Can you run a GM MAF w/o a translator

[Tamatalon39]

so I blew up my Translator when I put some water in the coolant resevoir, I am curious as to if i can rewire the harness to run the GM MAF w/o buying a new translator. any thought, I eventually want to buy a ECMlink so I'd hate to have to buy a new or used MAF for like 2 monthes.

 

[nitroazz]

Pretty sure that the only way to run the gm maf without a translator is to find something else to "translate" the signal. Example: DSMLink.

There may be other products out there that do this but I know of only the one.

I am pretty sure I know the differences but I would rather someone who knows for sure on the voltage and signals to jump in.

 

[RT-AWD]

You can temporarily drive the car with no translator. The car will be running so rich you will hate driving it, and either way i wouldn't drive it for long at all, maybe 20 miles if your in a real bind. Just get dsmlink.

 

[boostwut]

DSMlink v3 is your best bet its simple and can be set up in minutes.

 

[ramsack]

What's wrong with a stock MAF? You're not running larger injectors or anything (according to your profile) so a stock MAF is going to be the best thing for your car.

 

[nitroazz]

Pretty sure the OP has removed and sold/trashed the stock maf. Hence the part about not wanted to buy a new/used maf for 2 months.

 

[ramsack]

Dunno why getting a DSMLink makes the stock MAF trash. People really only run the GM MAF so they can have the "cool" blow-off sound and not stall. If I was going to change anything when getting a DSMLink I would be going with speed density, and totally preclude the need for any direct airflow measurement.

 

[LandoAWD]

It doesn't happen often, but I agree with ramsack. For an interim solution, buy a stocker used, and flip it when you upgrade.

 

[Jon91TSi]

The answer is no, GM uses a cold wire maf for the LS series MAF the DSM's use, the stock MAS is a Karman vortex unit, the translator converts the cold wire signal into a Karman signal that our ecu can understand. The two are not interchangeable without the translator or ECMlink to decipher the output of the GM MAF.

 

[99gst_racer]

I agree on picking up another stocker for the time being. And for as cheap as a stock 2G MAS goes for (around $20), it's not like you're out of pocket much for a solution either.

 

[ramsack]

The answer is no, GM uses a cold wire maf for the LS series MAF the DSM's use, the stock MAS is a Karman vortex unit, the translator converts the cold wire signal into a Karman signal that our ecu can understand. The two are not interchangeable without the translator or ECMlink to decipher the output of the GM MAF.

They both output a square wave pulse. They just operate at different frequencies per airflow units. All the translator does is convert frequency to voltage, apply an algorithm/curve, and generator another square wave.

 

[Jon91TSi]

The stock MAS also outputs air temp and relative barometric pressure, the GM MAF will not output this, the translator does this on a locked level, so this is another reason why you cannot use the GM MAF by itself.

 

[Tamatalon39]

well I do have a stock MAF but when I finally got the car running I switched to the upgraded parts from my rusted eclipse which included the GM MAF and translator I tried once before to put the stock one back in, it ran like ass. not sure why. good thing is I fixed the Translator and the car is running decent again.(not great but decent)I had the piping and BOV aftermarket so I need the translator and GM MAF dont I? when I used the stock one I had the hole plugged. I do have bigger injectors to put in but there is an issue with them (another thread) thanks to all that replied