MAF Sensor 72.99$ (Reman) AutoZone

[CateraMV6]

Here is a small documentation of my adventures with my MAF sensor.

A month ago the P0171 and P0174 started to come up under the Check Engine Light, and as a result Lean Left and Right Bank.

After reading numerous posts on here it looked like it was the MAF sensor.

Symptoms:
1.Cold Starts, car would hesitate and have a very uneven idle, it sounded like it had some sort of aggressive cam and it was lumping almost sputtering.
2.When warm sometimes it would hesitate on acceleration, or power would just come in erratically.
3.Car would go into a default mode and run smooth after its been warmed up. As soon as I reset the CEL the idle problems return and same game all over.

Finally Decided to look for a new MAF sensor and I had a few options.
1. Dealer - asked too much money for one... something on the lines of 240$.
2. Rockauto - 168$ + S&H Comes to under 180$
3. Autozone - 72.99$ + TAX (But there is a catch-read further)

Rockauto Catalog shoing 1997 and 2001 MAF Sensors.


Saturn L-Series MAF Sensor


Rockauto Checkout page...showing Saturn and Catera MAF sensors at checkout.


Here is AUTOZONE... same Saturn 2004-2005 MAF for 3.0L V6 (Reman)
The Catch is you need to search for those model years Saturns with the 3.0L V6 either in Sedan or Wagon versions and the sensor is Remanufactured...which shouldn't bother you because it has 2yr warranty.



MAF Sensors do not exist in their listings for the Cadillac Catera.
I dug on the internet for around 6-8hrs total before I found this out.
Turns out the Saturn L-Series carreis the same L81 Engine as the one in the Catera so as a result the MAF sensor is the same.

Here are some pictures of it.
(NOTE: MAF Sensor is right by the air box.)


LOOK FAMILIAR???


Plased an order, and within 24hrs the part was at the local store...
Got it about 30min ago, came home, took pictures, installed it.
Took me 3min to swap them out.
CEL Went away immediately.

Pictures of the sensors to proove to you that they are one and the same!...







Installed





With all this said, I hope this saves someone a bunch of money so that they may spend on other parts or simply more fun things!.

GOOD LUCK

[JRomano]

great info, thanks!

[Black02SLPSS]

You know that motor looks even more shoe horned in that saturn than in the catera. But very good find, ill definatly keep this in mind if i ever need one for my 98. Oh is there any difference between mafs over the years?

[WGoins88]

Wow, what a GREAT thing to know, the confirmation is that the part numbers match up. This could save people hundreds of $$.

I vote that this be stickied at the top of the page. Such a good deal that I may go buy 2 of them as I have 2 broken cores that I got at the junkyard for $2 each, that'd still be cheaper than a single new one from RockAuto.

[WGoins88]

Ah DAMN... no dice for us 97-? guys. 97 only has 4 wires and has a different part number.... that sucks.

[CateraMV6]

Ah DAMN... no dice for us 97-? guys. 97 only has 4 wires and has a different part number.... that sucks.

I am researching that option as we speak and if I find something I will post on here.

It will help if someone can take it out and photograph it so I can have a good reference as to what I am looking for.

A few European suppliers sell sensors for less and we may be able to find a cheap alternative there.

[WGoins88]

Here ya go.

[CateraMV6]

Here is what the sensor itself looks like out of the 99-01... Can you take yours apart and get those part numbers.

[WGoins88]

[WGoins88]

So I typed in the part number on my MAF on UK eBay, and BAM!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Air-Flow-M...d=p3286.c0.m14

$65 USD plus whatever for shipping. Regardless, it's better than paying $375 for one.

[CateraMV6]

So I typed in the part number on my MAF on UK eBay, and BAM!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Air-Flow-M...d=p3286.c0.m14

$65 USD plus whatever for shipping. Regardless, it's better than paying $375 for one.

There you go, so we got both of these figured out then.

I considered getting one from UK as well but Autozone was convenient enough and the price was almost unbeatable.

[HoffmansCaddi]

Can I use the 99 model (one from the Saturn) on my 98 Catera? Or do I need to order from the UK?

[Matera97]

I'm thinking you need one from the UK.

[retho78]

99-01 have a different type of MAF sensor.

[USEDCAT]

Can I use the 99 model (one from the Saturn) on my 98 Catera? Or do I need to order from the UK?

May be possible for 3.0L V6 Saturns as follows only,

L-Series2000-2003J(L81)
Not the 1999s as these were not even 3.0L V6 driven based on web info.

Good luck.