A mass airflow sensor measures the air going into your engine. It then sends this information to the engine control unit, which determines how much fuel the engine needs for combustion.
When your mass airflow sensor acts up, your engine can’t maintain the optimal air-to-fuel ratio. This can cause your engine to jerk, hesitate or stall. You might also experience a decrease in fuel economy.
You won’t want to drive for very long with a malfunctioning mass airflow sensor. The cost to replace one is typically between $240 and $684, including parts and labor.
How much does a mass airflow sensor cost to replace?
Prices for a mass airflow sensor vary quite a bit between manufacturers and have a large influence on the overall repair bill. Here are some sample prices for mass air flow sensors:
| Vehicle | Part | Source | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Escape | Mass air flow sensor CP9Z12B579B | Ford Parts | $175.09 MSRP |
| 2019 BMW 530i | Mass Air Flow Sensor – Genuine BMW 13628605565 | FCP Euro | $375.99 |
| 2019 BMW 530i | BMW Mass Air Flow Sensor – Bosch 13628605565 | FCP Euro | $113.99 |
| 2018 Toyota Camry | Toyota Genuine Intake Air Flow Meter Sub-Assembly | Toyota Parts Center Online | $189.61 MSRP |
| 2015 Honda Accord | Duralast New Mass Air Flow Sensor DL-3017 | AutoZone | $58.99 |
| 2015 Honda Accord | Hitachi New Mass Air Flow Sensor MAF0122 | AutoZone | $142.99 |
The make and model of your car partially determine how much you’ll pay for a mass air flow sensor, but you can also often save money by buying an aftermarket part.
Labor
The next major piece of your final repair bill is the labor cost. It takes between about half an hour to an hour to replace a mass airflow sensor. Mechanics’ per-hour rates across the United States range from about $110 to $175, meaning this job could cost $55 for half an hour of labor at the lowest rate and up to $175 for an hour at the most expensive rate. You might be billed for additional time to do diagnostics and testing.
How to replace mass airflow sensor
If you want to save money on labor, it’s easy to replace a mass airflow sensor on most vehicles. It’s basically a straightforward swap of the old part with its replacement. In most vehicles, you can find your mass airflow sensor connected to your throttle body and air filter housing. Here are some general steps:
- Disconnect your car battery.
- Disconnect the mass air flow sensor. (There are typically multiple connections to the car, and you may need a screwdriver.)
- Remove the old sensor, and replace it with the new sensor.
- Reconnect everything you removed: screws, clamps, hoses, battery terminals.
What happens if I don’t replace my mass airflow sensor?
Your car will become increasingly unreliable and erratic the longer you delay the repair. Your car might be hard to start, perform poorly, and exhibit other engine-related problems.
If you’re concerned about the cost of the repair, you can try cleaning your mass air flow sensor to see if this improves its performance. This involves similar steps as replacing it, but once you’ve removed the sensor, you’ll apply a cleaning spray to the interior and exterior, removing any corrosion, dirt, and grime. If your mass airflow sensor uses a hot wire, avoid getting any fluids onto its heating element. Once this is done, reinstall the sensor.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
