Is it possible to have a dead knock sensor that just can't "hear" any knocking so the timing is never set back?

Reason I ask this is that I got a tank of bad gas a few weeks ago, I think the gas tanker-truck person put 87 octane in the 91 octane tanks. Needless to say, my max was knocking pretty good. It went away as soon as I filled up at another gas station with 91 octane.

Wouldn't a properly working knock sensor retard the timing before the human ear could hear engine knocking if 87 octane was accidently used?

BTW, I checked for codes...no MIL on and no ghost codes.

 

buh-bump. Nobody knows, ehh?

 

hrrrrmmm thats pretty odd.. If i were you i would check how many ohms that sensor is putting out..check the how tos, should be instructions in there

 

No, if the sensor is bad or disconnected from the harness the timing is retarded AUTOMATICALY.