The mass air flow sensor in your 3.5 liter Chevy Malibu also includes the Malibu IAT Sensor. Your Intake Air Temperature sensor is responsible for reading changes in the air temperature. Your Malibu Powertrain Control Module or PCM is what controls the amount of fuel sent to your engine. Based on the air temperature your PCM will raise or lower the fuel injector duty cycle, and keep your Malibu running efficiently.
When your Malibu IAT Sensor begins to go bad, you can either replace the MAF sensor and housing completely, or test the temp sensor. Today I’ll be showing you how to test your Malibu IAT Sensor in a 2007 Chevy Malibu.
When this part of your mass air flow sensor starts going south, your Malibu engine can run lean or rich. If left uncorrected this condition can lead to premature engine damage or even catalytic converter failure.
Symptoms of a failed Malibu IAT Sensor
Because typically a intake air temperature sensor is housed in the air intake tract, it’s usually easy to test. However because this 2007 Chevy Malibu IAT sensor is part of the MAF there are just a few wires to check in this How To.
When the IAT sensor in your MAF goes out, here are some of the most common symptoms.
- Poor gas mileage
- Overly rich running engine
- Black soot from tailpipe
- Failed catalytic converter
- Excessive hydrocarbons in exhaust stream
- P0112 or P0113 OBDII trouble code
How to test your Malibu IAT Sensor for Power
To begin you will need to locate your Chevy Malibu MAF sensor. This sensor is mounted to the MAF housing and is usually bolted to your air box. Open your hood and find the air box and the six pin MAF sensor.
In order to test your Malibu IAT Sensor for power you will need a digital multimeter. This tool allows you to read the DC voltage at any particular wire in your engine bay. Not sure what this tool is? Or even how to use one? Check out our handy primer here.
The first wire you will begin with is the TAN wire, which is the POWER wire for your IAT sensor. This wire is shown below in our Malibu MAF wiring schematic as PIN 4.
Insert your Chevy Malibu key and turn to the “ON” position. You will then use your multimeter to pierce WIRE 4 or the TAN wire. You should have 5 volts of power signal at this wire. Once you have determined your Malibu IAT Sensor has power, you will be checking for the low reference ground signal.
The next wire you will check is PIN 5. This wire is a BLACK wire and is the signal for the ground sent by your Chevy Malibu PCM. If you have both power and ground at these wires but your check engine light is on for your IAT low signal or high signal, chances are you need a new Chevy Malibu MAF.
We sell the Malibu MAF in our online store, available in two options. You can purchase the brand new mass air flow sensor complete with the MAF housing or just the sensor itself. If you need a How To guide on testing your Chevy Malibu MAF sensor, click here. Use a OBDII scan tool to erase your check engine light to pass your smog or emissions test.
Have any questions about this Malibu IAT Sensor test guide? Leave us a comment below and let us know!!
