In rare cases, the MAF sensor can also be damaged by oil vapors flowing back out of the crankcase ventilation after the engine has been switched off. When driving fast in heavy rain, water can occasionally pass through the air filter and can damage or contaminate the MAF sensor, which can severely impair its functionality. There is no fixed timeline for when MAF sensors fail, sometimes they can last the lifetime of the vehicle, other times than can fail even before the warranty expires. With a noticeable loss of performance and high mileage, a defective MAF sensor should definitely be considered. As the mileage increases on your Mazda3, it can happen that increasingly inaccurate values are sent to the engine control unit. The mass air flow sensor is a wearing part. And over time when enough dust accumulates, the sensor starts to give erroneous readings. When the vehicle is running, dirt and other airborne particles that escape from the air filter can settle on the sensor. Air filters are effective at cleaning the air to a certain extent. The most common cause of a malfunctioning MAF sensor in Mazda3 is dirt and grime accumulation on the sensor. What causes MAF sensor to fail in Mazda3? Dirt accumulation This can cause the engine warning light to illuminate in the instrument cluster and the fault can be read out by a diagnostic device. The engine runs too “lean” or too “rich”. The optimal amount of fuel can no longer be calculated which results in either too little or too much fuel injected into the combustion chambers. If the MAF sensor is defective or dirty, it does not send correct measured values to the control unit of Mazda3. What happens when MAF sensor malfunctions in Mazda3? It is not only important for power delivery in your Mazda3, but also for the lowest possible pollutant emissions.

The mass air flow sensor is part of the engine’s intake system and is located between the air filter and the throttle body.

Mass air flow sensor problems