BAD MAP SENSOR SYMPTOMS-SKODA,VW,AUDI,SEAT -

In this article, you’ll see some of the most common bad MAP sensor symptoms.

The MAP sensor has a vital role in regulating the air-fuel mixture. When problems with this component occur it directly influences proper engine running.

So, it is good and may come in very handy to know this.

Besides this article, you can also watch our car and driving-related videos on our YouTube channel.

WHAT IS A MAP SENSOR?

Before we start, just a few words about what the MAP sensor actually is and what it does on the engine.

MAP stands for Manifold Absolute Pressure.

A short and simplified definition would be that this sensor measures the air pressure within the engine’s intake manifold.

A sort of barometer, if you will, plugged into the (plastic) intake manifold.

The signal from the MAP sensor is sent to the car’s ECU which then calculates and regulates the air/fuel mixture.

When the MAP sensor is faulty, then the lower-stated bad MAP sensor symptoms appear.

Again, this is a simplified definition, for more detailed information click here to read a great article from Wikipedia on this topic.

BAD MAP SENSOR SYMPTOMS

We’re showing these examples on a Skoda but it can apply to other VW group cars (Audi, Volkswagen, Seat) since they use the same or similar engine (besides other types).

In this case, the car is a left-hand drive 2005 Skoda Fabia.

The engine in question is the 1.4 liter, 16 valve, 100 bhp, petrol engine. Very reliable, economical, pretty powerful, and popular petrol engine for the Fabia, Polo, Ibiza, and others.

In these engines, the MAP sensor is located on the right side of the engine (looking from the driver’s seat) and screwed onto the plastic intake manifold with two screws.

The easiest way to find it is to look near the oil dipstick and look around it for a sensor with an electric connector and wiring coming from it with two screws holding it.

Back to the bad MAP sensor symptoms:

1. POOR FUEL ECONOMY

Poor fuel economy is the first symptom you’ll probably notice. Instead of the normal fuel consumption on your car, it may drastically go up.

At first, it may be barely noticeable but as the problems get worse it will go up drastically.

A rough estimate would be something like a 40 percent increase.

2. ROUGH IDLE

An occasional rough engine idling is another one of the bad map sensor symptoms.

The rough idle will be barely noticeable at the beginning of the problem or only when the engine is cold, for instance.

Later as the sensor starts causing more problems, the rough idling will be present all the time.

It will appear as soon as you start the engine as well as it reaches working temperature.

3. POOR ACCELERATION AND LACK OF ENGINE POWER

After the rough idling, you may also feel the poor acceleration and an overall lack of engine power.

Instead of the instant response when you press the accelerator pedal, you may get a sluggish and sometimes delayed response.

During driving, you may notice a serious and sudden lack of power.

As with the other previously mentioned bad MAP sensor symptoms, this may happen occasionally at first, but as the problem gets worse the car may even go into limp mode.

4. ENGINE MISFIRE OR STALLING

Because of the disturbance in the air-fuel mixture, you might notice occasional engine misfires or in worst cases, engine stalling.

You’ll notice this symptom very easily as the engine will sound like it’s running on three cylinders, like when there’s a faulty spark plug for instance.

5. SMELL OF FUEL FROM THE EXHAUST

Also, you may sense a strong smell of fuel from the exhaust, especially when the engine is cold.

This happens if the air/fuel mixture is very rich due to faulty regulation.

In most cases, the smell goes away quickly and may occasionally appear again.

6. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

In the end, one of the most noticeable bad MAP sensor symptoms:the appearance of the check engine light on the dashboard.

It usually appears when the rough idle starts and almost certainly appears when the engine starts to misfire, stall, or go into limp mode.

Know that it may appear even earlier in a random manner and may seem to come up for no reason.

CONCLUSION

A MAP sensor problem oftentimes happens randomly, one time the engine works perfectly and the next time the car is undrivable.

To make things even more enigmatic, most of these symptoms mimic other car problems like a bad or dirty throttle body, bad O2 sensor, or else.

So this is one car problem that is oftentimes hard to pinpoint and be able to concur that the MAP sensor is the actual problem. Have this in mind to avoid wild goose chases and unneeded repairs.

In most cases, the moment you notice any of these symptoms, connect an OBD tool and check out the error codes. After this make an inspection (if you can and want) under the hood and see if you can get some more info.

Since the proper functioning of the engine is in question and thus a matter of safety it is worth it.

Once more, try to make a good diagnostic of the problem as a bad MAP sensor has led lots of people to pay for parts and labor that they didn’t have to.

In this case, a good diagnosis of the problem is worth gold.