I have a 1996 Max and My knock sensor is bad. I bought one, but its imposible to fit my hand in there and change it. I took it to a shop and they told me they had to take the whole intake manifold off? is there a tool or something that can make this easyer?? or maybe someone in the AZ area that has done it before?? let me know because I dont want to pay $380 to the shop.

 

Just use a long extension socket bar to break the nut loose. Then you can fit your hand in there and loosen the rest and remove. If you're hands are too big, maybe find someone with smaller hands. Believe me, this process will save you time, rather than take the whole manifold off.

 

A magnet wand is a must. Use it to pick up the loose bolt and then to place the bolt in the new KS. Kept my hand from turning into a bloody stump.

 

Get at least a 14inch extension and a 12mm swivel socket. Magnet wand is a must. Buy the knock sensor with a new harness. Just break the connector off the mount. I've done 4 of these now. My last one took 12 minutes. Oh, do it when your car is cold.

ZuM

 

Loosening the bolt and tightening the bolt were no problem with a long extension and swivel... Being ham-fisted I had almost no chance of getting my hand in there so I got my 6-year-old to help! Showed him the knock sensor, the bolt and the hole. He had it threaded and and finger tight in 30 seconds... Only cost me an ice cream cone!

Good luck,

Jim

 

 

So having kids does come in handy eh?

 

I am having an impossible time getting the knock sensor off. I have to 20" extension with the 12mm flex bolt and I still can't get the dam thing off. I'm following the directions off SkippyNet, but I'm not getting anywhere with it.

 

I found it difficult to do it with a long extension, had better luck with a 9" extension due to a better angle of attack (less angle = more force transmitted). You might spray a little penetrating oil on the bolt to loosen things up.