OK, so my car has been to FIAT for it's timing belt and service (ouch :o) and at the time I commented that I had the occasional flat spot or 'flutter' from the car - according to the diagnostics there's naff all wrong with the car but trust me the problem remains :( Not all the time but enough to piss me off >:(

Now I'm convinced that the symptoms my car is showing are indicative of the MAF sensor playing up and I've read with interest the piece in FF on the punto section about replacing/cleaning the MAF http://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guide...placement.html but to be honest I've not the facilities or all the tools required to do this in the dry at home so it's going to have to go into my local garage for a 'MAF clean' before I ultimately have to replace it ::) That's assuming they don't find anything else wrong ofcourse ???

Have any other JTD owners changed their MAF sensor? If so where'd you get it and how much did it cost? I've been looking around (as you do) but nothing beats 1st hand experience ;)

Methinks this is a 'must do' before the RR day and time is running out :o

By the way - thinking about it - presumably if I just disconnect the sensor feed and run the car without it to see how it behaves I shouldn't do any harm now should I?

I'm not sure - but I'd imagine so. However if it runs without it connected........ I dunno :groananim

it calculates fuel and air mix, disconnetcting should tell if its running shite ot not, if it doesnt change when you unplug it, the MAF is knackered!!

it detects the air temp and pressure and volume and this message gows to the ecu which then adjusts the fueling accordingly ;)

common problem the MAF sensor on the jtd and the 2.4, mine had two >:( >:( >:( >:(

one failed and one gave eratic readings leading to random flat spots and flutters accross the rev range, and yeah, very irratating >:( >:( >:(

theirs one on ebay at the moment for about 40 quid, their 90+ from fiat :o :o

it wont run very smooth without it connected for long though, couple of mins, but that should give you time to investigate :applause

I have spied the one on eBay..... keeping a 'watching brief' as Murray Walker might say ;) But here's the rub - do you risk something like that or do you go OE or similar. It's a quandry.

Thing is I haven't noticed particularly poor idling nor has the engine cut out (thankfully!). But on occasion there is an appreciable amount of smoke and I do feel she's down on power a smidgen :-[

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm :(

I wouldnt advise any mapping or induction kit fitting to the car until all problems are sorted ..they may only cause further running problems ..

My thoughts exactly Phil - couldn't have come at a worst time :-[

good comment phil ;)

as far as im aware if the maf is giving incorrect reading the fuel air mix will be wrong (as the engine will still use these wrong readings).

if you disconnect it, the ecu will use default assumptions. if it runs better then the default assumptions are better tham the maf is giving so i would say it needs cleaning/replacing. (you wont hurt the engine with it disconnected as it uses default setting as opposed to no settings.)

if it drives worse then it would suggest the readings from the sensor are better so would say the maf is fine and it is another issue.

you may want to get the garage to have a look at the state of the throttle body, see if it is coked up?

when i had issues with the maf it was constant and not a 'flutter' so doesnt sound like that is at fault. a clean wont hurt though so try it and see how it goes.