MAF sensor DTC question

Happy New Year.

Can anyone help me understand the MAF and what it does and its importance etc?

I've just ran my, new to me fiesta, Doncaster to Cleethorpes and back this afternoon.  On the way back, just after the Scunthorpe exit of the M180 heading to J1 the car made 'Juddery' under power, like miss-firing sensations with a notable but very brief drop in power. The rest of the drive before and after the issue was normal.

But I did notice the check engine light came on (cant be sure if it was on straight away or some miles afterwards). I've plugged into Forscan at home and the result came as below.

Can the MAF sensor issue noted on the Forscan Report be the cause of the issue I noted when driving? 

Was the car behaving like this, due to another issue(s)?

Can the MAF be serviced/cleaned before deciding it needs replacing (assuming it does)?

Is this a miss-leading fault and i should be looking somewhere else?

If i do nothing, what might happen (ie reset DTC and keep driving on this alleged fault), is this something that can be ignored to any degree?

I was hoping to get some insight into the possibilities, before i buy a new MAF to find out it was other issues. Car is 3 weeks new to me, and was local authority pool car in the N.W and has done 34K miles since new.

I've put 200 miles on it, pottering about and this Cleethorpes trip over Christmas period.

I have replaced Air filter, Oil & Oil filter and cabin filter. Timing belt was changed at my cost and request by the dealer prior to me collecting.

Anything else I should know?

Quote

===PCM DTC P0100-F0===

Code: P0100 - Mass Air Flow Sensor

 

Module: Powertrain Control Module

 

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

 

MAF Sensor Out of Self-Test Range

 

The PCM tests the MAF sensor during Self-Test by measuring the voltage level present at the input to the PCM. The DTC is set when the MAF sensor voltage is lower or higher than normal operating conditions, but not shorted to VBATT.

 

This DTC may be caused by :

 

Kinked, blocked, crushed or damaged hose.

 

Signal shorted to ground or signal return.

 

Open ground between sensor and PCM.

 

Signal wire open circuit between sensor and PCM.

 

Open circuit on ground connection at sensor.

 

Open circut on VBATT connection at sensor.

 

Sensor

 

===END PCM DTC P0100-F0===

 

===OBDII DTC P0100-C===

Code: P0100 - Mass Air Flow Sensor

 

Status:

- Confirmed - malfunction is confirmed

 

Module: On Board Diagnostic II

 

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

 

MAF Sensor Out of Self-Test Range

 

The PCM tests the MAF sensor during Self-Test by measuring the voltage level present at the input to the PCM. The DTC is set when the MAF sensor voltage is lower or higher than normal operating conditions, but not shorted to VBATT.

 

This DTC may be caused by :

 

Kinked, blocked, crushed or damaged hose.

 

Signal shorted to ground or signal return.

 

Open ground between sensor and PCM.

 

Signal wire open circuit between sensor and PCM.

 

Open circuit on ground connection at sensor.

 

Open circut on VBATT connection at sensor.

 

Sensor

 

===END OBDII DTC P0100-C===

 

===IC DTC None===

Successful DTC reading, no error codes found

 

Module: Instrument Cluster

 

===END IC DTC None===

 

===RCM DTC None===

Successful DTC reading, no error codes found

 

Module: Restraint Control Module

 

===END RCM DTC None===

 

===ABS DTC None===

Successful DTC reading, no error codes found

 

Module: Antilock braking system

 

===END ABS DTC None===