Knock Sensor Replacement
What is a knock sensor?
The engine knock sensor alerts the driver that knocking has been detected inside the engine.
How does the knock sensor work?
Every time the engine knock sensor notices a vibration, it sends a signal to the engine's computer, reporting how large it was. The engine's computer is programmed to expect a specified range of signals from the knock sensor.
Most information from the knock sensor will be bumps in the road or closing the car door. However, when a vibration is large enough, the knock sensor signal will trigger the computer to alert the driver. This is a protective measure meant to prevent complete engine failure.
When a knock sensor fails, the engine may lack power, have poor acceleration, ping or knock on acceleration, and get poor fuel economy.
The Check Engine Light may illuminate with a fault code set for one or more knock sensors.