Denso MAF - MADE IN VIETNAM

[RumHam26]

Just wanted to share my recent experience with purchasing a new Denso MAF for my '01.

I purchased the Denso 197-6020 MAF from Amazon the other day for about $43. I tried cleaning several times but kept experiencing poor mpgs and the codes - P0100, P0110, and P0171 - so I decided to replace it.

In the photos on Amazon, Rock Auto, and the Denso website, the sensor is marked "MADE IN JAPAN" on top. It does not have the Toyota name on it, but the made in Japan stamp was encouraging to me.

The sensor showed up yesterday in a Denso box marked "MADE IN VIETNAM" - needless to say I was disappointed - although I don't objectively know that this is a bad thing - just not what I expected.



I don't know if Denso makes several tiers of sensors, or if they just moved production to Vietnam recently, but I be very interested if anyone can enlighten me on this matter. I have emailed Denso to ask about it, and to ***** about the false advertising.

Other than the marks and location of production, the sensors look pretty much identical. The only difference I noticed was that the two smaller wire inside (thermistor and platinum heat wire I believe) looked a little bit thinner in the middle. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good photo of this, but if anyone really wants to see it, I will give it another shot.

I have about 90 miles on the new Vietnamese Denso sensor and my codes haven't returned. The truck seems a little bit lighter, peppier...could be placebo. We will see if codes come back and if MPGs improve. I will keep you posted.

Here are some side by side photos of the new and old MAFs

 

[octanejunkie]

If it doesn't work, return it

FWIW, I bought a cheap knockoff from Amazon that works no problem - although I'm running an OEM

 

[Supersonic]

Thing I noticed on $17 one, eBay shipper/distributor from China is the 2 wires inside didn't look like resistors as my old one did.
Other was the bulb for temperature was shorter too.
Mine's worked fine too, had no name on it.

I did learn that Denso does manufacture from China so that why I risk $17 and about a 3 week wait.
Been working fine for about a month now.

 

[Link12]

Be careful with Aisin parts also. My brother in law was doing the timing belt service on his 97 and found a Aisin water pump for $50. Put it on there not paying much attention to the finer print on the box. On cold mornings it spews antifreeze from the weep hold and will then stop. Looking closer on the box it says Aisin of Taiwan. Figures.

 

[phattyduck]

Thing I noticed on $17 one, eBay shipper/distributor from China is the 2 wires inside didn't look like resistors as my old one did.
Other was the bulb for temperature was shorter too.
Mine's worked fine too, had no name on it.

I did learn that Denso does manufacture from China so that why I risk $17 and about a 3 week wait.
Been working fine for about a month now.

If the wires up inside the venturi tube looked like resistors, that's your problem. That is build-up from years of use that can (should!) be cleaned off so the wire is again just a wire. The 'hot wire' MAFs get build-up on the hot wire and stop reading as well as they should.

-Charlie

 

[RumHam26]

If the wires up inside the venturi tube looked like resistors, that's your problem. That is build-up from years of use that can (should!) be cleaned off so the wire is again just a wire. The 'hot wire' MAFs get build-up on the hot wire and stop reading as well as they should.

-Charlie

Hi Charlie - He is not talking about build up. The wires on our OEM MAF have a particular shape to them. Take a look at this post http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/36363-cleaning-maf.html#post307527

Even when clean, these wires have a certain resistor-like shape (don't know if that's what they are). It seems like some of the non-OEM replacements don't have this shape, but look more like regular wires.

 

[jgue467]

"The truck seems a little bit lighter, peppier...could be placebo. "

Placebo???? Sugar pill - WTPho? :cowboy:

 

[nissanh]

I bought a DENSO distributor cap for my 4afe toyota engine (car) and I received the package with denso log and everything, but the distribbutor cap was made in West. Germany! this is an aftermarket part which I can but for less at an autoparts store.

 

[T4R2014]

Who really cares if a $43 sensor is made in vietnam? If it works for a year you got your moneys worth.

 

[marcus clarkus]

It was probably manufactured in Vietnam by a factory that is managed by Japanese. That's how one of my family members described the Denso manufacturing facility he works at in Tennessee. It's possible that some parts are still made in Japan, but certain steps (injection molding, assembly) are done in Vietnam.

Either way, if it works then who cares?