Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) Available Anywhere? (Saab Version)

My MAF-s (spare for the future) are on the way: Mass Air Flow Sensor Meter MAF Bosch 0 986 280 119 Fits Saab New | eBay

They are 0 986 280 119 that superseded 0 280 212 017.

 

Here's the cars that share the original 0 280 212 018.

I personally am not convinced the 0 986 280 119/0 280 212 017 are compatible but happy to be wrong

Google the below text to download the MAF compatablity listing:

Sensoren_fuer_Kraftfahrzeuge_DE%20.pdf
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You may want to read these

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/technical-q-sponsored-algar-ferrari/191675-hyper-technical-exposing-348-355-mondialt-bosch-maf.html

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/202441-using-non-ferrari-spec-mafs-application-stoogeness.html#post137812643

 

I know (and I believe Paul also knows) that BOSCH 0 986 280 119 & 0 280 212 017 are not bolt-on replacements for the original Ferrari MAF-s but, according to what I have read, they just need their resistors/potentiometers re-set to the 380 Ohms or, according to some, the potentiometer of the 017/019 may need to be replaced with the one from the original MAF. In all other respects they are identical. In any case, these are the only reasonably priced replacements ($250 a piece), which are also becoming harder to find, so I decided to take the risk (if any) and bought two of them.

 

I really hope they are as when I was looking for one they are either impossible or hideously expensive.

One thing I was suspicious of other ones is that they have an internal map on then and wasnt convinced that the other ones shared the same "sporty" mapping.

Would be interesting to fit them, adjust the resistance and see what the car runs like before your originals break then you can be certain whether they work ok or not.


There is a place called something like viper (cant quite remember) who repairs them as another option.

I was fortunate enough to get a Saab one with the exact part no.

 

I had great success with having mine rebuilt by Fuel Injection Corporation in Tracy, CA.

Fuel Injection Corporation

I posted a lot of information at the end of this thread:

<<http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/470527-anyone-interested-348-mondial-maf-rebuilds.html>>

 

Someone on the 360/430 forum replaced a resistor on his MAF ($0.99 at radio shack) and everything was good. Sorry, don't have a link but may want to search over there before spending $250.

 

Good news!

I went down this road a few months back, and after a lot of research, I also concluded that there are no available replacements with the same parameters. So far as I can tell the specs on the Ferrari one are unique.

I searched for a rebuilder for a quite a while and turned up empty. I found one that could do it, but it was very expensive.

Definitely let us know if this works out for you! I have a spare I will definitely be rebuilding at that price!

 

Bosch 0 986 280 119 & 0 280 212 017 are fully interchangeable according to BOSCH cross reference charts and catalogues.

The extract below is for the Saab which had 0 280 212 017 (interchange 0 986 280 119) from Sep 1989 to Aug 1990 and 0 280 212 018 from Sep 1990 to Aug 1992. The interesting point is that Saab changed the MAF from 0 280 212 017 to 0 280 212 018 (Ferrari) on the same engine and, I believe, same ECU so the two MAF-s cannot be too different. Anyhow, I will soon receive the new Saab MAF-s and try them on (after setting the resistance to 380 Ohm).
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Bosch actually run an exchange scheme for older cars

Benzine systems from Bosch eXchange

Ive emailed them to see what they say...

BTW Heres a nice search box for entering the bosch product numbers

Product Search - bosch.com

Just with reference to the 3 parts nos under the saab even saab dont list them as same part number so may be worth searching under saab numbers to see whether any saab owners interchange them
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I emailed Bosch yesterday with this query:

And received following reply today

 

Go to Saab scrap yard and find the correct part. Seems like the only inexpensive path. Otherwise have them rebuilt.

 

To conclude the story, Saab MAF 0 280 212 017 (or its equivalent 0 986 280 119) does not work on the 348. An interesting thing is that both new 017-s I bought had their CO2 screws (potentiometers) factory set at 383 Ohms, same as the original 348 ones (0 280 212 018). However, what I found out is that the 018-s have the reference temperature of the hot wire maintained at 155C whereas the Saab 017-s run at 120C. Because of this, the 017's voltage signal (representing the air flow) to the ECU is about 1V lower (measured at idle) than the voltage of the Ferrari's 018. When I tested the 017 MAF-s, the engine would start fine (with a nice wrooom) but it would then immediately go into brm-brm-brm-puff. Too lean mixture due to lower voltage signal. I will continue experimenting (when I have nothing else to do) by inserting a constant additional 1V into the line providing the air flow signal (the voltage from Pin 3 of the MAF) to the ECU. This will probably make the engine run fine at idle but the question is whether the rest of the 017's raising (with rpm) voltage curve, increased throughout by the added 1V, will be close to the curve of the 018.

 

Please do keep it in mind

 

Good progress in experimenting with alternative MAF-s for the 348:

1. Bosch 0 280 212 017 (Saab, 120C ref. temperature) has output voltage lower than the 348's 0 280 212 018 having 155C ref. temperature. When I compared the 017 with 018 (bench tested at 2 points - zero flow and at the flow created by my vacuum cleaner), the 017 had 9.6% lower output signal. Built an amplifier (Op-Amp with adjustable amplification) to raise the voltage of the 017 but it didn't work - the amplifier is not linear, it amplifies the lower voltages more and the higher less.

2. Then I thought of my Volvo 940 MAF - 0 280 212 016, no CO2 screw. Checked the specs and found out that its hot wire reference temperature is the same as the 018 - 155 C. Took it out of the car and hooked it up to my test bed and was surprised to see that it produced exactly the same output voltages as the 348's 018: 1.52 volt at zero flow, 3.63 volt at my vacuum cleaner flow. Off to a junk yard to get another Volvo MAF 0 280 212 016, opened it up and found out that its pin 6 (the CO2 pot) was not used. Soldered in a fixed 380 Ohm resistor (pin 6 to ground) and put the MAF on the right bank of my 348. The engine started right up and idled perfectly (same as with the original MAF). Let the engine warm up (and learn as the battery was disconnected before) for about 10 min. and then revved it up a few times. Excellent response and also smooth at higher revs, i.e. I did not notice any difference compared to the original MAF. I couldn't test drive the car though as it is still on jack stands for some other work but I don't think there will be any problem. Later I will add a 500 Ohm pot (last pic) and make the Volvo MAF CO2 adjustable.
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that is valuable. That MAF is used on the 2.7 DME and is still easily available.

 

Other than not having the CO2 pot, the Volvo 016 MAF does not have the same shape of its side that connects to the air cleaner box. However, it plugs in and seals in the air box opening in the same way as the original MAF except that it does not have that thicker segment with a notch to engage the slot at the air box. An aluminium (or plastic) ring can be fabricated and glued to the Volvo MAF to make its connection same as 018.
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I really don't know enough about MAFs right now. So, is it possible to adapt a "universal" MAF to fit? For example (although not specifically):

Universal MAF kits work on a variety of Motronic and other 0-5V air flow meter applications. The MAF Kit 3.0-P consists of the MAF 3.0 sensor, PSC1-004 and MAF harness. The PSC1-004 calibrator comes with the R4 software and can be tuned with a Windows laptop. Tuning with the PSC1-004 takes longer than tuning with the ARC2-A, but in the end is more precise.

https://splitsec.com/product/universal-maf-kit-3-0-p/

 

Can you share that?


That tuner MAF looks like it has potentional

I am going to try to hook with my MAF up to a oscilloscope this week and get some data
Got one of those cheapy 8 channel deals from Hantek
2.7 355
I have a feeling they are not up to par

 

That Volvo MAF is Bosch 0 280 213 012. 6 pin connector, number 6 NC, no potentiometer. This works for the 94 348 and the 95 355 both running 2.7 Motronic.

I just bought one on ebay for $65. Get a few and stockpile them if they can be modified to work with early 348. You can still get some Chinese knock off replacements, brand new.

 

You sure they work with a 95 355? I ask because I don't see the 383 ohms on the 355 MAF