Is it safe to drive with a faulty knock sensor?
The vehicle's knock sensor is located on the intake manifold, cylinder, or cylinder block. The knock sensor is designed to detect unusual pulsations caused by engine knock. Essentially, it's the computer's ear to the engine to determine if it's running properly.
To better understand how a faulty knock sensor reacts, pay attention to the following points:
One of the symptoms of a bad knock sensor is that the engine does not run properly when driving at high speeds or carrying a light or heavy load. If you notice that there is something wrong with your car, even if the light is not on, it is best to have your car checked by a mechanic.
A faulty knock sensor can also prevent the engine from accelerating properly when driving on the highway and result in poor fuel economy. If you notice that this is happening, you should call a certified AvtoTachki mechanic to check why the car is slowly accelerating.
The computer in the vehicle's control system can detect various sounds from the vehicle's engine. If the computer does not recognize the sound, it will turn on the Check Engine light. This also applies to the knock sensor. If the knock sensor detects a malfunction, the computer will notify you using the Check Engine indicator. If the Check Engine light comes on, have your vehicle inspected by a certified mechanic as soon as possible.
Once the computer detects that the knock sensor is not working properly, your car will most likely lose power. How much power you lose depends on the engine's octane limit and how much it depends on the knock sensor input. The vehicles that will lose the most power are high compression, flexible fuel engines. This is because the loss of power will slow timing and prevent the transmission from working until the sensor is replaced. Slow time is meant to allow you to get to a safe place or fix a vehicle, but not allow you to travel very far.
The knock sensor picks up engine vibrations and will reduce acceleration until the sensor is replaced. With a faulty sensor, there is a chance that the engine produces higher emissions because the engine may be running hot. The EPA does not allow such high emissions from the vehicle, so a reduced acceleration safety feature has been introduced.
