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MAF problem?

B

brian1104

New member
Hey everyone!

I have a 07 GXP with 59,000 miles and am continuing to have issues with a lurch while accelerating from a stop. It's random and only happens when running cold and it's damp/dewy in the morning. I'll drive the car for a few blocks, get to a light and sit there till it turns green. When I start to accelerate, the car is sluggish and hesitant to go. Around 7MPH it jolts and picks up speed rapidly. I'm in first gear the entire time this happens. After this jolt, the car is fine and won't do it again until it sits for awhile and it's cold again.

At first I thought it was a transmission problem, however the fact that it only happens while cold and goes from a stop when the pedal is pressed (just sluggish) leads me to believe it's not. I've also asked around and people point more to a sensor or tune up issue.

Someone suggested it might be a faulty MAF causing the problem. I had an Aurora with a faulty MAF with similar problems, although it'd do this while at freeway speeds and overtaking.

I decided to disconnect the MAF and the car is more responsive, picks up speed better and although I've only driven it twice since, it hasn't jolted while running cold.

Before I go and drop $90 on a new one, does this sound like it could possibly be MAF related?

It's driving me nuts, and it's the the point where it's so intermittent and random that I almost forget about it and then bang it shows up again. Aside from this problem, the car's been a dream.

Thanks!
 
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I would first try cleaning the throttle body and the MAF sensor with their correct cleaners then see where that gets you.

If you see the same problem again, and then it goes away with the MAF unplugged, then I'd prolly get a new one.
 
Fivefingerdeathpunch said:
I would first try cleaning the throttle body and the MAF sensor with their correct cleaners then see where that gets you.

If you see the same problem again, and then it goes away with the MAF unplugged, then I'd prolly get a new one.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess a $7 bottle of MAF cleaner is better than 90, I'll give that a shot and see what happens. Thanks!
 
Alright, so update. With the MAF unplugged the car didn't jolt or stutter in the drive in to work, and this morning would have been prime time for it to do so. Chilly with temps in the 50's... after being in the 80's the day before, damp, not driven for over 14 hours. That's the recipe for the issues I've been having.

Decided to keep it unplugged and let it sit in works parking lot for 9 hours. Drove it home and no issues still.

I plugged the MAF back in just now... I don't know if there was a loose connection or something before, or the computer relearned something with the maf, but the car feels totally different. Immediate response from a stop.... as soon as I tap the gas it's zipping along. I was gently accelerating at a light, got to about 20MPH and decided to give the pedal a little press and the tires screeched and had some great pick up. Shifts are much more smoother now too. Did a wide open throttle and actually had torque steer... seems I have a whole bunch of power I didn't have before. I guess if it starts acting up again I'll pick up a new MAF.
 
brian1104 said:
Alright, so update. With the MAF unplugged the car didn't jolt or stutter in the drive in to work, and this morning would have been prime time for it to do so. Chilly with temps in the 50's... after being in the 80's the day before, damp, not driven for over 14 hours. That's the recipe for the issues I've been having.

Decided to keep it unplugged and let it sit in works parking lot for 9 hours. Drove it home and no issues still.

I plugged the MAF back in just now... I don't know if there was a loose connection or something before, or the computer relearned something with the maf, but the car feels totally different. Immediate response from a stop.... as soon as I tap the gas it's zipping along. I was gently accelerating at a light, got to about 20MPH and decided to give the pedal a little press and the tires screeched and had some great pick up. Shifts are much more smoother now too. Did a wide open throttle and actually had torque steer... seems I have a whole bunch of power I didn't have before. I guess if it starts acting up again I'll pick up a new MAF.
Click to expand...

So I have a friend with a Buick Lacrosse Super with the 5.3. We decided to swap MAF's for the weekend (his car never has done what mine is doing). Today I had the dreaded jolt so the MAF has been completely ruled out. Happened twice today... once while driving 90 miles on the highway... so the car was plenty warmed up. It was also dry outside. I got off on an exit... got to a red light, turned right on red... acceleration dragged and then right around 7MPH, bang & jolt and the car accelerated normally after. The bang was more intense this time around, startled my passengers. I also purchased a new air filter. When I bought the car I took it back for this problem and they said they fixed a sticky caliper, well I'm wondering if that problem is back.

Has anyone ever experienced a low speed jolt? Are there any areas I should be looking into?
 
brian1104 said:
So I have a friend with a Buick Lacrosse Super with the 5.3. We decided to swap MAF's for the weekend (his car never has done what mine is doing). Today I had the dreaded jolt so the MAF has been completely ruled out. Happened twice today... once while driving 90 miles on the highway... so the car was plenty warmed up. It was also dry outside. I got off on an exit... got to a red light, turned right on red... acceleration dragged and then right around 7MPH, bang & jolt and the car accelerated normally after. The bang was more intense this time around, startled my passengers. I also purchased a new air filter. When I bought the car I took it back for this problem and they said they fixed a sticky caliper, well I'm wondering if that problem is back.

Has anyone ever experienced a low speed jolt? Are there any areas I should be looking into?
Click to expand...
thats not neccesarily a way to rule the MAF out and dont ever just unplug it cause when its in SD mode it needs to be able to read the IAT sensor. maybe your MAF harness needs testing. Other than that have you cleaned out your TB, other maintnece done?
 


OK, so I went to the dealer and explained the situation. They plugged it all in to their scanners and they came back and said my front right bearing and speed sensor are all out of whack. That would explain the constant thrum I'm hearing while going over 35. I thought it was just the tires starting to show some age.

I asked if that could explain the jolt I'm running into and he said it's possible... the stablitrack or traction control might be getting all out of whack and reducing wheel speed and jolting back into normal after it corrects itself. Sounds plausible, I held off on getting it swapped because my warranty has a 200 deductible and I feel like I might be able to do it myself. I mean I've done my brakes forever, how much harder could it be?
 
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