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Mass air flow sensor blocked by bugs while driving.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by flatlander, Sep 28, 2018.

  1. flatlander

    flatlander Junior Member

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    Driving at night I encountered a dense swarm of small bugs at 60+ mph which reduced windscreen visibility to almost zero. Immediately there was a loss or power, Master Warning, check engine , ABS and hybrid system malfunction appeared. Pulling to the side of the road and turning the car OFF and then ON/Ready, the car was drivable but the MW, check engine and hybrid malfunction indications remained. I was able drove the remaining 80 or so miles to get home.

    Drove the car to the local Toyota dealer the next AM to have the codes read.

    Technician's notes as follows: DTC's were set: P0101, P3190, P0A0F, C1300, C1311. Found Mass Air Flow (MAF) Meter blocked by bugs. Cleaned MAF, reset light, no codes return at this time.
    Indications after getting home:
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 flatlander, Sep 28, 2018
  2. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    bug juice clogging and getting through the air cleaner to the MAF sensor?


    iPhone ?
     
    #2 Paul Schenck, Sep 29, 2018
    jerrymildred likes this.
  3. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Welcome! Yup. Time to figure out how they got past the air filter. If bugs get in there, so does dirt and grit.
     
    #3 jerrymildred, Sep 29, 2018
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    This is an important point.
    I think he should ask the shop that worked on it to explain.
     
    #4 sam spade 2, Sep 29, 2018
  5. flatlander

    flatlander Junior Member

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    The trouble shooting and "repair" was done by the local Toyota dealer.I'm pretty sure the air filter lid/ plenum was securely latched into place and air filter in proper seated as well. But again maybe it wasn't.
     
    #5 flatlander, Sep 29, 2018
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I think that if the filter gasket isn't seated right, it's pretty hard to latch the lid on the housing. But there may be an entry point between the filter housing and the throttle body, or in the housing itself after the filter. If the dealer didn't say they found the opening and fixed it, I would assume that the opening is still there. Dealer mechanics are human and they screw up like anyone else. Your engine is worth a look to make sure.

    What I would try first is to have it in the garage or at least in the dark, open it up and remove the filter, and then shine a bright light around the outside of the housing down where the light won't shine in the top and look for light leaks inside the housing.
     
    #6 jerrymildred, Sep 30, 2018
  7. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat! Hey, 47.7 over 216 looks pretty good for that age! …what's the mileage? :)
     
    #7 WilDavis, Sep 30, 2018
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