Identification

• The air intake sensor, or mass airflow sensor, normally is placed within the flow of intake air to the engine. The information this sensor provides the on board computer helps the engine adjust fuel and air ratios for proper combustion.
  
  

Function

• An air intake sensor uses either a wire or a film element that is heated more than the surrounding air. As the passing air cools the element, the sensor must reheat the element again. This change in temperature and heating current tells the sensor, and the subsequent on board engine, the mass of the air passing.
  
  

Significance

• If an air intake sensor fails, engine performance suffers due to the lack of information on the mass of air within the chamber. The engine's computer cannot accurately mix the fuel and air without that data being constantly generated.