non-functioning knock sensor= what kind of drivability???

[Mike93]

In my seemingly endless battle with trying to track down an issue with my car I'm am now lead to the question of how would a non-functioning knock sensor affect the way the engine performs??? To those unaware, to sum it up I did the mtx swap on my '93. In doing so I made a small error of pinching the main engine wire harness between the head and the AC dryer on the firewall...this resulted in 4 exposed wires; one of them being to the knock sensor, this was the worst one. I patched up the harness and replaced the computer but the car ran the same. My next steps are to replace the harness and knock sensor once the weather warms up a bit here in NY...but between now and then I was curious about the knock sensor.

Not sure how related this may be but in the past before I knew of the wire issue I had never been able to perform the cylinder balance test that can be done after pulling codes...my thoughts were that if there was an issue in the harness or the sensor that this would make sense why it couldn't do the test...thoughts???

Thanks, Mike

 

[sdpatt]

If the knock sensor were not doing its job, you would be hearing knock under heavy load conditions. It doesn't limit the engine performance so much as it protects the pistons from detonation. You will also get the code after the KOER test of "225 (R) Knock sensor not tested (ignore if not pinging)".

Regarding running the cylinder balance test, how are you trying to do it? It is normally run after the key on, engine running test by pressing the gas pedal within 2 minutes after the codes are flashed.

 

[Mike93]

If the knock sensor were not doing its job, you would be hearing knock under heavy load conditions. It doesn't limit the engine performance so much as it protects the pistons from detonation. You will also get the code after the KOER test of "225 (R) Knock sensor not tested (ignore if not pinging)".

Regarding running the cylinder balance test, how are you trying to do it? It is normally run after the key on, engine running test by pressing the gas pedal within 2 minutes after the codes are flashed.

Well that doesn't sound so good...i'll still take the time to swap the harness and sensor but am a bit leary now that it'll do anything

As far as the test, I ran it just as you have stated...no worky.