What Causes A Knock Sensor To Go Bad? Is Driving Safe Then?
So this question is still unanswered, and that’s why we are here to find out whether it is safe to drive with a faulty knock sensor or not. Let’s begin by racing our minds with this question- have you noticed that flashlight of the check engine light or the pounding noises coming out of the engine now and then? If yes, this could be a major sign of a faulty knock sensor. And this could be an indication of the knock sensor going faulty in your vehicle. Now another question arises is it safe to drive with a faulty knock sensor? Besides, what causes a knock sensor to go bad? Well, for that we need to find out some other basic things, which are explained below.
What Causes A Knock Sensor To Go Bad? The Real Reasons
What causes a knock sensor to go bad in any car? Why not begin with understanding the process of the knock sensor first? Knock sensor is located on the cylinder head, engine block, or intake manifold. The main function of the knock sensor is to detect and sense the vibrations caused by an engine knock. PCM in your vehicle will be sending a command to adjust the timings of the ignition. It will even prevent an explosion, in case it is about to happen. Then, it will identify the valid ping, following which the ignition timing will be held back to secure the engine from any possible damage.
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What Causes A Knock Sensor To Go Bad?
There are several reasons why the knock sensor goes bad. And today we are going to discuss all those possible reasons that may contribute to this. The first reason could be the illumination of the Check Engine Light. Another symptom could be continuous vibration, especially on the highway speed, pounding noises coming out of the engine, poor acceleration, poor fuel economy, and even misfires.
What causes a bad knock sensor is the misuse of the same. Maybe you are handling it roughly, or you have dropped it sometimes. It can even go bad if you are removing it inappropriately. The main culprit sometimes is also the connectors. If they are pushed or pulled roughly or if they go out of alignment, the chances of breaking these fragile parts of the sensor go up. Sensors are quite fragile, and you should take proper care of it to maintain their life for a long.
It is always recommended to take the assistance of the experts, in case you are dealing with the sensors for the first time. Besides, reading and understanding some good maintenance tips from renowned experts can always help.
What Happens When A Knock Sensor Goes Bad?
Of course, the vehicle is affected in one way or the other. So, here are a few things that you may experience in the car when the knock sensor goes bad. Here is the answer for what does the knock sensor do:
1. Diminished power
Once your car detects the bad knock sensor, you will see your vehicle losing its power. It depends on the octane limit of any engine that how much it will lose from its power. Loss of power halts and even diminishes the timing. Overall, the performance of the vehicle is stopped. This is how bad the knock sensor can go for the vehicle.
2. Vanished fuel mileage
It may even slow down the acceleration of the vehicle, especially on the highway. You may need to apply more pressure on the accelerator to gas up the vehicle. That means your car has lost fuel mileage. Take your vehicle to a mechanic in this case as soon as possible.
3. Engine acts unusually
Another symptom of a bad knock sensor is that the engine will not behave properly. It will be unable to perform well especially when you are carrying a very light or very heavy load. Sometimes, the light doesn’t illuminate even after having such issues. But if in any way your car misbehaves, taking it to the mechanic would do.
4. Check engine light
Check engine light often illuminates your car dashboard when the knock sensors malfunction. Modern cars are equipped with onboard diagnostic systems that control many parts and sensors in the car including the knock sensors. That’s why when you notice the check engine light, it can be a sign to alert you about the problems with your knock sensors.
5. Poor fuel efficiency
One of the main tasks of knock sensors is to optimize the fuel-air ratio by ensuring the combustion properly. So, a faulty knock sensor can detrimentally impact this process. At this time, ECU can’t make necessary adjustments, affecting the fueling distribution and causing inefficient fuel consumption of your car.
6. Detonation and engine damage risk
The knock sensor is essential for preventing engine damage caused by detonation, which is the uncontrolled and premature combustion of the fuel-air mixture. If the knock sensor fails, the ECU may not be able to detect detonation accurately and cause damage to your engine.
Watch more about the symptoms of a bad knock sensor:
Wrapping Up
What causes a knock sensor to go bad is right here for you. Now you must keep a constant check on the vehicle. Besides, to ensure that whenever any of these symptoms occur, you are taking it to the mechanic right away. After all, an experienced and knowledgeable person can handle it way better than we can. So, read this knock sensor guide, follow the tips, and follow it through to ensure you know what to do when a bad knock sensor occurs.
