Matrix MAF sensor problem
 

When it is very cold out (about under 10F) the Matrix starts real rough for a few seconds and finally smooths out (I assume it goes into closed loop mode at this point). The check engine light of course has been turned on from this. Its a P0100 which is "P0100 Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Malfunction". So, I got a new MAF sensor last night and installed it right away. Well, this morning its cold out again and what do you know, it does it again. So, am I right in assuming that there is some problem with the wiring to the MAF sensor or something?

My dad installed a new mass air flow sensor on his car because the check engine light goes on everytime and engine knocking, stalling and shuddering. But after installing it, the same problem occurs. He's thinking faulty wiring.. He's going to bring it to the shop later to have it checked.

I would check the pins in the plug for any corrosion, then check for any cracked insulation on the wiring going to the MAF connector.

On TDI MAFs, filling the connector with dielectric grease has been known to fix certain connection issues,

...anything "new" (hopefully successfull) to report?

Yeah, it wasn't the MAF sensor. My Matrix had been modified by the previous owner. He had installed a wideband O2 sensor in it to play around with it (with narrowband simulation). In order to fake the ECU into thinking that the original sensor was still in it, he added resistors into the O2 heating circuit to simulate the sensor to avoid the ecu detecting something wrong. Unfortunately, he didn't solder these connections and they began to come apart. I don't know exactly why this gave me a MAF code, but after I replaced the wideband with the OEM sensor again all was fine. Unfortunately, I had already replaced the maf sensor which wasn't too cheap.

...glad to hear "...all's well..." (now) inspite of the previous owner's "tinkering."