R32 Probs..Let's fix this once and for all!!!!!

[phastas94]

Has anyone found the solution for when your Engine either just shuts off, or you just all of a sudden lose all power, like it just ran out of gas???? Sometimes im able to just barely keep it running by feathering the gas peddal... It will either all of a sudden just come back like there was nothing wrong.... or it will just die....
I have eliminated so far.... it's not the Plugs or the coil packs or the Ignitor or my Fuel filter or the fuel pump..... Anyone with a clue????

[mcfly]

A loose connection either in or near your maf(s) would create a problem like this.


does this happen just after coming off throttle by any chance?

[phastas94]

can happen waiting at a stop light...and has happend at 70mph on the highway.... i did notice that one of my MAF's looks like it had been opened and then siliconed shut again...how do you test those dam things anyway???

[bmxer]

I have a question , are you running aftermarket pod style filters or do you have a factory air box?

[bmxer]

Okay so here it goes.

Yes it sounds like possibly a maf problem , why because many of us have seen or experienced this before. Then again it could be something else.

1st definitely unplug the maf's clean out plug's & socket's. Then make sure they are solidly plugged back in.

Now this might not fix anything but start with simple & work your way up.

If you would like to try to repair your maf's follow these instruction I copied from another forum.

"Resoldering the connections on your maf- Get your maf off the car and once you have done that look at the top of the black box sticking out the side. The top is sealed by rubber. You're going to have to use a exacto knife or something sharp to cut through this rubber part. Once you have done so pop it out (can be difficult use something as a wedge to help it out . Now you will see a copper plate on the top, and then look to where the wires usually plug into the maf on the outside. Now look how they connect to the internal part of the maf. You're going to be resoldering this today So warm your soldering iron up and destroy these connections. Spray them down with electrical contact cleaner (not necessary but advised). Now get some shiny new solder and redo the connections ( don't be afraid to use a lot ) but don't touch the plastic sides as you will melt it haha. Let everything cool off. To reassemble you're going to want to use some INSTANT GASKET (silicone). Rub that around the sides of the plastic square top you just took off. And reinsert. Let everything dry/set and take it for a drive. If this fixed your problem, GREAT!!!"



My buddy who is now on this site as well "Ronin GTR" was having very similar issue's to what you described we fixed his maf's following above instructions. The hardest part by far was removing the black plastic covers on the maf's to gain access to the inside. If its not entirely clear you are only resoldering the connections from plug to the board on the inside of the maf. Honestly I didn't even destroy the old connections & remove all the old solder as described above , I just made sure the connections were good again.

There used to be a how to with pictures on the web but I searched & couldn't find it again.

Either way his car has not had the same issue since , 3 or so years & I think 30000kms +. I know he took some pictures while we were doing the repair ( he document's everything ) so I'll see if he can post them up.

Lastly I have to say this again it's hard to diagnose an issue over the internet , so this may or may not cure your issue, like I said just sound's very similar.

[phastas94]

I have a question , are you running aftermarket pod style filters or do you have a factory air box?

Yes, Running the Blitz SUS pods... Well i'll give it a try and see....I really appreciate the info and ill be sure to post the results, in case this ever happens again to the next guy....Thanks bmxer....

[bmxer]

No worries, I just hope you get the same results that Derrick & I got with his car.

FYI the reason I asked about your filter set up has to do with the amount of vibration
(bouncing around) the maf's are being subjected to.

If you search the Skyline communities around the world the maf's are know for having soldering issue's from manufacturing (weak) . When people change to a pod filter set-up there is almost always more movement of the maf's due to not being mounted to a solidly mounted air box.

My car is basically stock so I have no need to upgrade my airflow at the moment , I have a set of pods sitting in my workshop but until I find the time to fab up a very solid mounting set-up , I'll just stick with my oem air box since I think this is why I haven't experienced this problem yet.

If re-soldering your maf's fixes you problem (fingers crossed), then definitely get the pods/maf's mounted as solidly as possible.

[tw60]

hey bud, you and i are in the same boat. I think ive got mine fixed. youre definitely looking at a maf issue, as everyone has said. I was able to isolate my problem by unplugging one maf at a time. When i unplugged the top maf, the car died. plugged it back in and then unplugged the bottom one (front turbo) and the car ran in regular limp mode. No misfires, no stalling. So i figured it must be either the maf or the connector/circuit. so changed the positions of the mafs, and tried again, and the same maf gave me an issue. I had already cleaned / resoldered them, so i guess the unit is just done. Hope this helps!

[R32 Godzilla]

Wow glad to see its not just me...lol. well I plan on just ditching those mafs and maping it. im already running emanage ultimate so all i need to do is data log and build a map....rough. anyone wanna venture down to germany and help me out? when were done we could lap the ring a few times... :)

hope this works out for ya man....I feel your pain.

[ebola]

MAF's tend to be nicer with low airflow (rpm) as they are more accurate... Unless its fairly tuned, its probably worth the hassle to re-solder them. Hope I don't have to find out first hand, though.

Have the 'Ring booked for october...

[tw60]

hey phastas... do you have alot of oil in your intake piping by any chance?

[R32 Godzilla]

agreed. i bought mine mines tuned. so i will give it a shot. Whats going on in october?

[Mr666]

hey bud, you and i are in the same boat. I think ive got mine fixed. youre definitely looking at a maf issue, as everyone has said. I was able to isolate my problem by unplugging one maf at a time. When i unplugged the top maf, the car died. plugged it back in and then unplugged the bottom one (front turbo) and the car ran in regular limp mode. No misfires, no stalling. So i figured it must be either the maf or the connector/circuit. so changed the positions of the mafs, and tried again, and the same maf gave me an issue. I had already cleaned / resoldered them, so i guess the unit is just done. Hope this helps!

That's funny , Mine does the same thing but it misfires all over the place and one MAF unplugged kills the engine too. Hear I thought it was the CAS which I'm going to replace shortly.

[mcfly]

The cas should not cause an intermittent issue. it either works or it doesn't with oem ecu's

[Mr666]

well it's on it's way so I guess I have a spare, but now I have to look for another used Z32 MAF for cheap.

[tw60]

did this issue ever get resolved?

[Mr666]

I haven't had time to put the CAS in or look at the MAF. I have had so much on my plate , plus an old work related injury that has me nearly crippled and there you have it, no advacement.

Thanks for asking though.

[phastas94]

hey phastas... do you have alot of oil in your intake piping by any chance?

No,none that i can see....

[phastas94]

did this issue ever get resolved?
Well i forgot to mention earlier that i was running the stock air box when i started having the problem...and then in the middle of this i changed to the pod filters...but i did take my maf's apart...they seamed to be ok but i did add a little solder to the connections and cleaned it up a bit...so i guess i'll see...

[bmxer]

Guess what. The maf bug bit me. The engine started with a stumble at lower rpm , then stalling , then began missing ,all intermittently. Thought fuel pump was on it's way out at first because problems first occurred with lower fuel level. But I listened to my own advice & took the mafs out & re-soldered them. The connections looked okay , just not a lot of solder. I built up the solder & reinstalled the mafs. Like magic the car has ran perfectly for about 200km of everything from stop & go traffic to full blast runs down some fun back roads in my area.

[Mr666]

I'm curious, how did you get into the MAF to re solder them.

[R32 Godzilla]

I'm curious, how did you get into the MAF to re solder them.


Check post number 5 ;)

[bmxer]

I'm curious, how did you get into the MAF to re solder them.

Sorry I didn't reply earlier , I just got back from a 3500km 5 day "road" trip in the GTR. As mentioned I posted a copy off a how to from another forum in post #5. But basically you have to remove the black square covers from the top of the maf's. It's a bit of a pita just do your best to remove as much of the factory sealant/silicone then slowly pry the cover off , be patient with this step. I used a L-shaped pick to lift 1 edge out then slowly lifted the cover out to break it free of the little silicone that was still barely holding it in place.

[Mr666]

Thanks, I thought that was how but was reluctant to do it. Now I feel better nad will tear into the project with more confidence

[Rush]

Ha good to hear i'm not the only one. Your help really worked thanks.