Click here and maybe you can save me $132 at the dealer. (MAF and CEL question)

530 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by jcorallo, Nov 24, 2001

6Cylinder

Discussion Starter · Nov 23, 2001

Hi. I had posted the code my car gave the dealership when my CEL came on and everyone in the MkIV forum seemed pretty sure it was my MAF. I'm out of warranty and I have an aftermarket intake so it looks like I'm going to have to buy a new MAF. The dealer wants $132 to run tests to make sure it is a faulty MAF first, but if you guys are all sure it is my MAF without a doubt, I will just buy the part and install it myself. At $320 for the part alone, any money I can save will help.
Here is the code:
17545 P1137 035
Long term Fuel Trim
Add. Fuel., Bank 1
System too Rich
sporadic DTC
Someone had said that P1137 specified the MAF, so it couldn't be anything else (o2 sensor maybe). Is this true? I just don't want to buy the MAF and be stuck with it if its something else. I also don't want to give the stealership anyother $132 to "make sure" when they'll probably be wrong anyway.
Thanks for your help guys

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vedubin01

· #2 · Nov 23, 2001

Re: Click here and maybe you can save me $132 at the dealer. (6CYLINDER)

I do not know the code but you can call the dealer and they can tell you. If they are charging you $132 to run the 1551 to tell you what that is that's ****** up. It should be a flat rate of 1 hour to check it. If no one else can help you email me and ill go the extra mile to find out what that code is ! Good Luck!

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jcorallo

· #3 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: Click here and maybe you can save me $132 at the dealer. (6CYLINDER)

this is a dodgy area - so many things on the vr6 to go wrong.
Listen (read!) - heres an idea. If the stealership diagnoses a faulty MAF, and sells you a MAF, anf fitsit, and it turns out not to be that (CEL still comes on), then surely you can get every penny back you paid, and get your old MAF put back in place. Thats how it works here in the UK - what happens in the states?
Now if you buy it yuorself and fit it yourself, and the CEL still comes back on, will you be able to take the now 'used' MAF back to the shop and get a refund?
What do you think?
Cheers,
Jules

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alphazero

· #4 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: Click here and maybe you can save me $132 at the dealer. (jcorallo)

I don't think so. It is unlikely you will be able to return anything electrical.
I have heard... not sure about the new cars... but that your car cannot run without at least you MAF or TPS working at any one time. In other words, if you unplug you TPS and you car dies (it should begin to race to about 2k) then, it is most likely a bad MAF. Vise versa for a bad TPS. Anyway, you might want to check that out.
Other things to look at are corroded connections to the MAF (unlikely in your newer car... but a possibility)
Good luck.
Oh yeah... if all else fails, take your maf out, bring a screwdriver and ask the dealer if you can go testdrive one of their used VR6 GTI's... since yours isn't working. Take it to a parking lot, pop the hood, swap MAFs and head back.
Just stick it in your pants... no one will notice.

j/k of course.