“VOLVO MAF” conversion 1997 to 1998 3.4, supercharger upgrade,

Decided to add this conversion to the site for others to decide if this is for them.

Wish I had know about this swap years ago!!!!

PLEASE NOTE
SOME OF the members with the
1995-1996 earlier ECU are having issues with
this swap with a lean code.

1997-1999 ECU seem to work without any issues



The 1996-1999 use a MAF tube with a MAF sensor that is part of tube and can not be removed.
The MAF tube section was changed in late 1998 so there are some 1999 tacomas with the MAF tube but most 1999 have the new style replaceable MAF sensor.

MOST 1999 models have the newer removable MAF, but there were some made with the bullet type MAF.

If your MAF sensor goes out your options for a new DESNO sensor is to pay 700-1000 from the dealer
or buy an after market tube and aftermarket sensor made by who know for 100-150.

Or do this swap with a new DESNO sensor with non restrictive tube for under 50.00

Some people have replaced the early MAF tube and sensor with a Supra MAF tube and others have gone the route of replacing the tube section with a 2000 forward air box and MAF tube section and sensor.

So after doing lots of research I found out the Supra tube section and the 2001 tube areas are
larger in size. So the problem with this is that the larger tube area tells the ECU that the air
is moving slower through the MAF tube and thus the ECU tells the injectors to spray less gas when it should be spraying more. The result is a lean code as the engine is running lean because of the differences.
So to fix that you need to modify the ECU or the brain part that reads the flow rate of air to correct the ratio. The ECU is tuned for the size of the original MAF tube section and if that changes so will the lean issues.

I stumbled across the Volvo MAF tube from @d-smith

So for my setup I have a KN cold air intake and it will be a bit different than the stock setup.

I ordered a 2001 Volvo S60 MAF tube section off eBay for 30.00 shipped and bought
a new DESNO MAF sensor for a 2001 v6 for 20.00 OEM off eBay.

I received both items today and was excited to inspect the items.

After inspecting the new Volvo MAF and the original 1997 MAF this is what I found.

The Volvo MAF is almost identical. Same length, same width same everything.
EXCEPT one end, the air filter end is a little larger across then the original and of course now you have two screws and you can replace the DESNO sensor is a few minutes.
YOU have to repin the original 1997 wires to the 2001 configuration for the new DESNO sensor. From what I have found
there are at least two different color combinations that came from the factory between 1996-1999. I have posted both color combinations and the 2001 correct pin for both of these.

So the hiccups I had with this setup was trying to figure where the tab was to press down to release the pin wires.

There is a tiny tiny single plastic tab directly under each of the tiny 5 metal clips inside the connector. You get an eye glass screw driver or a little larger one and push each pin down and then just pull the
wire out from the back.
There is a white plastic clip that you pry off starting on one side.

When you repin the wires each wire has to go in the exact same way it came out. The tiny prongs point down when you reinstall the wires. When you push the wires back in there you will hear a click sound and it locks in. If these are not put in correctly the white plastic clip from the front will not fit back in after all the wires are repined.

Both the Volvo and the Tacoma intake ends are both the same 3”.
The air cleaner side the Tacoma is 2.50 and the Volvo is 3” across.
The center section is about 3” on both MAF units.

If you go with this swap just make sure the air filter side will fit as it’s 3” now and not 2.5” or that it can be adapted.
I needed to get a different rubber boot that was an inch longer that connected
the MAF tube section to the intake long plastic tube.

Because the Volvo tube section is a bit large .5” on the air filter side, I had to cut the lip off, the end that went into the air cleaner so the donut spacer would fit on. The KN DONUT SPACER is to small to fit on the original Volvo end that goes to the air filter.

I got the donut spacer to fit after cutting the end lip off of the MAF. It does seal but I will have to figure how to shave the rubber donut down 1/4” all the way around to get a better fit in the KN housing.
I found a very coarse sandpaper type grinder wheel that did the trick for my portable grinder.

So I did a test run.
Started right up, no issues
I did not discount the battery when I did this job, I don’t think I need to reset the computer but maybe you should.
Took it for a test drive for 20 miles.

The good:
I’m running a supercharger so with the dam bullet gone I have an additional 1/2 pound of boost. Typically my boost is 9-10 pounds, now it’s steady at 10 pounds all the time
Seems to respond better
Seems a bit more Pep
Can replace the MAF in 2 minutes if needed with a DESNO MAF If needed for 20.00
No lean issues yet
I used a 40 grit sandpaper disk on my grinder to shave down the outside rubber donut.

If you have a supercharger definitely have to do this swap.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU PUT IN A FAKE MAF THAT IS NOT AN ORIGINAL OEM ITEM MAF SENSOR
YOUR FUEL TRIMS WILL BE MESSED UP AND GOOD CHANCE THE TRUCK WILL RUN TERRIBLE.

THE INTERNET IS FULL OF FAKE DENSO MAF SENSORS.

 

Great write up, thank you.

 

Well done!

 

Note that the 1999 does not have the tube style, I have 2 and they both have the newer style.. Great write up for those that do have it though!

 

They did a change somewhere around that time 1998-1999, there are some people that do have the tube that have a 1999 I have seen,

 

^^this^^

 

Well color me surprised today. My gas mileage has gone way up with the new setup.
I don’t know if maybe my old sensor was just not working correctly or that the new 2001 sensor and
MAF tube has made it a perfect combination.
My normal gas mileage forever has been 19-20mpg highway.

So I had work appointment that was 50 miles one direction this morning. I wasn’t really Paying attention to the scan gauge that posts gas mileage while driving. I took a look at my temp on the guage next to the mpg and took a double take. The guage for average mpg said 23.8 mpg. I’m driving at the posted 65mph also with ac on and I’m like this has to be wrong. So not sure if this was reading correctly I reset the scanguage for the drive back
and dam if it was in the same area for mpg while driving at 65mph. I monitor the average mpg in the city and it was in the 19-20 mpg area.
Even had some mpg as high as 25mpg at 65mph

This was definitely not something I was even expecting or looking at or thinking about. This swap is the perfect fit for my truck with some added power. Win-Win

 

Thanks for passing this on. Just to make it clear if you are using a stock air box it will fit with no modifications. My results were the same. Better performanceand better gas mileage ⛽️. Again these Volvo tubes can be had on eBay with a very useable maf for $20.

 

Also when you repin the plug it doesn’t matter about the wire colors as they change year to year and from Tacoma to 4Runner. Just move the wires according to the pin placement in the write up just posted.

 

That's an awesome mod and an equally awesome write up! Nice job

 

This is a good write up. It got me wanting to do the same to my truck. So I started looking more into it and came across something interesting. I don't know if its just my truck or other trucks too and as far as I know my set up is completely stock. For some reason my truck doesn't have the bullet shape MAF tube section. Here is a picture of what mine looks like:
and a link of another Tacoma with same tube that I have to show I'm not the only one? IDK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIfWG3V1_Zg
should I still do this mod or not really a reason until I actually need a new MAF?
Oh an my truck is an 02
Thanks

 

The air box that is in the picture and video is the 99 and later version and does not need the older air box upgrade. Ur already set. Just clean the maf occasionally.

 

Your truck came with a newer style maf that is easier and cheaper to change so you do not require this mod. Prior to hearing of this Volvo tube the only way for people with the older style "bullet" maf to change to the newer one that you have was to get a new airbox from a truck with a maf like yours.

 

Also some 96 MAFs don't have the bullet style either so not much performance wise to be gained.

 

This thread is for the v6 MAF, not the 4 banger, The 3.4 v6 had the bullet in the MAF.
I don’t think the 4bangers had a bullet and the MAF in this photo I believe is for the 4 banger ??
If your superchargered or have a Supercharger with a KN AIR FILTER this is definitely a win win

 

Mine is a v6 and same as the truck video

 

Nice to see it ended up working... (i totally did forget to post up the diagrams in the other tread for you though.. sorry, works been hell lol)

 

No worries, got it all figured out, could not be happier right now with results.

 

I wonder if this would be worth doing on an NA truck

 

I’m not sure how you could go wrong, if there was a chance of getting 2 or 3 more miles per gallon and being able to have
a new replaceable DESNO sensor I would think 50.00 or less would be a great deal with some added pep
There’s a reason toyota updated this section back in 1999 and now I know why,
Better mpg and performance