on a 2000 buick lesabre, NA 3800 103k miles- he brought the car over to replace the crank sensor this weekend because it had codes for that and was stalling. (my FIL always waits till the car is mostly undriveable before messing with it). any way got codes for cyl3 misfire, o2(car has a pre cat leak), and the p0102. i took it out and cleaned it, the wires in there looked good to start with. was wondering if having a blocked air filter or something like that might cause this code? i didnt look but know who is driving it and who it came from it might be original. or is it the sensor or wiring? i did clear the code and it came right back and i didnt have access to live data at the time but should when he brings it back this weekend

Dan'* write up on P0102 covers it pretty well:

• Make sure the MAF is plugged in, check for corrosion on plug.
• Check for any vacuum leaks near the MAF sensor.
• Inspect the MAF, is the thin wire broken? if so, replace
• Clean the MAF
• Test the MAF
• Ensure MAF sensor harness is not routed too close to high voltage
  wires, such as spark plug cables, ignition coils or other high
  voltage components. Reroute harness if necessary.
• Replace the MAF sensor.

If the code comes back right away I bet you have a resistance problem. I would take a pair of needle nose and lightly pull on the wires at the plug. More than once I've seen the wire broke under the insulation right where it goes into the plug at the MAF sensor.

thanks i will look, i did giggle the wires a bit with my fingers, but that wouldnt tell if it was broke inside.

i checked out the wires, hooked up the scanner and it read 1.3gms/sec most of the time, idle revving, etc. went up a little driving, maybe 20. went to local pick a part equivalent and found one that looked like it was replaced recently. it reads 5 at idle and goes up into 30 and 40'*, and the code is gone now.


having some trouble with the 303 though, i tried stuff from my bonnie coils/icm etc. put a new plug in cyl 3 last weekend now its sort of a smooth/shiney black. not normal sooty black. i am thinking now its the upper intake/LIM gasket job that needs done now. Am i on the right track?

Sounds like coolant on the plug to me.

me too, just kind of looking for reassurance before i have him order a bunch of parts. unfortunately since he waited on the all this stuff and the cat is the expensive California one its going to be a hefty bill even with just buying parts.

dont suppose anybody knows if you can get a regular universal fit cat and have the codes stay off?

I'm sure if it'* a efficient cat it won't set any codes.

I know of a few people here in Ca that have driven to Nv and bought Cats for their cars that don't have the California CARB numbers on it and saved themselves a few hundred bucks and the car runs fine. I'v only had one smog inspector get under my truck and inspect the CARB numbers on the Cat. Its just a huge racket to make it "Cal Legal".

we have been slowly adopting california emissions unfortunately. so a car bought here would have any parts or programing that is different. they dont check numbers at least around here, just has to have what it had new, no check engine lights, and for 2000+ cars it can only have one "not ready". so if i for sure got a cat that was other "48states" the light wouldnt be on it would be fine. i just dont know if they are different or had different monitor settings. looking at the pics they look the same, but the price is two to three times more