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Which Maf sensor is on your car? and are they swappable?

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:46 am
by douglas vincent
The reason I ask this is my 1990 NA 5mt wagon has the cast aluminium maf sensor. My wifes 1991 NA auto wagon was the plastic maf sensor. Kelly stopped my today to check out the supercharger project and mentioned that he thinks the turbo cars have the aluminium MAF sensors.

I had picked up a plastic MAF sensor at the junkyard the other day for $17.50 just to have an extra around and had installed it on the wagon just to test idle the supercharger. When I attemped to drive around the block, the car ran like dog doo dod. Then I put the aluminium MAF sensor back on and it ran great. So either they are not interchangeable, or the "new" one is mess up.

Anybody got an answer or theory?

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 2:07 am
by mTk
This is covered somewhere on the bbs.. but i know searching can be a pain since everything gets off topic.

All turbos had aluminum MAFs. 90-91 5mts have the aluminum MAF. All others had a plastic MAF.

I think this is how they are set up.

MK

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:30 am
by vrg3
Yes, Kelly and MK are right. And they're not interchangeable. The aluminum Hitachi sensor goes with Hitachi ECUs and the plastic JECS sensor goes with JECS ECUs. All turbos and 90-91 NA 5MTs have Hitachi ECUs; 90-91 NA 4EATs and 92-94 NAs have JECS ECUs.

You should have gotten a CEL with code 49 when you put the wrong sensor on the car.