With respect to a vehicle mass air-flow sensor that includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a sensor element of the mass air-flow sensor, a method for controlling a heating element for heating the sensor element of a mass air-flow sensor includes identifying a dew formation on the sensor element by evaluating a temperature profile that is recorded during an operation of the vehicle using the temperature sensor, and generating a switch-on signal for switching on the heating element in response to the identification of the dew formation.

With respect to a vehicle mass air-flow sensor that includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a sensor element of the mass air-flow sensor, a method for controlling a heating element for heating the sensor element of a mass air-flow sensor includes identifying a dew formation on the sensor element by evaluating a temperature profile that is recorded during an operation of the vehicle using the temperature sensor, and generating a switch-on signal for switching on the heating element in response to the identification of the dew formation.

For diagnosing a proper functioning of an auxiliary heater in an air mass sensor in an engine system including an internal combustion engine, the auxiliary heater being used for preventing contamination of a sensor area, the air mass sensor communicating air mass information via a signal line during a sensor operating mode and, if a specified state on the signal line is detected, activating the auxiliary heater, the following are performed: setting the state of the signal line to the specified state for a predefined time period in an auxiliary heater operating mode; transmitting a first temperature information before the activation of the auxiliary heater operating mode and a second temperature information via the signal line after expiration of the predefined time period; and detecting the proper functioning of the auxiliary heater depending on the difference between the first temperature information and the second temperature information.