Mass Air Flow Sensor: Description
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Dodge Sprinter. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor is located in the air intake port between the air filter and the turbocharger. See Fig 1. The MAF sensor uses semiconductor technology throughout, and is used to calculate the air mass flowing past it per time unit. This mass is important for determining the exhaust gas recirculation rate. The MAF sensor sends a corresponding signal to the ECM, which evaluates the signal to adjust the exhaust gas recirculation valve.