Knock Sensor Replacement: Symptoms of a Bad Knock Sensor

knock sensor replacement

A knock sensor replacement is important as soon as possible if you have a bad knock sensor, to avoid causing engine damage. Without the knock sensor, your engine may begin to detonate, causing serious engine damage.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about knock sensors, why they need to be replaced, and how to replace them.

Knock sensor replacement process

What is Knock Sensor Replacement all about?

Your vehicle contains a plethora of sensors that serve a variety of functions. The knock sensor, on the other hand, is one of the lesser-known sensors that play an important role in engine protection.

When you detect a problem with the knock sensor quickly and replace it, you prevent it from giving you incorrect information and ensure that you are aware of any knocking inside the engine. However, you will avoid major engine problems in the long run.

The mechanic only needs to replace the sensor, which won’t take long or involve many parts in most cases. However, diagnosing the issue and clearing the trouble codes from the car’s computer can be time-consuming. The more technologically advanced your vehicle, the more complicated this process will be.

Symptoms of a Bad Knock Sensor

Bad Knock Sensor

A check engine light on your dashboard is the most common symptom of a bad knock sensor. In the worst-case scenario, it can result in a knocking or detonating engine, but in most cases, you will notice symptoms such as loss of engine power and high fuel consumption.

A more detailed list of the most common knock sensor symptoms is given below.

1. Inspect Engine Light

The presence of a check engine light for your knock sensor does not necessarily imply that something is wrong with the sensor, but it could be. Your vehicle may also have an engine knock.

You’ll get a check engine light, either way, so you’ll need to narrow down the problem even more after reading the engine code.

2. Engine knocking

Even if your engine control module will function normally without the knock sensor in most cases, it can occasionally cause engine knocking or pinging.

Engine knocking or pinging is fatal to your engine and can cause serious damage in seconds, so it is something you should definitely avoid.

3. Slower Acceleration

You will notice car losing power while accelerating as soon as your knock sensor gives you a signal. This happens because your engine defaults to lower outputs in order to avoid engine damage.

It not only reduces the possibility of further damage, and also reduces overall emissions to meet EPA standards.

4. Engine power reduction

Engine power reduction is also not a minor issue When the ECU does not receive the correct information from the sensor, it will have an effect on your top speed and torque.

5. Decreased Fuel Economy

When your engine returns to default settings, you are not getting optimal performance. This has an effect not only on power and acceleration but also on fuel economy.

This fuel economy decrease is unlikely to be noticeable, but it will most likely result in a few fewer miles per gallon.

Knock Sensor Replacement Process

The mechanic will first diagnose the problem by looking at the computer’s trouble codes. And scanning the computer to determine what is causing the problem.

Once the knock sensor is identified as the source of the problem, the mechanic will simply unscrew it. And replace it with a new one. In some cases, electric connectors must be removed before the sensor can be removed, but this is a simple replacement.

Once the new sensor is installed, the mechanic will clear any trouble codes from the car’s computer. Then perform a bench test, as well as possibly a road test, to determine the effectiveness of the replacement process.

Auto Vehicle Parts offers a comprehensive range of high-quality parts for almost all vehicle models – old and new – on our roads, including international used auto parts.

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