voltages and air flow sensor

an airflow sensor, or more commonly called a Mass air flow sensor works by heating an element to a predetermed temprature, and maintaning that temp. the more airflow across the sensor, the more power needed to maintain that temp. a more accurate way to test is by using a scan tool that has real time measurments available. most manufactures have specific qauntities that should be consumed (in grams per second usually) at idle and wide open throttle in a specific gear. its much easier with a tool than trying to measure these things with a voltmeter while the car is in motion. a low tech approach is, if you suspect the mass air flow sensor to be causing a driveability issue (usually extremely sluggish, or excessive fuel consumption) unplug the sensor and drive it that way. the cars computer will have a preset guidlines to follow based on information from the map sensor, and throttle position sensor. if your problem is less evident like this, than most likely the sensor is faulty.

--This is the same thing as a "hot pipe anemometer", yes?

-- "Steamboat Ed" Haas : When does Inuyasha get Hacking the Trailing Edge! : to bone Kagome??

no. only that it appears to be behaving correctly,

it may still have a fault that only minifests itself intermittently - eg caused by temperature/humidity/vibration/air pressure etc...

Bye. Jasen

If this is one of the sensors on an automobile engine there are books out there...like chiltons or haynes...that will give you directions for testing the sensor....public libraries usually keep chiltons books and the haynes books are usually found in auto parts stores.