MAF Sensor Electrical connector removal
09-20-2007, 06:32 PM
#1
01 Maxima SE, 5-spd
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MAF Sensor Electrical connector removal
I'm currently disassembling the air box assembly so that I can remove the MAF sensor for a thorough cleansing. The problem is fairly simple: how do I remove the connector? Is it a key? Do I press hard upon the arrow (on what appears to be the key and pull as hard as possible?)
Any help would be appreciated since I've dropped two bolts below the air box and would like to be able to drive my car tomorrow.
Thank you!
01 Maxima SE
Any help would be appreciated since I've dropped two bolts below the air box and would like to be able to drive my car tomorrow.
Thank you!
01 Maxima SE
Last edited by aksansai; 09-20-2007 at 06:32 PM. Reason: More precise title
09-20-2007, 06:41 PM
#5
01 Maxima SE, 5-spd
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Yeah, I pushed the part where it has an arrow on it. Do I need to wriggle it back and forth? I really don't want to tear up something seeing how I've owned my 5th gen less than two weeks.
09-20-2007, 08:46 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 404
how hard is it to switch the maf sensor? mine is on it's last leg, and i need to get a new one. Is this something i can do easily myself? i've read that the ecu needs to be redone after installation, but putting it in myself would at least save me 'an hour' of labor costs. Are there any writeups that still exist and work?
09-20-2007, 09:13 PM
#11
01 Maxima SE, 5-spd
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Trick I found (for those who can't visualize the whole 'it just sorta pops out on its own' thing) - use something soft to press in one of the sides of the thing that the push-in (with arrow) is attached to. It's spring loaded. Push it all the way down (towards the end of the connector). Then, push in the thing with the arrow and extract. Eliminating all the time that it took to figure out the connector, I think one could wager that the MAF sensor replacement would take about 1 to 1.5 hours (for novice). The trick is finding out which pieces to remove first.
09-21-2007, 06:37 AM
#14
If you're replacing the MAF, why not just remove the sensor and leave the housing.?
Explain 
It's practically the same damn thing aside from the IAT in the A32.
Originally Posted by aksansai
I like the "efficiency" of the 5th gen design, but the 3rd/4th gen airbox was much easier to deal with.
It's practically the same damn thing aside from the IAT in the A32.
09-21-2007, 11:50 AM
#15
Trick I found (for those who can't visualize the whole 'it just sorta pops out on its own' thing) - use something soft to press in one of the sides of the thing that the push-in (with arrow) is attached to. It's spring loaded. Push it all the way down (towards the end of the connector). Then, push in the thing with the arrow and extract. Eliminating all the time that it took to figure out the connector, I think one could wager that the MAF sensor replacement would take about 1 to 1.5 hours (for novice). The trick is finding out which pieces to remove first.
i think u got a typo and meant .1 to .15 hrs... which equals 6 to 9 minutes..
09-22-2007, 04:20 PM
#18
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 3
It feels like I've lost a ton of HP and my engine is pinging. From everything I've read, I'm concluding that it's the MAF. I was going to replace it and pray that it fixed the pinging and power problem. Does that sound about right?
09-24-2007, 07:36 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 497
I have had to struggle with it too. I have only done it twice so far and both times it was such a pain. I was really surprised when I had to remove it the second time. I thought it would have been easy but no, I still spent over 15 minutes getting that connector off. Most of these connectors you need lot more "thumb power" to release them.
On similar topic, how difficult is the connector for the headlight bulb? The connector is yet a different type. I really wish Nissan would use standardized connectors with available removal tool.
- Vikas
On similar topic, how difficult is the connector for the headlight bulb? The connector is yet a different type. I really wish Nissan would use standardized connectors with available removal tool.
- Vikas
09-24-2007, 04:11 PM
#21
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 105
I've got a P0171 SES code. 100K miles on the car. I was going to clean the MAF. Is it worth the effort to clean or should I just buy a new one. The light came on after I replaced the air filter. I've checked everything else and it all looks clean and tight.
09-24-2007, 05:36 PM
#22
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 105
I took out the airbox and pulled the MAF and cleaned it. Still have the light. While I was there, I noticed that the actual MAF sensor is held in by two tamper-proof torx screws. It would be MUCH easier to pull the two screws. You would not have to take anything else out. I'm going to get a Torx driver for my next removal. Hopefully the light will reset..if not, I'll be using that Torx driver soon!
09-25-2007, 12:44 PM
#24
01 Maxima SE, 5-spd
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Inspection of the MAF revealed a layer of junk covering 3/4 of the MAF (my 5th gen would randomly die when idling at a light). I cleaned the MAF and the idle issue went away (hurray for clean MAFs). But, about 200 miles into the clean MAF the SES light came on... now I have to go to AutoZone to figure out the code. But everything is running normally (from what I can tell).
Last edited by aksansai; 09-25-2007 at 12:45 PM. Reason: Added blurb about the problem is apparently fixed.
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