# Engine idling rough after driving through a haboob

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-idling-rough-after-driving-through-a-haboob/67683>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** storm, rough, engines\
**Created:** [September 6, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-idling-rough-after-driving-through-a-haboob/67683 "2011-09-06T05:33:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tsmcquads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85e7bf/32.png) [@tsmcquads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tsmcquads)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-idling-rough-after-driving-through-a-haboob/67683/1 "2011-09-06T05:33:02Z")

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I was caught up in the middle of the haboob (major dust storm) in Phoenix this summer. I drove through it in my 2008 BMW X3 (40K miles) for about 45 minutes. Ever since, the engine has been idling rough and hesitant on acceleration. I had replaced the air filter which was full of fine dust particles and thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed the internal of the filter housing. I also used Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner on a couple of tanks. The condition has improved a bit but it is still not back to how it was before. Would appreciate any other suggestions short of taking the engine apart. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Mechaniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Mechaniker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mechaniker)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-idling-rough-after-driving-through-a-haboob/67683/2 "2011-09-06T16:22:54Z")

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Don’t forget to clean the mass air flow sensor.

See [CRC Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPT8rL0noYg)

or google _dust in mass air flow sensor._ There are many links on how to do this.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-idling-rough-after-driving-through-a-haboob/67683/3 "2011-09-06T17:22:22Z")

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Also look into your air filter box to see if there’s a sound dampening filter beyond the air filter. I had one built into my tC airbox, and that could get clogged as well.