DTC P0102: Mass Airflow Sensor Circuit Low Frequency: Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor is an air flow meter that measures the amount of air entering the engine. The PCM uses the MAF sensor signal in order to provide the correct fuel delivery for a wide range of engine speeds and loads. A small quantity of air entering the engine indicates a deceleration or idle. A large quantity of air entering the engine indicates an acceleration or high load condition. The MAF sensor contains the following circuits:

An ignition 1 voltage circuit.
A ground circuit.
A signal circuit.

The PCM applies a voltage to the sensor on the signal circuit. The sensor uses the voltage in order to produce a frequency based on inlet air flow through the sensor bore. The frequency varies within a range of around 2000 Hertz at idle to about 10,000 Hertz at maximum engine load. DTC P0102 sets if the PCM detects a frequency signal lower than the possible range of a properly operating MAF sensor.