MAF Sensor Test
(2.4L, 3.0L Mitsubishi 1999-2004)
-Part I-

The Mass Airflow Sensor on your Mitsubishi vehicle (or Chrysler Sebring or Dodge Stratus) can be tested without a Scan Tool and in 4 easy steps. All you’ll need is a Digital Multimeter that can read Hertz Frequency.

Since quite a few Mitsubishi vehicles use this MAF Sensor (and Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus), at the bottom of this page, you’ll find a complete list of vehicle that use this type of MAF Sensor. By the way, this Sensor is known as the Volume Air Flow Sensor in Mitsubishi tech speak.

Symptoms of a BAD Mitsubishi MAF Sensor

The most obvious one is that the CHECK ENGINE Light (CEL) will be on on your Instrument Cluster and driving you nuts. Here are a couple of others:

1. A MAF Sensor Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) stored in your vehicle computer’s memory.
   1. P0101 Volume air flow circuit range/performance problem.
   2. P0102 Volume air flow circuit low input.
   3. P0103 Volume air flow circuit high input.
2. Lean and/or Rich Diagnostic Trouble Code(s).
   1. P0171, P0174
3. Fuel Trim Diagnostic Trouble Code(s).
4. No Power when you accelerate the car or truck.
5. Black smoke coming from the tail-pipe.
6. Your car or truck or SUV may idle rough and stall.

What tools do I need?

You’ll need a Digital Multimeter that can read Hertz (Hz) Frequency (don’t have a Digital Multimeter that can read Hertz frequency? Click here to see my recommendations: Buying a Hertz enabled Digital Multimeter). As mentioned earlier, you don’t need an Automotive Scan Tool to test the MAF Sensor. Having said that... a Scan Tool is one of those MUST have tools to be able check and diagnose today’s modern cars and trucks, but for the tests in this article you don’t need one.

Circuit Descriptions
of the MAF Sensor Connector

This Mitsubishi Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor has a total of 7 wires coming out of the connector. Although you won’t be testing every single circuit, I’ve included the Circuit Descriptions of all them anyway for your viewing pleasure.

1. Circuit labeled 1:
   1. 5 Volt Reference Voltage
2. Circuit labeled 2:
   1. Barometric Pressure Sensor Circuit
3. Circuit labeled 3:
   1. MAF Signal Output.
4. Circuit labeled 4:
   1. Power (12 Volts) Circuit.
5. Circuit labeled 5:
   1. Sensor Return (Ground) Circuit.
6. Circuit labeled 6:
   1. Intake Air Temp Sensor Circuit.
7. Circuit labeled 7:
   1. MAF Reset Signal Output Circuit.

I did not include the color of the wires because as long as you’re able to identify them by the number in the photo, you’ll be OK. Also, the color of the wires in the photos may not be the color of the wires of the MAF on your specific vehicle.... and again this is no cause for concern.