My 97max auto feels like its running at 70% of its power, shifts at only 4k maximum. bad gas milage, no power going uphill. Signs of my car is running in safe mode, but cel lite is off. Can the ks still be bad if no code is coming from ecu? Where can i buy ks for cheap online or offline? Thanx.

 

the Knock Sensor does not throw a code, so you would have to go in and run the diagnostic and it will then show you if youre KS is faulty. There is a FaQ at the top of the forum, please read that it will show you how.

 

the knock sensor does throw a code

 

It does not throw a code to activate the CEL, it is however a dormant code that you can find if you run the diagnostic and your KS is faulty.

 

it throws a ghost code. check for it http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=104931

 

wwell i plugged the thing into the car and it had 4 thinks and one of them had to do with the knock so i guess i thought that it did

 

so i did a diaog using the method from the above sticky but got no error code, can my ks still be bad? I'm seriously considering changing it but wanna make sure first. thanx.

 

the Knock Sensor does not necessarily activate the Check Engine Light, but it could still be damaged or not working properly and this can cause a lack of performance.

This happened to my max, I came about the knock sensor code because I took it to the dealer for a check-up because I felt it a little slower than usual, and when they did the diagnostic the knock sensor code came up. I replaces it and the difference in performance was proven by racing a mustang of a friend which beat me before replacing the KS and afterwatds I kicked his Bumper AS$!!!

Check out this link for more info:

http://www.motorvate.ca/auto/maxima/...ock_sensor.htm

 

well if you ran a diagnostic test and got 0505 and not 0304 then why would change it??

 

My car also has bad mileage and doesn't seem that powerful. It also has a high idle. But then again I bought it a few weeks ago so I don't know if it was more powerful/better mpg in its former life.

If the ECU is NOT lighting up and I suspect it's a bad knock sensor, should I just get in there and find a code? Or should that be done only when the ECU is lit? I've been kind of frustrated with the rediculous 15 mpg I've been getting.

 

what do you mean the ecu is not lighting up? do you mean CEL? you need to get down there and check your ecu for codes. if you get 0304 that means you have a bad ks. read the sticky at the top of the page, it'll tell you how to check your ecu codes.