This question therefore always remains unanswered, and that is why we are here to find out whether it is safe to drive with a faulty knock sensor or not. Let’s start by thinking about this question: have you noticed that check engine light or knocking noises coming from the engine from time to time? If yes, this could be the major sign of a faulty knock sensor. And this could be the sign of a malfunctioning knock sensor in your vehicle. Now, another question arises: is it safe to drive with a faulty knock sensor? By the way, what causes a knock sensor to malfunction? Well, for that, we need to discover other basic things, which are explained below.
What Causes a Knock Sensor to Deteriorate? The Real Reasons
What causes a knock sensor to malfunction in any car? Why not start by understanding the knock sensor process? The 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 engine knocking. Your vehicle’s PCM will send a command to adjust the ignition timing. This will even prevent an explosion, in case it is about to happen. Then it will identify the valid ping, after which the ignition timing will be retarded to protect the engine from any possible damage.
What Causes a Knock Sensor to Deteriorate?
There are several reasons why the knock sensor fails. And today, we are going to discuss all those possible reasons that can contribute to it. The first reason could be the Check Engine light coming on. Another symptom could be continuous vibrations, especially at high speed, dull noises coming from the engine, poor acceleration, poor fuel economy, and even misfires.
What causes a bad knock sensor is its mishandling. Perhaps you handle it roughly or have dropped it sometimes. It can even deteriorate if you remove it improperly. The main culprit is sometimes the connectors too. If they are pushed or pulled roughly or are not aligned, the risks of breaking these fragile parts of the sensor increase. Sensors are quite fragile and you need to take care of them to preserve their lifespan for a long time.
It is always recommended to call in experts if you are handling the sensors for the first time. Also, reading and understanding some good maintenance tips from renowned experts can always help.
What Happens When a Knock Sensor Fails?
Of course, the vehicle is affected in one way or another. So here are some phenomena you might encounter in the car when the knock sensor fails. Here is the answer to what the knock sensor does:
1. Decreased Power
Once your car detects the bad knock sensor, you will see your vehicle losing power. This depends on the octane limit of any engine and how much it will lose due to its power. The power loss stops and even decreases the timing. Overall, the vehicle’s performance is halted. That’s how bad the knock sensor can get for the vehicle.
2. Fuel Consumption Gone
This can even slow down the vehicle’s acceleration, especially on the highway. You might need to apply more pressure on the accelerator to fuel the vehicle. This means your car has lost fuel consumption. In this case, take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible.
3. The Engine Acts Unusually
Another symptom of a bad knock sensor is that the engine will not behave properly. It will be unable to function well especially when you are carrying a very light or very heavy load. Sometimes the light does not come on even after such problems. But if somehow your car is misbehaving, it would be enough to take it to the mechanic.
4. Check Engine Light
The check engine light often illuminates your car’s dashboard in case of knock sensor malfunction. Modern cars are equipped with onboard diagnostic systems that monitor many parts and sensors of the car, including knock sensors. That’s why when you notice the check engine light, it can be a sign to alert you to problems with your knock sensors.
5. Poor Fuel Efficiency
One of the main tasks of knock sensors is to optimize the air-fuel ratio by ensuring proper combustion. Thus, a faulty knock sensor can negatively impact this process. At this time, the ECU cannot make the necessary adjustments, which affects fuel distribution and leads to inefficient fuel consumption by your car.
6. Risk of Knocking and Engine Damage
The knock sensor is essential to prevent engine damage caused by knocking, i.e., the uncontrolled and premature combustion of the air-fuel mixture. If the knock sensor fails, the ECU may not be able to accurately detect knocking and damage your engine.
Watch more about the symptoms of a bad knock sensor:
Wrap Up
The causes of a knock sensor malfunction are here for you. Now, you need to keep a constant check on the vehicle. Also, to ensure that whenever any of these symptoms appear, you immediately bring it to the mechanic. After all, an experienced and skilled person can handle this much better than we can. So, read this knock sensor guide, follow the tips, and follow it through to ensure you know what to do in case of a bad knock sensor.