How to Repair the Mass Air Flow Sensor in a 1999 Grand Prix

Named after a famous race, the Grand Prix was Pontiac's attempt to capture the sense of racing excitement in a production car. The 1999 Grand Prix employed GM's 3800 Series II V-6 engine to achieve some of this excitement. Air enters the 3800 Series II through the air intake. This air facilitates fuel combustion in the engine. To ensure a proper air-to-fuel ratio, the onboard computer needs to know how much air is entering the combustion chamber, and that's where the mass air flow sensor comes in. Since Pontiac doesn't offer repair parts, if your MAF malfunctions, you'll need to replace it.

Instructions

1

Open the Grand Prix's hood. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery with a battery wrench.

2

Locate the MAF sensor by looking behind the air filter housing, where the air hose exits the air filter housing and connects to the MAF sensor; for identification purposes, the MAF has an electrical connector plugged into its top portion.

3

Unplug the wiring connector from the top of the MAF sensor. Loosen the hose clamps on the front and rear of the MAF sensor using a screwdriver.

4

Pull the outlet hose --- that connects the MAF sensor to the engine --- off the backside of the MAF sensor. Pull the MAF sensor out of the inlet hose that connects the MAF sensor to the air filter housing.

5

Set the old MAF sensor aside. Connect the new MAF sensor to the inlet hose. Connect the outlet hose to the MAF.

6

Tighten the hose clamps on the front and rear of the MAF sensor using a screwdriver. Inspect the hose connections where the inlet and outlet hoses join the MAF to make sure there are no leaks. Plug the wiring connector into the new MAF sensor.

7

Reconnect the battery cable. Close the hood.