My 2001 tt quattro was running rough. I thought it might be the MAF, so I pulled off the plug. Now it runs great. Am I hurting anything leaving it unplugged?

 

You should get a CEL with it unplugged. Sounds like you have a fualty MAF. May want a new one or at least clean it.

 

I ran with mine unplugged for a month or so. Thought i had a bad maf and it turned out when i finally got to check it that i have the tip come loose. So its either a dirty or dead maf or a leak post maf

 

If it is a bad MAF, you won't "hurt" anything by running unplugged, but you should get a new MAF and make a repair. If it is a gross leak after the MAF, as cincyTT says it could be, then you risk sucking in unfiltered air, which is not a good thing...

 

thanks. will get it fixed asap.

 

I have a Sensor for a 2001 MAF ( just the sensor not the housing) If you want I will let you have it for $50.00 shipped.

I bought it by accident for my 2004 and the 2004 has a different sensor then the 2001's

 

I couldnt get those damn tamper resistane torx plus screws out (no vice grips , no dremel :-P) but I finally cleaned what I could yesterday with the spray, so much gross black particulate matter just ran out, I cant imagine the car wont run better, definitely wprth trying to clean your maf kids.

 

You can get a specific Torx security bit for that. If you are persistant the Torx bits do come out. I used a standard Needlenose pliers and got a good grip on them and once they break free they come out fairly easily.

 

Yah, I tried about a million times, I got one of them to turn about a quarter turn, but they kept slipping off. I just ordered a hundred some odd bit set from griots garage that is supposed to have them, it was only ~20-30 bucks, and will be useful for car and electrical tinkering. Not having the right tools is super frustrating :-)