Knock sensor

[FatTonyZx2ner]

anyone have the info on where that was. I haven't been under the car since fall and remember reading something about in winter. From what I remember it was just a matter of removing and securing it. Any more info?

[mellowness65]

It's on the back of the engine, a green plug. It's easiest to do when you're changing the oil. All you do is unplug it

[scort2498]

correct... when i did it i couldn't get the crossmember off and didn't have a breaker bar o it was tuff for me but all better i unpluged years ago now and it runs perfect

[bigperm5901]

can somebody post some pics of were its located cuz i looked but i didnt see it. thanks

[mellowness65]

Use a flashlight or something if you can't get enough light. Facing the back of the block it'll be to the left of the oil filter almost in the middle of the intake manifold. Green Plug

[capitalcrew]

Under like the 2nd intake mani runner, it's green.

[Blue ZX2]

And what does unpluging that do? besides the obvious not being able to tell if the engine has knocks and retarding the timing?

Cuz some times in my car if I punch it it will kinda have power skips like its doing something of tha nature. really gets anoying.

[mellowness65]

it fixes that, the knock sensor was too sensitive from the factory, some pcm's such as lxq1 I believe have it turned off from the factory

[Blue ZX2]

WOW thats awesome. Iv replaced both O2 sensors cuz I thought thats what was causing it. They did help but did completely stop it. thanks a ton!

[bigperm5901]

i finally found it but cant reach it cuz my arm doesnt fit. could i use a flat head and take it off that way. why did yall take yours off. thanks

[bigperm5901]

i ment how did yall take your off. sorry

[CJW]

this shouldn't be in the knowledge base.

[Buster]

The knowledge base is for those who have knowledge to share, not for those desperately seeking it.



:D

[ZX2R]

i ment how did yall take your off. sorry

Lift the car and get it from underneath. If you reach up in front of the crossmember you should be able to bend your arm to pull it.

[linc54]

You can also clip the wire where it goes into the PCM. Much easier to get to that way.

Makes a HUGE difference in the way the car runs!

[Blue ZX2]

I cant wait to get mine off!!! im prolly guna pull it before I head to Tulsa. It liked to stutter going up them big 'ol hills in top gear.

[mechtech]

Unplugging the KS on our cars is a good thing to do, and will help in some circumstances.
But don't expect miracles if there are other problems present.

[Blue ZX2]

lol naw, there isnt anything else wrong with my car. I just didnt realise thats what it was (or even know we had one) but it makes PERFECT sence now. If this doesnt fix my loaded stutter(it only does it in the highest gear while climbing up inclines, so when the car is under alot of load, and it starts acting funkey, just like the timing was being retarded, ding ding ding) im driving it off a clif. end of story!

[kln5014]

It really does do a lot for the stuttering...completely went away for me

[kln5014]

best part is took 30 seconds while changing my oil...

just take off the oil filter and it leaves enough room to get your hand up there...otherwise you might have to take off the one cross member (just 4 bolts anyway)

[Blue ZX2]

I think im going to inlist the help of a friend with little hands... I dont have to change my oil yet. Or I may just tace the wire and cut the dang thing where I can reach it.

[simplicity05]

Is there a downside to unplugging this thing?

[mellowness65]

Had the car on a good lift today so I got a couple pics. Again, green sensor to the left of the oil filter
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300007.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/mellowness65/Folder%20of%20Knowledge/P4300008.jpg

[Connal]

Is there a downside to unplugging this thing?

Just that it won't detect a knock. Which if you aren't playing with the timing, or changing compression ratios, you shouldn't be worried about it in the first place.

[mechtech]

With some computer codes, you may need to use mid grade fuel [or a mix od 87 and 89] - especially in the Summer.
But probably not.

[freaktractor]

my dads a ford guy and he said the knock sensor keeps the car from knocking and pinging
and so he pretty much told me it would more than likely f**k my engine up by taking it off

so whos right?
and if i take it off,are there any other recommended mods that need to be done or is this a stand alone mod?

[Blue ZX2]

From what I have gathered it will NOT mess our engine up. Aparently from what I have been told they were "overly sensitive" from the factory, and in the later models they deleted them or changed them to not be so sensitive. Either way its not bad unless your running REALLY crappy gas or dinking with your timing.

[mechtech]

freak - Tell your dad that this was a FORD recommended service fix. It was for another model car, but it is the exact same principle.
We don't live in Biafra with 75 octane fuel being a possibility.
It is a safety that is not often needed, and has been shown for our system [and similar - Honda guys do this regularly] to help a lot.
It makes the power curve smoother.

[mechtech]

If we had a turbo and a more modern system, things may be different.
I want all the spark advance that our starved engines can get, not less.

[Blue ZX2]

Just removed mine tonight and it helps ALOT. My car accelerates much smoother now!!

[capitalcrew]

After talking to my dad, and then reading here and doing things to my car.. I've come to realize that.

Parents are almost always wrong about cars.

[Blue ZX2]

LOLZ typicaly YES. Perfect example. My dad, "if its not broke dont fix it" Me with my neon, I was putting the MSD canging the timing and making custom air intake. And I said its going to get better gas milage. He said "Dont you think if what your doing is going to make it get better gas milage they would have already done it at the factory??"

I always just told him, maby there is a slight chance I may have a few tricks up my sleve that they didnt think about? And I took my neon from 32-36mpg to a constant 45mpg, best I recorded was 49mpg. I made him a believer in me, from then on he has never questioned what I do.

[capitalcrew]

My dad just always thinks he's right about cars. haha. He told me not to unplug my knock sensor too. He told me this and that blah blah and he has yet to be right. ;)

[Connal]

After talking to my dad, and then reading here and doing things to my car.. I've come to realize that.

Parents are almost always wrong about cars.

Not always true though. You have to remember, back in our fathers day, it wasn't uncommon to find a group of friends at someone's house working on an old big block. In their day, with five minutes alone with a carb, you could get a decent power gain. With everything more electronic, more of the older generation are wary of changing things up.

[capitalcrew]

Parents are almost always wrong about fuel injected cars.*

[zx2reme]

For those who are boosted, would the knock sensor be required? I plan on running sct or some sort of stand alone. Would the software be able to detect knocking if I had this disconnected? The reason I ask is because the CGI blocks aren't tapped for a knock sensor. You have to get it drilled and tapped so you can install it. If I don't need it, then that is extra money I can save for something else. I guess my question again is, besides listening for it, if I run some type of tuning program, is there another way to check for knocking without having that sensor hooked up?

[mechtech]

Get your tuning right, and be on the safe side. Use good fuel.
The KS is helpful and safe on a turbo, but you can't just put one anywhere. It has to be at a good spot to receive the right vibrations.

[mechtech]

Also, parent's advice is generally safe - you won't get hurt.
But you miss a few benefits too!

[Loser47]

well, if you unplug the knock sensor, can you reconnect it without any problems? (just to be on the safe side)

[blue_2001]

wont the sct disable it anyway

[mellowness65]

well, if you unplug the knock sensor, can you reconnect it without any problems? (just to be on the safe side)

yes. it's just a plug

[Escort00]

if i already have a 2000. S/R ECU would it make ny differences at all!?

[Spyware]

Finally got mine off while getting my oil changed. Feels like a completely different car now. I'm quite amazed.

[mechtech]

The better the computer, the less effect yanking the KS will be.
This is because good computers already have more ignition advance. The crappier computers are WAY advance starved, and any help is noticed more.
But is smoothed and helped with my NGPO, for sure. Honda guys have been doing this for years.

[Hypnose Zx2]

My Gf dad said car are made for a reason why mess with it..
Cars are made to make money! So would they add all the stuff that we added and still kept it low on price?

[BlackEscortGT]

perfect example of the parent thing:
when i got my engine replaced in march because of crank walk, when i got home and my mom saw it i was playing around saying that i could beat her 2007 v6 mustang she asked if i had a v6. i let it slide but it was kinda funny.

BTW I'm doing this mod tomorrow

[trekkor]

Will this mod help my 2001 that is used only on the track?


KT

[olekeg]

i dont see why it wouldnt, all it does is pull timing. You might have to step up a grade of fuel if you start to hear detno.

[mechtech]

trekkor - Sure. The KS is not recognized above 6,000 RPMs. Dyno runs with it connected will show a wavy spikey powerband up till then, and it will then smooth out.
With it unplugged, the powerband wil be smoother, and you'll gain power because you are not artificially retarding the ignition advance.

[trekkor]

Thanks.

I only run 91 octane.I thought I heard an engine light will come on with the KS dis'd.
Was that something else?


KT

[R-Code]

no check light, just yank it and race it :)

[BlackEscortGT]

that was a piece of cake. i will post results later. took it around the block and noticed a difference. the only problem is the tight fit for my big arms.

[trekkor]

no check light, just yank it and race it :)


Roger that!:thingnana:


KT

[olekeg]

yeah i havent been able to get to it yet. My arms are to fat to fit in from the top and too short to reach up from the bottom (during an oil change ).

[KoalaZ]

yeah i havent been able to get to it yet. My arms are to fat to fit in from the top and too short to reach up from the bottom (during an oil change ).

Can you get them up there at all? I used a pair of vice grips, I just locked them onto the green plug and wiggled it out with my fingers on the end of the vise grips.

[olekeg]

ive tried a long screwdriver, long pliers, v-grips and everything else we have laying around the garage. Half the stuff i cant get between the intake runners. I just read that you can get more room by removing the coolant resivour (sp), so thats what im going to try next.

[lilzx2]

I assume when you unplug it there is just a little post that is exposed, and that's it, right?

[mechtech]

A rather big 'post'. The sensor is 2 1/2 inches long.

[SSG_T37]

This is a very interesting little free mod!

I just went and did it and took it for a test drive afterward and I must say I noticed immediately that it idled smoother and then when I drove it, it seemed to just run so much better!

It is worth taking the cross member off to get to it and like it was said earlier 4 bolts and it's off.

Thanks for the info everyone!

[mechtech]

Yours must have been overly sensitive if you felt an improvement at idle.
But even Ford Service Depts yanked the plug, so there must have been some worse than others.

[SSG_T37]

Yours must have been overly sensitive if you felt an improvement at idle.
But even Ford Service Depts yanked the plug, so there must have been some worse than others.

It just seemed to run a little soother after I did it, but it could just be me IDK!

It however definitely felt better driving it.

[lilzx2]

I could def. tell a difference at idle. Alot smoother. Acceleration was iffy, but then again at almost 140,000 miles, time for plugs, and about 500 miles before the next oil change. I thought I saw the KS from the top. Definitely not. I pulled the car onto the base of the hill in my yard due to the lack of ramps or jack stands. I crawled under and saw it clearly. Kinda awkward getting to it but I could still reach it without removing the X-member. If I can find it anyone else should be able to. One thing I did not see on any posts is that there is a tab on top that you have to press down to remove it. I definitely recommend it be done.

[98firered]

You can also clip the wire where it goes into the PCM. Much easier to get to that way.

Makes a HUGE difference in the way the car runs!
which wire goin into the pcm is it???

[trekkor]

I took the wiper washer bottle out and was able to get to it from the top with pliers in hand and a flashlight.


KT

[Ali]

if you've got some good jack stands or a decent lift, you can get at it from behind the crossmember, it's actually alittle easier to get to I think. Although I have to say, I tried this mod and definitely did notice an improvement in idle, but honestly I think that the car ran smoother and with more power with the knock sensor plugged in. Just my thoughts.

[dropped_eskort]

i did this and it only took like 3 seconds once the car was jacked up. not sure why people make it sound harder then it is. but i barely noticed anything just feels a bit smoother on acceleration. not really worth the hassle in my opinion but hey maybe each car reacts different.

[Hypnose Zx2]

i did this and it only took like 3 seconds once the car was jacked up. not sure why people make it sound harder then it is. but i barely noticed anything just feels a bit smoother on acceleration. not really worth the hassle in my opinion but hey maybe each car reacts different.

x2

[98firered]

just did the mod befor i left work ideled alot smoother and seemed a bit more reactive to me smashing seemed to come alive defintly recomened everyone to do it.

[chevroletwizard]

Pulled mine yesterday, at the same time as I done the IAT resistor. drove home 30 miles and plugged it back in. It rattled and pinged bad, I admit to only buying the cheap gas as I drive 600+ miles a week commuting. Thought about trying it again after buying mid grade and seeing if that helped. I'm just trying to get some of the mileage some of the other members here are claiming.

[neckmcd]

Same on the S/R im assuming or am I wrong? Does this work if my cams are already retarted and my light is on???

[Buster]

Pulled mine yesterday, at the same time as I done the IAT resistor. drove home 30 miles and plugged it back in. It rattled and pinged bad, I admit to only buying the cheap gas as I drive 600+ miles a week commuting. Thought about trying it again after buying mid grade and seeing if that helped. I'm just trying to get some of the mileage some of the other members here are claiming.

Either you have the worst quality gasoline sold anywhere or there are other issues with your car.

I pulled mine and have not noticed a single knock since. Runs better then before. I only use Exxon gas though, no convenience stpre/grocery store gas for me. They all have up to 10% ethanol, which is horrible for your fuel economy and is lower quality. If I pull up to a pump and it says "contains ethanol", I leave and find another gas station.

Try a quality 87 gas. If it still knocks, move up to a quality 89. If you're still not running smooth, it's something else.

[mechtech]

You might get an occasional rattle or ping, but not "bad" from unplugging your sensor with the IAT mod.
You engine is too hot, the coolant sensor is is reading wrong, your cam timing is advanced, or you have excessive carbon in the cylinders.

[Buster]

I haven't heard one yet. :)

Been unhooked about 2 months, IAT resistor for 2 weeks.

[chevroletwizard]

I get gas when needed, obviously right...lol. Usually seems to be Marathon, Pilot, very occasional Speedway, I picked up a tank full of BP midgrade, but failed to unhook the knock sensor afterwards, but also didn't notice any improvements over "normal" either.

When I say bad, I mean like old V8 lifter chattering bad. That was the exact sound it was making, plugged KS back in, and no more.

I admit that this motor seems to have a bit of top end tick/ chatter but I attributed it to the dual overheads and the solid lifter/ bucket shim/ tappet set up. This is the only one I've ever been around, but I heard a chick start up one in a parking lot not too long after I got mine and it sounded similar......not saying her's wasn't in the same condition as mine. Looks like I might need to check out my valve clearances.

On a side note, I have no issues of rough running etc, it is a smooth running little engine, not one problem yet, no check engine light on, etc.

Thanks for the input.

[zx2racer1990]

I'm a little unclear. So you think its the KS? I've never had a problem with mine. It might be the BP sludge in your engine thoug ;)

[Buster]

Yeah, I avoid BP.

[mechtech]

chevro - You have engine problems. The knock sensor should not even be called into operation except rarely. If your makes such a huge difference, I'd start checking everything else out.

[david gettle]

My car pinged at first when I did this, but resetting the ECU stopped it.

[white2000zx2]

my car currently has this done and it seems like i get worse gas mileage ?? why would this be , also will this make your car throw a code ?? if so what code ?? I just replaced both oxygen sensors and it just had a tune up not too long ago , what could this be ???

Any advice will help out a-lot to me.

[mechtech]

white - You have other problems. It is not the KS.

[white2000zx2]

will the ks show a code though??

[white2000zx2]

i found out the code is a trans code from the atx shift kit!!

[Buster]

^

Correct.

[Zx2 Frost]

i found out the code is a trans code from the atx shift kit!!

Most likely you have a wire not connected, it shift pretty hard am i right?

[white2000zx2]

yes true !! should i take it apart and check the wires ?? also could it be a bad resistor ??

Thanks in advance

[Zx2 Frost]

Most likely the circuit is not complete.

Happened to me once.

[white2000zx2]

what code was yours throwing up??

[occsouth]

I had to do it the ghetto way and jack up one side of the car, slide under and the pull the sensor... I did it this way bc my car is too low to jack up from the front or back..