Dirty MAF sensor and intercooler leak

[HV2002]

Hi all
After spending the last few weeks reading through this forum trying to learn about my new ride (02, ZD30) and why it’s been lacking power, I have finally decided to get my hands dirty.


Decided to start by cleaning the MAF sensor
Followed Tony’s thred http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...ng-MAF-sensors (great help mate, Thanks )

Started by unplugging the sensor then disconnected the battery, removed the two retaining screws and twist the sensor from housing, nice and easy.

I don’t think the MAF has been cleaned in years, the wire and plate were nearly black.

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After half a can of cleaning spray things looked better
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Re-assembly was easy and the hole job took less than 30 minutes

The only negative part of the job was when I removed the lid to the air box to get better access to the MAF retainer I found that the air box gasket had perished and fell apart. (looks like a trip to rare spares, Thanks for the heads up Bill http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...air-box-gasket)

While waiting for the disconnected battery to clear any error codes I thought I would have a look at my intercooler and clean some of the oil from the area.
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After a few minutes cleaning I found the oil was from a leak in my intercooler.

Turns out the engine cover has been rubbing its way through the core, not happy … I was hoping to do the NADS before upgrading the IC, need to re-work the budget.
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Spent the next few minutes siting back thinking I shouldn’t risk driving it as is and cause further damage or worse setting of the grenade. But as this is my daily drive I decided to do a quick fix and at least reduce the amount of leakage.


So a quick rummage around the shed turned up some self-adhesive weatherproofing flashing tape, I cut a thin 10mm strip and placed it across the IC over the line of holes and gently taped it down to secure it,
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then placed another strip on top to add thickness and replaced the engine cover to hold it in place.
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Then fingers crossed it reduces the leak and take a test drive.

Low and behold I think it worked …. More smoother and responsive power and better spool.

Don’t know how long this fix will last so its off to find a new upgrade IC and will do a provent catch can at the same time so the new IC stays clean from the start.

Big thanks to all who contribute to this forum and the wealth of knowledge it contains.

Regards, Heinz

[mudski]

Well done. Good to see thats its going better now. You can get aftermarket IC's with bigger cores in them on eBay for under $400 too.

[HV2002]

thanks Mudski ... i'm on the hunt for an IC now

i have also noticed that the cab temp is down so i guess the EGT must be down as well, this means the flashing tape is working for now.

[Lemo79]

Rewarding and disappointing when you find something like that. Noticed my cover starting to rub on the IC core as well, I like the flashing tape as an idea to prevent it going further.

Lemo.

[Patrol-Guy]

Do you have to disconnect the battery to remove and clean the sensor?

[HV2002]

Hi Patrol-Guy I’m not Shaw if removing the sensor will register a fault but after reading Tony's guide he did say (later in the thread, as an afterthought) you should disconnect the battery
Tony’s thread …. http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...ng-MAF-sensors

I also read some were that if you only disconnect the negative terminal you won’t lose your odometer reading …. Don’t know if this is true or not as I only remembered it after I had finished

Lemo the tape is only a quick fix. if you haven't rubbed through the cor yet it would be better to put a spacer under the cover and stop it placing pressure on the ribs

[Lemo79]

Lemo the tape is only a quick fix. if you haven't rubbed through the cor yet it would be better to put a spacer under the cover and stop it placing pressure on the ribs

That was my first instinct, should probably do something sooner rather than later, but than I would like a new IC

[HV2002]

Yep a new cooler would be nice .... but the budget works better with choice rather than necessity .... the longer your IC lasts the better upgrade you can afford

[scottsauto]

nice work!!

[P4trol]

Hi Patrol-Guy I’m not Shaw if removing the sensor will register a fault but after reading Tony's guide he did say (later in the thread, as an afterthought) you should disconnect the battery
Tony’s thread …. http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...ng-MAF-sensors

Disconnecting the battery serves a better purpose. The ECU is self programming. In it's design, it has been given power to control inputs into the engine, depending on what outputs (sensors) read. The reason a dirty MAF is bad, is that the dirt on it gives a false reading. This adjusts the inputs (fuel, boost etc) basing part of the decision on the false reading. The effects can be felt in power and fuel economy and high EGT temps. Longer term this can mean engine damage. This automatic adjustment is not instant. It takes several hundred km in my estimation for the engine to 'tune' itself once, say, you clean the MAF sensor.

By disconnecting the battery you are clearing this 'learning'. Notice when you reconnect the battery and start the vehicle it runs rough for the first few seconds? It's re-learning, (I believe starting at some sort of 'mid' point of adjustment, whereas it may have been at some further reach of adjustment with the dirty MAF). The first bit of learning happens then, and it fine tunes (using your now uber clean MAF) as you drive. Less time to adjust to the correct setting - better running sooner.