VW Crafter MAF Issues, Stalling, Smoke and Poor MPG

Last month had similar symptoms on my 2013 VW Transporter TDI. The mass air flow sensor failure created the exact issues, poor fuel economy, rough idle, and black smoke during acceleration. The air-fuel ratio was completely off, triggering the check engine light. Initial diagnosis confirmed the MAF sensor was not reading properly. The air intake system inspection revealed the sensor was contaminated, affecting the readings sent to the engine control unit. A proper cleaning did not resolve it. The defective MAF sensor impacted engine performance significantly as it could not measure incoming air volume correctly. Without accurate air flow measurements, the engine control unit cannot maintain optimal air-fuel ratio, leading to rich fuel mixture. After sensor replacement, the engine ran smoothly again with restored fuel economy. This was a serious issue that needed immediate attention to prevent potential engine damage from incorrect fueling. Would recommend having it properly diagnosed, as these symptoms strongly indicate MAF sensor problems. As a preventive measure, regular air filter maintenance helps protect the MAF sensor from contamination. When the air filter gets clogged, it puts additional stress on these sensitive components.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the MAF sensor issue. Your description matches my symptoms perfectly. Did you remember roughly how much the sensor replacement cost in the end? Also curious if youve had any other problems pop up since fixing the mass air flow sensor? My air filter looks pretty dirty too so might need to tackle both while its being worked on.

After fixing the faulty MAF sensor last month, my VW is running perfectly again with no performance decline or new issues. The total repair cost came to 365€ including labor to replace the defective sensor. Money well spent considering how the engine performance and fuel economy immediately improved. The mechanic confirmed the MAF sensor failure was causing all those problems we discussed. Having a clean air filter is crucial, it helps prevent future sensor problems by keeping dirt and debris from reaching the MAF sensor. Getting both done at once makes good sense since they work together in the air intake system. Just keep in mind that a check engine light can indicate various issues, but with the symptoms you described, a bad MAF sensor seems highly likely. The repair resolved all the problems, no more stalling, better fuel consumption, and no smoke during acceleration.

I took your advice and got everything checked out at a different mechanic shop last week. The mass air flow sensor was indeed the culprit, just as you suggested. Repair cost came to 390€ total, a bit more than yours but still reasonable considering the problems it was causing. The mechanic found my air filter was completely clogged, which likely contributed to the sensor failure. Had that replaced too while the system was opened up. The entire air intake system got a thorough cleaning during the service. What a difference it made, no more engine stalling at idle, fuel economy is back to normal, and the smoke during acceleration is completely gone. The check engine light cleared up right after the repair. Really glad I got a second opinion and followed through with the MAF sensor replacement. The car runs like new again.