Knock sensor fault...

james22 · 30-10-2008, 08:49 AM

Hi people.

Yesterday afternoon, I had the Mrs AUII checked over for rego. While it was in there, I asked the guys to pull any error codes out of the computer.

Anyway, the car has been running horribly for quite a while now, Not starting in the morning when cold, running really rich, and lost a lot of get up and go.

I've been scratching my head over the cause for ages and it had me stumped. I'd tried replacing the 02 sensor, plugs, leads. Cleaned the T/body and ISC, reset the ecu, all to no avail.

So wasn't I pleasently suprised when the computer actually made my job easier for a change, by giving me an error code for the knock sensor.

Now what I wanted to know, is what the symptoms of a dud, or malfuctioning knock sensor are.
I know that its job is to retard the timing when the car starts pinging, but if it was faulty could it cause so many drama's with the car? Rich, lack of power, unco-operative starting etc

Cheers for your input people...

InfernoSR · 30-10-2008, 10:08 AM

Put it in the "Heal Up Bin"... lmao! works for others it seems :P

bodes-sh · 30-10-2008, 10:18 AM

well, one would assume that it the sensor is faulty, it thinks the engine is pinging all the time, so it richens the mixture and pulls timing to stop it from pinging, but because it's not pinging, the car actually runs like crap.

RG · 30-10-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

well, one would assume that it the sensor is faulty, it thinks the engine is pinging all the time, so it richens the mixture and pulls timing to stop it from pinging, but because it's not pinging, the car actually runs like crap.

Exactly. It will put in fuel, pull out timing and leave you with a car that chews petrol, won't start and has no go.

Exactly your symptoms described.

james22 · 30-10-2008, 10:31 AM

Fair dinkum ^^^^, so all this crap that I've been trying to work out for the last 2.5 years is due to a single dud sensor. Excuse me but F@rk. Should have tested the ecu years ago lol. Mrs has been getting 21-24 litres per 100km, and going off her head about it lol. It uses more than my v8 hehe

So how much do knock sensors cost people?

RG · 30-10-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

Fair dinkum ^^^^, so all this crap that I've been trying to work out for the last 2.5 years is due to a single dud sensor. Excuse me but F@rk. Should have tested the ecu years ago lol. Mrs has been getting 21-24 litres per 100km, and going off her head about it lol. It uses more than my v8 hehe

So how much do knock sensors cost people?

Get on to FTG, they do Genuine Ford parts at trade prices for us.

james22 · 30-10-2008, 10:50 AM

Thanks for the help everybody :-)

honer · 30-10-2008, 11:25 AM

Learn something new everyday, didn't even know our Windsor had Knock Sensors

E series did not though ?

RG · 30-10-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honer

Learn something new everyday, didn't even know our Windsor had Knock Sensors

E series did not though ?

This was about his mrs AUII I6.

Our wheezas don't have them, trust me on that.

james22 · 30-10-2008, 11:53 AM

Yeah, russell knows all about that. If we had knock sensors he probably wouldn't have a stroker at the moment roflmao... Not that its a bad thing. Good excuse as any lol

RG · 30-10-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

Yeah, russell knows all about that. If we had knock sensors he probably wouldn't have a stroker at the moment roflmao... Not that its a bad thing. Good excuse as any lol

grrrrrrrrrrr

:

Damn detonation

:

Still it did give me an excuse :evil3:

honer · 30-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Hahahaha on I6 I should have taken a little more time in the reading...

Russ don't go hating on our Wheezers cos you melted a slug and had to build a tough stroker ;) ;) ;)

Mr Hardware · 30-10-2008, 12:53 PM

Just goes to show even if you're a bit handy, its very worthwhile taking your car to a real mechanic with a scan tool.

james22 · 30-10-2008, 01:01 PM

^^^ Thats it mate. A lot of time wasted, and I never would have known till the error code came up. So, if your car has got a problem, and you can't figure it... Go get your codes checked

sly · 30-10-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

well, one would assume that it the sensor is faulty, it thinks the engine is pinging all the time, so it richens the mixture and pulls timing to stop it from pinging, but because it's not pinging, the car actually runs like crap.

Mine has been doing that as well (sorry I didn't see this thread and started a new one) BUT it also pinks when coming into slight acceleration/load from cruise... eg a slight squeeze on the pedal to maintain constant speed up a slight grade.

sly · 30-10-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

^^^ Thats it mate. A lot of time wasted, and I never would have known till the error code came up. So, if your car has got a problem, and you can't figure it... Go get your codes checked

Having a Ford Flash 2 also helps. I can check or clear my codes myself, anytime.

SA-AUII-MAX · 31-10-2008, 06:09 AM

Before you go and buy a new sensor, check the multi-plug that is located at the back of the engine on the intake side. Mine was corroded and not making proper contact due to engine washes. Had similar problems that got fixed by just cleaning the plug and spraying it with Q20 or WD40. Make sure that the knock sensor bold is torqued at the right Nm, otherwise it might influence it working operation as it picks up frequency.

hortiboi · 07-08-2013, 09:43 AM

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but I've just been able to find my Knock Sensor was faulty. For 18 months it hasn't thrown any error codes and cost me 3.5K trying to find the problem. It was inhibiting TC lock up and felt like the tranny was slipping so tranny rebuilt. Leads, coil pack, intake manifold gasket, fuel pump, TPS x 2, ECU were all replaced and only now the error code has come up. Took it into an auto electrician yesterday to have electric brakes disconnected and he tested the wiring harness,ECU inputs etc and found this KS fault. I had a look around on the web and found other people were getting the same symptoms without being able to pinpoint the fault.

Maka · 07-08-2013, 10:11 AM

Glad to hear you found the problem eventually

, let us know the results when you replace the k's.

cheers, Maka

mik · 10-08-2013, 02:57 AM

Post 17 SA-AUII-MAX mentions corrosion in the engine bay wiring loom plug due to high pressure washing, this is why for 8.5 years i have never put a high pressure hose near the engine bay(fairdinkum ! ), that's my story and i'm stickin to it ......... no really

.
On another note i have always suspected very high pressure water near delicate crank angle sensors to also be a possible problem too..... again no engine pressure wash for this little black duck and 8.5 years of trouble free motoring

.

LukesAu2 · 04-12-2023, 02:38 PM

Hey guys,
I’ve got the same knock sensor fault on my auII Ute I6 but cannot get rid of it. I’ve tried changing the knock sensor and have changed the ecu but it is still coming up, the knock sensor plug has continuity to the ecu and has a supply voltage, before realising it was the knock sensor I changed out the O2 sensor, new plugs and leads, new coolant temp sensor.

I’ve also heard the you can squash a knock sensor so I have a new one on the way and will get a torque wrench when it arrives

My question is what else should I try if the new sensor does nothing?

Also sorry for bringing back an thread

bondy99 · 05-01-2024, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

Get on to FTG, they do Genuine Ford parts at trade prices for us.

Who or what does FTG stand for?

I may need a new knock sensor for the AU2

**Uncle_Ken** · 06-01-2024, 05:20 PM

Fren Tree Gully wreckers in Victoria