My Service Engine Soon Light keeps coming up. I have disconnected the battery and everything seems to reset itself, but after a few days worth of driving, the light comes up again. I checked the codes and it gives me a Car is running LEAN error. There are no leaks. It seems that Mass Air Meter is the problem (or I need to reflash the computer, and I dont have a programmer). Could it have gotten dirty or broken. I had the system in plae for 4 months or so without problems. This has happened recently. Any advice?

 

sounds like a vaccum leak to me. take it compleatly off and check all hoses and what not for cracks and make sure the gasket by the maf is ok and not torn.

 

I have done that ... and had someone else look at it. Doesn't seem like a leak.

 

Just get the programmer for the car and the lite will go out. What mods have you done to the car?

 

There is no need to change the maf to a larger diameter one unless you are pegging it, which I highly doubt you are. Unless you are supercharged and reaching upwards of 400 rwhp then you will be fine with the stock one. When you change it to larger diameter it gains power by causing you to run lean. If you went with the straightshot with the bigger maf then that is why you are running lean.

 

i have SLP X-Pipe and CatBack as well. I have noticed a performance boost with the Straight Shot. This LEAN things wasnt an issue for the first 3 or 4 months, just recently. Why would it say it is running LEAN now, and not when I first installed it? Something must have changed (i.e. Meter is bad, dirty, something)...arggggggggg.

 

Try taking off the straight shot for a week, Im almost willing to bet that the lean condition will go away. This is a common problem with aftermarket MAF sensors. Just still with the stock one until you get to about 400 hp or get a supercharger and you'll be fine. It only makes the extra hp because it leans you out so much. Good luck.

 

This Lean condition... is it bad for my car? Also, why didn't it give me these sighns right away, but a few months later?

 

running lean means your motor is not getting enough fuel -> not good

 

Yes too lean = melted pistons...bad

 

crap... i disconnected my battery the other day, and I have been running the car for about 150 miles, and no light... waiting for it to come up. I actually called MAC and they said to clean the Mass Air Meter... how do I do that? I would have to take it all apart or?

 

take the mass air meter out and spray it down with electronic contact cleaner...make sure it says on the bottle that it leaves no film or residue.

BTW I am sure your lean conditions are still coming from the new maf leaning you out, not b/c its dirty

 

I still a NOOB. to take the mass air meter out, i would have to disconnect the whole unit? And where could I get the electronic contact cleaner? Btw, after 180 miles, the SES light came back on.

 

I'm not exactly sure how to take it out of the straightshot system, but with the stock system it is inbetween the airbox and the tube going to the throttle body...just unbolt it. The meter is just a tube with the mass air sensor hanging down on a plastic piece.

I got the cleaner from radio shack.

 

Ok I will try that tomorrow. let me ask you this. I had this system in place for over 6000 miles before the service engine light came on. That is why I am wondering if something changed. Also, I did wash the engine bay a few times. Maybe water got in? or damaged the sensor? I covered it to the best of my ability.

 

It could just be that a sensor finally realized you were lean...but that doesn't mean you weren't running lean before the light came on

 

so what is the solution (assuming the sensor is not bad or dirty)? besides replacing it back with the factory air intake (btw, the sensor is the factory one).

 

Try rotating the MAM 90 degrees.If that does'nt work rotate it another 90 degrees.The CAI's disturb airflow thru the meter and this is what throws the code.These things are ultra sensitive.

 

Ok, I took it all apart, and cleaned the filter and oiled it too. Lets see what happens in a few hundred miles.

 

Guess what Light came up after 400 miles. THE SES light again. I called MAC, and they said to turn the MAS to the 3 O'Clock position. I still think maybe something is wrong with my sensor.

 

This is the reason I didnt get the MAC str8 shot WITH the MAF..this is a common problem. If I was u...I would just send back that MAF back to MAC or suttin and get some refund for just the MAF and put your Stock MAF back on. U might have to exchange that whole system with the system that lets you use your stock MAF. I believe though..that Aftermaket MAF is not gonna give u a whole lotta power anyways I would think....seems like your just experiencing head aches with that thing.....

 

The MAF in my straight shot is the stock one... it just sits in the straightshot housing.

 

OHHHH its the STOCK MAF u have? Man, I dont know whats the problem..MY check engine light has not some on at all..its been like 5 months thought since I installed the intake..Your code is saying u are running to lean..just take your car to a diagnostics shop or suttin maybe its something besides the MAF ...i dunno

 

Yes I get the LEAN code. Stock MAS in the MAC straight shot.

 

Weird. I would take it to a shop and have them find out whats wrong.......?

Or just put the stock intake on.........maybe that check engine will go away

 

weird, i filled up gas... and now SES light is off...

 

lol maybe your car is just on crack j/k

 

I am having the same problem with my 02GT. Anyone have a fix yet? MAC said the MILs may be bad but I think it is the Straight Shot. Anyone else?

 

Anytime you make changes in the angle of the airflow over your MAF you are asking for trouble. You don't need to mess with the MAF at all unless you have it pegged and that takes alot of power to hit that level. I had a C & L MAF on mine, I pulled it off and went back to the factory set up including the air box and actually ran quicker and trapped higher with the factory stuff. Pull it off and sell it on Ebay.

 

Yeah, just a K&N drop-in is all you need.