And besides possibly getting a CEL, how will I know if it is going bad?

 

It's in the 'V' of the engine.
Look from the drivers side fender, past the air intake.
Use a flashlight. It's WAYYY in there.
There's a good pic on www.motorvate.ca

 

Right next to the HELL part of your engine....

As said earlier, it sits in the vee of the engine and actually bolts into the lower manifold.

D

 

I shouldn't have to ask this question since it's in such a tight place, but here goes...How hard is it to change?

 

Depends.
1)Pull out your intake. The whole thing. It makes things easier.
2)Use an actual flex socket, not an adapter. I used the adapter, and lost both the socket and the adapter in the vee. I got them out, but not easily, that's actually why I pulled out the intake.
3)Use a telescoping magnet, unless you've got really small hands.
It's a tight squeeze.

I haven't put the new one in yet but I wanted to test the old one to make sure it was the ks and not the wiring. Excluding the half hour it took to get the extension back into the adapter while it was stuck on the nut, removal took about 10-15 min.

Putting it back ought to be fun. I'll let you know.

 

With the right tools? Not hard. I did it for a friend in under 20 minutes. You'll need a 1/4 drive rachet, 12mm swivel socket, and at 14 inch extension. You'll probably need some type of bar to put over the rachet to get enough leverage to remove the sensor. You will want to replace the harness when the sensor. You'll find the harness zip tied to a bracket. Just cut the ziptie off. You'll then find a the connector connected to the bracket. Disconnect the two connectors. Get a flathead screw driver and place it between the sensor and mounting bracket. Give the back of the screw driver a good wack and just break the plastic holding the connector to the bracket. Put all the new stuff in and enjoy. =)

ZuM

 

With the right tools it should take about 20 min to a half hour.

Here is the website I used

Good luck and have some Band-Aids handy, you just might need them.
d

 

Since it's a fairly expensive part, how do I know if it's bad or not. I have heard on this forum that you may not always get a CEL.

 

No CEL

But you'll pull an 0304. But if it's w/something else, it may not be the ks. Have you pulled the codes from your ecu yet?

 

check my website...click on "Help with Maximas".
I have a pic of the knock sensor and its location.

good luck!
FLO_BOY

 

No have never tried that yet. The problem is I'm getting some slight knocking or pinging going from like second to third at high RPM's. I've done a complete tune-up also...Fuel filter, Fuel Injecters cleaned, PCV valve changed, new NGK Platinums sparks and a new air filter. Still I use Exxon 93 octane gas. The things is, I only get is sound with the a/c on. I don't remember a time that I heard it while the a/c was off. So I'm not saying it's the KS, rather I'm asking...