With a digital multimeter. Yes, a digital multimeter can be used in testing the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. In this article I am going to briefly explain the three basic multimeter tests that are done to find out if it’s bad or not.

Depending on your MAF sensor, your voltage reading should be between 0.60 to 0.80 volts at idle. If your reading indicates 12 volts or pretty close to it, you are probing the power wire, not the signal wire).

A basic digital multimeter (DMM) with at least 10 Megohms of impedance (to protect circuits and your car’s computer) will help you test your MAF sensor. In some cases, though, you’ll need a DMM with a frequency scale, depending on the type of MAF sensor your car uses.

With the engine at idle, the MAF’s PID value should read anywhere from 2 to 7 grams/second (g/s) at idle and rise to between 15 to 25 g/s at 2500 rpm, depending on engine size. Most manufacturers provide specifications for air flow at idle; some will provide specifications at several engine speeds.

Symptoms of a Faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor The engine is very hard to start or turn over. The engine stalls shortly after starting. The engine hesitates or drags while under load or idle. Hesitation and jerking during acceleration.

A MAF sensor can be tested without a scan tool. How? With a digital multimeter. Yes, a digital multimeter can be used in testing the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor.

When testing a digital air flow meter, the output signal must be correctly identified: these units often measure both air flow and intake air temperature and give each a digital output.

Bosch HFM6 digital air flow meters can be reliably tested with still air conditions, ignition on, engine off and exhaust extraction systems removed. Under these conditions the signal frequency must be between 1.76 and 1.93 kHz. A measurement outside of this range indicates a faulty sensor.