Chevrolet Cruze Forums banner

MAF Sensor

13744 Views 30 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  mk23socom
My Chevy Cruze 2014, has been having an engine light, after taking it to AutoZone, I got the following error codes : P1101, P0236, P227. AutoZone has advised replacing the MAF sensor. I have been wondering if the MAF is really faulty or it something else. After installing a used sensor that was taken from the junkyard (for testing purposes), the cooling fan started to run at a very high speed. I have then reinstalled the actual sensor, the fan does not run like before. Now I am thinking whether the MAF is faulty or not. Any thought? before purchasing a new MAF sensor at AutoZone.
21 - 31 of 31 Posts
I have P0236, P1101 and P2227 , the Auto zone report says : "Inspect for correct air filter and air box is securely latch properly". The car had been in an accident, which had made the air box to be loose, I will have to find ways to securely latched it and see if there is any change. Any advice?
Replace air box with a junkyard one if it won't stay shut.

Check all turbo/boost hoses for loose clamps or tears.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
If in fact the airbox is damaged, try locating one at an LKQ or PickNPull type yard for a reasonable amount to replace it. Otherwise your left with buying a CAI. Do not get an SRI as those do not do you any favors.

Potential causes for P0236 to set are:
Vacuum supply
Pinched, collapsed or broken vacuum lines
Faulty control solenoid
Faulty PCM

Read more at: P0236 Turbocharger Boost Sensor A Range Performance

Chevy Cruze P1101 Causes
Engine Wiring– A good place to start is to do an inspection of the area around where the mass airflow sensor plugs into the intake. Make sure that the wiring doesn’t look broken or disconnected. You’d be surprised, in the winter months a rodent can cause a lot of damage to a an engine in one night.

Air Filter– Pull your air filter and see if something has gotten in there. If it has, remove the debris. Or if the filter looks very dirty go ahead and replace it. If enough air is not getting into the engine the mass airflow sensor is not going to get a proper reading, and P1101 will likely be thrown.

If neither the engine wiring or the air filter seems to be a problem, then it’s going to be time to pull the mass airflow sensor and see if it is dirty. A word of caution, these sensors can be incredibly sensitive to the oil’s on skin so make sure to use caution and not touch the sensor element itself.

Leaking Intake– If the intake seal on the Chevy Cruze has been damaged, there’ll be a vacuum leak. A vacuum leak means that air will be getting in to the intake not through the throttle. This is going to dramatically alter the reading at the mass airflow sensor gets and will trigger P1101.

A mechanic would be able to do something called a smoke test, which would let them visually see where the intake is leaking from.

If you would like to try to find the vacuum leak yourself go ahead and perform a visual inspection and make sure that you don’t have a disconnected or broken vacuum hose. If it looks ok, than carb and choke cleaner can help. Here’s a good video on vacuum leak diagnosis.


MAF Sensor May be Bad– at this point the only cost that we should have incurred is the cost of a can of carb and choke cleaner. If everything checked out, and there were no intake leeks, than it’s time to evaluate whether the MAF sensor is bad.

Here’s another YouTube video. This one goes over how to test a MAF sensor with a multi-meter. It’s relatively easy to do and multi meters are cheap.
Read more at: Chevy Cruze P1101 and P0171 Trouble Codes | Drivetrain Resource


Causes for this P2227 code may include:

Defective or damaged BAP (Barometric Air pressure) sensor
Defective or damaged electrical connector
Wiring issue (e.g. open, short, corrosion)
Electrical short (internal or mechanical)
Loose electrical connection
Heat damage
Mechanical malfunction causing altered BAP readings
ECM (Engine Control Module) issue

Read more at: P2227 Barometric Pressure Sensor A Range/Performance
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I have opened the air box and vacuumed the filter and box interior, I have also cleaned the MAF sensor. The P1101 code is gone. I am left with P0236 and P227, next I will be looking at the turbo/boost hoses. Do I have to drain the antifreeze before starting the project? I will be glad when these codes are gone. Can the car pass inspection with these codes.
If in fact the airbox is damaged, try locating one at an LKQ or PickNPull type yard for a reasonable amount to replace it. Otherwise your left with buying a CAI. Do not get an SRI as those do not do you any favors.

Potential causes for P0236 to set are:
Vacuum supply
Pinched, collapsed or broken vacuum lines
Faulty control solenoid
Faulty PCM

Read more at: P0236 Turbocharger Boost Sensor A Range Performance

Chevy Cruze P1101 Causes
Engine Wiring– A good place to start is to do an inspection of the area around where the mass airflow sensor plugs into the intake. Make sure that the wiring doesn’t look broken or disconnected. You’d be surprised, in the winter months a rodent can cause a lot of damage to a an engine in one night.

Air Filter– Pull your air filter and see if something has gotten in there. If it has, remove the debris. Or if the filter looks very dirty go ahead and replace it. If enough air is not getting into the engine the mass airflow sensor is not going to get a proper reading, and P1101 will likely be thrown.

If neither the engine wiring or the air filter seems to be a problem, then it’s going to be time to pull the mass airflow sensor and see if it is dirty. A word of caution, these sensors can be incredibly sensitive to the oil’s on skin so make sure to use caution and not touch the sensor element itself.

Leaking Intake– If the intake seal on the Chevy Cruze has been damaged, there’ll be a vacuum leak. A vacuum leak means that air will be getting in to the intake not through the throttle. This is going to dramatically alter the reading at the mass airflow sensor gets and will trigger P1101.

A mechanic would be able to do something called a smoke test, which would let them visually see where the intake is leaking from.

If you would like to try to find the vacuum leak yourself go ahead and perform a visual inspection and make sure that you don’t have a disconnected or broken vacuum hose. If it looks ok, than carb and choke cleaner can help. Here’s a good video on vacuum leak diagnosis.


MAF Sensor May be Bad– at this point the only cost that we should have incurred is the cost of a can of carb and choke cleaner. If everything checked out, and there were no intake leeks, than it’s time to evaluate whether the MAF sensor is bad.

Here’s another YouTube video. This one goes over how to test a MAF sensor with a multi-meter. It’s relatively easy to do and multi meters are cheap.
Read more at: Chevy Cruze P1101 and P0171 Trouble Codes | Drivetrain Resource


Causes for this P2227 code may include:

Defective or damaged BAP (Barometric Air pressure) sensor
Defective or damaged electrical connector
Wiring issue (e.g. open, short, corrosion)
Electrical short (internal or mechanical)
Loose electrical connection
Heat damage
Mechanical malfunction causing altered BAP readings
ECM (Engine Control Module) issue

Read more at: P2227 Barometric Pressure Sensor A Range/Performance
I have an issue with the outlet tube clip, it seems to be loose, I do not have enough room to do it without removing the bumper . Is there any video that show how to tie it uphe clip?
286801
See less See more
I have an issue with the outlet tube clip, it seems to be loose, I do not have enough room to do it without removing the bumper . Is there any video that show how to tie it up, the clip?
I am not sure what I am looking at here. I am not near enough to the car to look.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Looks like an intercooler connection.

The clip is loose or the entire hose? If it's the entire hose, bumper removal isn't difficult to get it back on there and snug it up.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I am not sure what I am looking at here. I am not near enough to the car to look.
Looks like an intercooler connection.

The clip is loose or the entire hose? If it's the entire hose, bumper removal isn't difficult to get it back on there and snug it up.
After I checked the part number, I found out that my mechanic used an 2011-2012 intercooler horse, for some raison it couldn't fit. I purchased a new intercooler ( and sensor) from the dealer and replaced. I will find out tomorrow if my engine light has gone.
  • Like
Reactions: 3
After I checked the part number, I found out that my mechanic used an 2011-2012 intercooler horse, for some raison it couldn't fit. I purchased a new intercooler ( and sensor) from the dealer and replaced. I will find out tomorrow if my engine light has gone.
All my code have gone, the new intercooler fixed the issue, the car has also passed emission test. Thank you so much for all your insights.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
MAF contains an intake air temp sensor. When unplugged with battery hooked up it defaults to screamy fan mode as a failsafe. Should go away next restart.

MAF codes are rarely sensors on these cars. I'd suggest looking for a vacuum or air leak instead.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
You are really smart - your comments help me diagnose my Cruze 2015 LT GAS TURBO - do you recommend cleaning the MAF SENSOR and how often?
You are really smart - your comments help me diagnose my Cruze 2015 LT GAS TURBO - do you recommend cleaning the MAF SENSOR and how often?
Maybe every 3-5 years, but it shouldn't really get dirty in the pre-turbo location it's on on the Cruze. They sell a MAF cleaner at auto parts stores.
This was a good thread. I have been scouring these forums for 4 days trying to find something like this. I have a 2012 1.4T automatic and I recently had the P0236 and P2227 codes thrown and while I was replacing a slightly leaky purge solenoid, I looked all my visible vacuum connections over. I've not been able to locate any issues with them but I did notice my charge air inlet hose coming from the turbo to the intercooler has oil accumulation from past PCV failures(those have been fully addressed) but more concerning was the swelling near the end connection and the connection is HORRIBLY loose. I replaced the MAF sensor today and despite it appearing fine, the car has 220,000 miles. I've had the car since 2013 when it had 26,000. In the past, the car had developed a loud whistle/blowing sound from under the hood under hard boost. I didn't pay any mind to it but recently the noise stopped, the boost performance has dropped off and pretty soon I was having to grab downshifts to pull hills I normally pulled without a sweat. Soon, the DTC light came on and the turbo was not being asked to work. Had to dive down a lot of rabbit holes to try and sort this out. I'd considered replacing the MAP Sensor in the manifold and Boost Temp Sensor in the boost hose upstream from the Throttle Body just because but if a new intercooler hose sorts out my woes, I don't see the need. Thanks to everyone on these forums, I'm beyond impressed with the level of knowledge and experiences being shared! I love my Cruze and don't want to trade it or get rid of it because it's been so reliable and economical to operate.
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
21 - 31 of 31 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top