How to clean MAF under $10 w pics

[Kevin319]

Thanks ryant, will try out your method once it stops raining here.

[Japican]

Need help asap. So i have everythin i need to clean the MAF and I was looking at ur pics and my bolts that hold the MAF are the same except one thing...theres small metal things in the middle of the bolt preventing the torx driver from mating with the bolt. Its almost as if u need a special drill bit or something to take off those bolts.

Its hard to show explain w/o pics, but does any1 else have this problem and where can i go to get this "special" tool to take off those 2 bolts?

~2000 Maxima GXE~

[jasonmax]

Originally Posted by Japican

Need help asap. So i have everythin i need to clean the MAF and I was looking at ur pics and my bolts that hold the MAF are the same except one thing...theres small metal things in the middle of the bolt preventing the torx driver from mating with the bolt. Its almost as if u need a special drill bit or something to take off those bolts.

Its hard to show explain w/o pics, but does any1 else have this problem and where can i go to get this "special" tool to take off those 2 bolts?

~2000 Maxima GXE~

is there a small pin thing in the middle of the screw? if there is, that's a Security TORX screw which looks like this.

you will need special screwdriver to screw it out, which should be looking like this one.

[Japican]

Yes thats exactly it. Where would I be able to find this specific torx security driver?

[jasonmax]

Originally Posted by Japican

Yes thats exactly it. Where would I be able to find this specific torx security driver?

local autozone?

[PhalC1]

I'm still not really noticing a difference. Maybe they put a brand new on in it when I got it

[Japican]

Nope, they said its actually very difficult to find. I called the local Nissan dealership and they they had one, but wouldnt let me use it lol. They too said its very difficult to find. This is starting to aggravate me

[PhalC1]

Originally Posted by Japican

Nope, they said its actually very difficult to find. I called the local Nissan dealership and they they had one, but wouldnt let me use it lol. They too said its very difficult to find. This is starting to aggravate me

My next guess would be Home Depot then

[theStig]

I found this at my local harbor freight for $9

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91310

Originally Posted by PhalC1

My next guess would be Home Depot then

[Bradbmx1]

Originally Posted by Japican

Yes thats exactly it. Where would I be able to find this specific torx security driver?

I had the same problem. I ended up having to buy a little kit of heads from Autozone. I think it ran me like $7 for the heads kit. Aggravating to say the least.

[Kevin319]

Pepboys should definitely have it. I got mines from their for $13, bought a little box with a few extra tools in it.

[scarface4522]

im doin this tomorrow, hopefully i dont have a security torx screw like some of you guys

[ryant35]

If you can't find the security torx screw bit you can remote the entire air box and clean the MAF inside the tube through the screen. That's what I did since I didn't know I could remove the MAF itself.

[AznTran517]

time to clean mines since i just replaced my MAF sensor with a used one. I know my man from firestone let me used the torx screw so i could replace my MAF the other day. Maybe if you ask someone nicely they'll let u used it lol

[Kevin319]

Hey Ryant I have a question, I removed my connector today using the advice you gave me. Everything turned out great until taking out the MAF. It would not budge a bit and I tried using force to pull it up and even with a wrench it wouldn't move. I tried your "turn it 90 degrees" but it doesnt turn as well. Will I damage my MAF if I use too much force into taking the thing out? Also, is the "you can remote the entire air box and clean the MAF inside the tube through the screen" just as effective as cleaning the MAF itself? Since I am having a very hard time taking out my MAF, should I resort to cleaning the air box?

[ryant35]

Originally Posted by Kevin319

Hey Ryant I have a question, I removed my connector today using the advice you gave me. Everything turned out great until taking out the MAF. It would not budge a bit and I tried using force to pull it up and even with a wrench it wouldn't move. I tried your "turn it 90 degrees" but it doesnt turn as well. Will I damage my MAF if I use too much force into taking the thing out? Also, is the "you can remote the entire air box and clean the MAF inside the tube through the screen" just as effective as cleaning the MAF itself? Since I am having a very hard time taking out my MAF, should I resort to cleaning the air box?

It worked great for me, the MAF cleaner as a lot of pressure, so spraying through the screen at between the MAF tube & air box isn't a problem. After removing the air box there are 4 bolts that hold on the MAF tube.

So may be able to remove these 4 bolts with out removing the air box, but I've never tried it.

[Kevin319]

Thanks again Ryant, I got someone else to remove the MAF for me and it seems he can do it without putting any effort into it. After cleaning the MAF and reconnecting the connectors, my car would not start. So I guess I have to do the ECU reset/Idle relearn procedures?

Edit: I searched the sticky threads but they did not have a ECU reset procedures for a 2000 Maxima, is their an ECU reset procedures for 2000?

[ryant35]

ummm... I don't know, mine has started fine after the 2 times I've done this...

[jasonmax]

Originally Posted by Kevin319

Thanks again Ryant, I got someone else to remove the MAF for me and it seems he can do it without putting any effort into it. After cleaning the MAF and reconnecting the connectors, my car would not start. So I guess I have to do the ECU reset/Idle relearn procedures?

Edit: I searched the sticky threads but they did not have a ECU reset procedures for a 2000 Maxima, is their an ECU reset procedures for 2000?

yeah, 2000s are easy. just simply unplug the battery.

[Kevin319]

Unplug and replug will reset the ECU? Thanks for the info.

[ryant35]

Originally Posted by Kevin319

Unplug and replug will reset the ECU? Thanks for the info.

So did it work?

[00gxe5sp]

I performed this procedure last night and it worked well. At the same time changed the oil and air filter and so far, 60 miles later and no SES light anymore.

Quick question though....after I re-installed the MAF when I plugged in the the wire harness there was no "click" and I could easily pull the connection back apart. Is this normal?

My car is a 2000 I30-t.

NOTE: You can buy the "security" Torx wrench in a set that looks like allen wrenches from Autozone for $10.

[jasonmax]

Originally Posted by 00gxe5sp

I performed this procedure last night and it worked well. At the same time changed the oil and air filter and so far, 60 miles later and no SES light anymore.

Quick question though....after I re-installed the MAF when I plugged in the the wire harness there was no "click" and I could easily pull the connection back apart. Is this normal?

My car is a 2000 I30-t.

NOTE: You can buy the "security" Torx wrench in a set that looks like allen wrenches from Autozone for $10.

the socket should have locked when you pluged in.

[Mattlikespeoples]

i did this on my 2003 se. certainly noticed things smoothed out a bit. Less bucking in 1st when it's cold (as in almost none), smoother start and idle, better low end but REALLY noticed a difference around 4k. I was like "oh hello there, mid range power" Now i wanna do a grounding kit and an o2 sim for my bad post y-pipe sensor. stupid 4 sensor setup.

[Brandon Anderson]

Yes! Finally. After doing this procedure I finally cured my inconsistant idle problem. I put a new '06 6spd tranny in my '02 and since then my idle was low and even stalling when putting in the clutch. It was like it just went too low then died. It got a little better over the summer but still idled around 200rpm. After cleaning the maf my idle is now around 800 and consistant!! Very happy!!

[Mattlikespeoples]

wait, i thought only peple with 15 posts could post anywhere but the 'noob questions' thread. Glad that this fized your problems regardless

[ryant35]

Originally Posted by Mattlikespeoples

wait, i thought only peple with 15 posts could post anywhere but the 'noob questions' thread. Glad that this fized your problems regardless

It's been a while since I've been a noob, but I thought it was no new threads for 15 posts... unless the rules changed.