f355spider. Find a low mileage used one at the local yard or on Ebay.

 

[zzyzzx]

Hi I need a MAF for my 2008 Mondeo 2.5t.
.....
do you have any other recommendations?

Are you sure that you don't just need to clean your existing MAF?

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Are you sure that you don't just need to clean your existing MAF?

I've tried that, it didn't seem to help. I used electrical contact cleaner, after I placed it in the fridge for 20 minutes and then the freezer for 10.

I didn't want to shock it with the cold spray, I guess that was bollccks. I've actually ordered a new one, made by NTK (NGK) I could have had a Pierberg for a little bit more last week, but I've missed out. I'm running a Pierberg in my other car, it seems good.

I've heard NTK is also a decent brand, there's so much sxxte out there, I got it for £100, Ford want £250 and that's with a good discount from my friendly Ford Dealer.

 

[f355spider]

I've tried that, it didn't seem to help. I used electrical contact cleaner, after I placed it in the fridge for 20 minutes and then the freezer for 10.

I didn't want to shock it with the cold spray, I guess that was bollccks. I've actually ordered a new one, made by NTK (NGK) I could have had a Pierberg for a little bit more last week, but I've missed out. I'm running a Pierberg in my other car, it seems good.

I've heard NTK is also a decent brand, there's so much sxxte out there, I got it for £100, Ford want £250 and that's with a good discount from my friendly Ford Dealer.

Who is original equipment for your Ford? Pierberg?

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Who is original equipment for your Ford? Pierberg?

Not sure, maybe Bosch?

 

[f355spider]

Not sure, maybe Bosch?

If it has a Bosch part number, you can search off that.
My old F355 Ferrari needed a MAF and Ferrari wanted like $700. I looked up the Bosch part number on it, and it crossed over to a BMW E34 540 M62 engine. That Bosch MAF was available online from a German parts house in a Bosch box, (not a BMW box) for like $135. From BMW it was like $350. All three sources were the identical MAF, the only difference is what kind of box it came in...yellow box with black horsies was the most expensive.

 

[nthach]

I installed a aftermarket MAF on a 1998 Ranger. Motorcraft or Hitachi was NLA. Blue Streak. I’m not thrilled but it was all that available.

 

[boom10ful]

I think it's possible to have MAF issues without a OBD2 Code? It is a bit of guess work I have to admit, I probably need to invest in a code reader with live data.

It most definitely will. Cars have a +-25% fuel table adjustment built in. As the MAF wears out, it will slowly creep up until it reaches the threshold. Had a Santa Fe that was running a total of +18% trim and replaced the O2 sensors and checked for vacuum leaks to no avail. Changing out the MAF brought the trims to a reasonable +2% per bank.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

I installed a aftermarket MAF on a 1998 Ranger. Motorcraft or Hitachi was NLA. Blue Streak. I’m not thrilled but it was all that available.

Is it ok?

 

[Johnson Johnson]

If it has a Bosch part number, you can search off that.
My old F355 Ferrari needed a MAF and Ferrari wanted like $700. I looked up the Bosch part number on it, and it crossed over to a BMW E34 540 M62 engine. That Bosch MAF was available online from a German parts house in a Bosch box, (not a BMW box) for like $135. From BMW it was like $350. All three sources were the identical MAF, the only difference is what kind of box it came in...yellow box with black horsies was the most expensive.

I've tried that from the Ford Dealer, not from the actual MAF tho. Probably should have, but I think NTK (NGK) is a good brand (still!)

 

[nthach]

Is it ok?

So far, so good. But I doubt it will hold up as long as OE did.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

I've tried that from the Ford Dealer, not from the actual MAF tho. Probably should have, but I think NTK (NGK) is a good brand (still!

So far, so good. But I doubt it will hold up as long as OE did.

Agreed. But this is just a summer car, itch scratching exercise. Plus I've replaced the Coopers Garbage air filter with a decent one, so I'm giving it the best chance!

 

[Marcozi]

I think that an owner needs to replace a bad MAF with a new MAF from the supplier of the MAF to the car manufacturer. Aftermarket MAFs aren’t up to the job IMHO.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

I think that an owner needs to replace a bad MAF with a new MAF from the supplier of the MAF to the car manufacturer. Aftermarket MAFs aren’t up to the job IMHO.

Pierberg are pretty good actually, they seem to produce readings that are up to spec I read in a test someone did. I'm presuming NGK (NTK) are of similar quality.

I'm also presuming it's actually the MAF causing my issues. It's all a bit snap diagnostics, it's not great I'd admit. But including the cost of oil, filter, air filter plugs and this it puts me £1000 all in.

So if that gets me a good Mondeo 2.5t for £1000 for the summer, I'm happy. It's perfectly usable even if this isn't the issue, it's doing around 30 mpg too. So yeah, it's nonsense but not expensive nonsense.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Pierburg has been around a long time. Like many suppliers, it's now part of a larger company, but its origins date back the early 1900s.

Robert Bosch (1886) is only 20 or so years older.

 

[Johnson Johnson]

Pierburg has been around a long time. Like many suppliers, it's now part of a larger company, but its origins date back the early 1900s.

Robert Bosch (1886) is only 20 or so years older.

You know Bosch are also producing a lot of rubbish now IMO. In my experience the brake pads are nonsense, and don't get me started on their wiper blades, total BS.