A cause for engine jerks? A defective air mass meter!
Fabian exchanges the air mass meter himself on the Opel Corsa B.
"Engine jerks, engine indicator light burns" - if that is in the sales ad of an Opel Corsa B 1.2 16V, then you can sleepwalking with security ever pack a new air mass meter.
Of course, the Internet is full of problem reports and proposals for solutions, and if you believe everything that is written, then you quickly think you're dealing with one of the worst engines ever built. Of course, it's nothing like it. Because even if times like the EGR valve jammed, the hydraulic rams clack or oil sump seal and oil seal lick, it's all not so bad. Except for the air mass meter, because if it is broken, then the mill is really hardly more.
To understand why, but above all why you should not fall back on any replacement air mass meter in the category "China Crusher" for exchange 25 €, you have to look a little closer to the small engine of the Corsa.
It is a state-of-the-art engine. Even today, there are currently still competing models to buy, whose technology is almost 20 years later not on the state of small Opel engines. Of course, this is not the inability of other engineers, but rather the cost dictates in the Kleinstwagenklassen. All the more one should be glad that one gets used for very little money today very good engines.
Internally, Opel calls the X1997XE engine presented at the end of 12. It comes from the GM engine family and is therefore a direct relative of the small one-liter three-cylinder and also goes by the marketing name Ecotec. The technical refinements start with the motor housing: an all-aluminum construction with an elaborate and yet solid semi-closed-deck construction. There is even a light and stiff aluminum oil pan. The cylinder head, which houses the 16 valves and the two hollow (lightweight!) Camshafts, is also made of the fine light metal, and the timing drive consists of efficient roller cam followers and compact hydraulic valve lifters. There is also a timing chain - in contrast to the rough three-cylinder, it also holds in the four-cylinder. In addition, there is a modern Bosch engine management system with said air mass meter, an individually controlled injection nozzle per cylinder, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a knock sensor. Lots of technology in such a small car - and for 250 €.
Therefore, it is tempting to buy those cheap spare parts. Only: the air mass meter is the most important sensor that the small, highly complex engine has. Because an engine needs to run fuel, air and a spark. The right amount of time at the right time. Otherwise nothing works. And the air mass meter delivers that ratio at the right time. The sucked air cools a heated sensor plate, this is heated electrically back to the original temperature and the necessary power gives the control unit information about how many grams of air are currently traveling in the direction of the engine.
Sounds complicated, it is also, especially when things like "dynamic backflow detection" are added. Because it's not just air in the engine, in certain operating and speed situations, it also happens that a certain amount wants out again. All this, the sensor now has to measure constantly and accurately, so that it can allocate 14,7 parts of air to one part of fuel just as constantly. It does not matter if Siberian cold, English rain or African hot desert sand messes with the game.
Less complicated, however, is the replacement of the component. It needs, of course, a new sensor, a flat-head screwdriver and a water pump pliers. With the slotted screwdriver you leverage the small click-hose clamps, put out the plug on the air mass meter and you can already the suction hoses from Air flow sensor remove and has dismantled the defective sensor. Reinstall the new sensor in reverse order and click the hose clamps back in with the help of the water pump pliers (carefully!). Plug on - done.
As a rule, the control unit adapts itself immediately to the new sensor, causes the engine control lamp to go out and nothing stands in the way of clear driving pleasure. Good, almost nothing. There is still one or the other accompanying work, which should be considered in terms of a longer air mass sensor durability, but more on that later.
