hello everybody!

Besides having an oil leak my maxima runs real good. Now this is the only maxima ive ever driven and when i wen to get a sticker the diagnostic picked up that the knock sensor was not that good, engine light is not on.people keep saying that the max is suppose to feel zippy and stuff, my max feels pretty smooth but not zippy, my 92 acura vigor feels a lot zippier. because this is the only max ive driven its hard for me to tell how fast the max really is. the mechanic told me that if the knock sensor was really bad the engine light would come on and told me not to waste my money until that happens. should i change it anyway? thanks!

 

Well even if you don't have the CEL, if the knock sensor code came up on the diagnostic, it's probably restraining some performance to your Maxima. So if you want your car to have the best performance then you should change it. If you dont really care then don't waste the money.

 

How many miles on the car? I heard around 100k is good- I was thinking about changing mine too, but mine only has 45K so, I don't think itss time, and my car is pretty fast, but like you- I have nothign to compare it to. You know what they say- ignorance is bliss. But when i got my max last year I was coming from an I4 honda Accord, so i bet a max with a bad knock sensor would still feel a lot faster than the accord. I also havent changed mine b/c its a PITA especially on my 99 SEL

 

well i have a 98 SE and check engine went on and it was my knock sensor so igot a new one, then i went on again idont really know if i lost HP or not but its still really quick. If u thinkin about gettin 1 it cost me i think it was 130$ or 140$ for a brand new 1 from the nissan dealer.

 

my max only has 55000 miles. it will cost me about 2 to $300 to have the dealer install it. my 92 acura vigor seems a lot more zippy though.

 

my car has been weaker recently. I think its my knock. I'm going to check for a code once i fully wake up lol.

 

if you get a code and theres no CEL, then its probalby the knock sensor, i had nothing to compare my car to, but i suffered in gas mileage from like 20 mpg to about 11 mpg...14 mpg at best when the sensor was bad, mightve been the freezing cold weather, i have no clue how long the sensor was bad, but i know i could chirp my tires until i replaced the sensor.

 

Wait- you COULD or your COULD NOT chirp your tires until you got a new knock sensor?

 

Ignition coils anyone? I thought it was my knock too guys, I replaced it and it didn't do anything for me. I had 88Km on it at the time. Replaced two ignition coils - bingo.

 

I just changed my KS this past weekend and the car runs alot better now...before i use to have to press on the gas pedal a lot more for it to response...i was getting bad gas mileage too like 320 miles per tank. Now i am getting about 420 miles per tank. Car runs really smooth and feels a lot more respnosive. Change your KS!

 

when i first bought my max (2001), i could chirp those tires on demand... it was mad fun... but over time, i couldn't do it anymore, and i started to get really frustrated because i missed the chirp. when my engine light went off, i had like 4 codes that i had to deal with, but one of them was the knock sensor, which i waited to fix for last. after that got replaced, about a week or 2 later, the chirp came back and i was so happy. that chirp makes me so happy... =)

 

i changed my knock sensor and now my car won't even try to turn over. i have an anti theft system which beeps the horn if there is something wrong when you try turn the key to start it. i took out the anti theft and it still isnt doing anything. i also tried taken the clutch interlock out but that also did nothing. finally, i bypassed the starter and started my car. it runs terrific but it doenst start. i reset the computer and did the same. what could it be?

 

anybody have any suggestions?

 

I would check fuses to the ignition switch. When you say you bypassed the starter what did you do? Did you push start it. If so, then does the starter have power to it? I would also take the starter to Auto Zone and have them test it.

 

Did u change KS, yourself???if so, How long did it take?..any difficulties ?

 

I know this is a n00b question, but could some please tell me how you check the engine code? My engine light isnt on but I'm getting horrible gas milage with my 96 GLE, only about 225 per tank on mostly city driving. I bought the car used and I'm not sure if the knock sensor was ever replaced. Thanks in advance guys, I want to get rid of any restrictions on my maxi if i can

 

damn 420 a tank is nic e

 

guys! (knight71,s3roush628)

If you go the 4th gen fourms you will see a bunch of sticky's on top. There is one for how to do's everything you need is in there...there is one that explains how to test the ECU and getting and reading the codes. Also there is a couple of good writeup's on how to replace the KS and the tools you will need.

Here is a link to the KS writeup:

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/507

but goto the how to's and do some reading there as well because there is more then one article there on replacing the KS. You should read as much as you can before doing work specially if you are not a mechanic by profession.

good luck!

 

- a knock sensor will NOT light the SES
- you don't need to change it unless you're getting the code
- if the VQ doesn't feel zippy, the KS is probably dead
- Read the FAQ

 

How much should it cost to get the KS changed by a mechanic? I mthinking $200?

 

Im wondering if anyone is still using the knock sensor resistor mod thing?? It was talked about a few months ago alot.. Now I dont hear of it, everyone musta got a legit knock sensor :P

 

so what improved after you replaced ignition coils? Better mileage? More power?

and also, how much does it cost to replace

 

The knock sensor will never trigger the light to go off, it's a silent code. You have to manually check for it. Get a new one from eBay (there's a seller on there who sells tons of them a month, I got mine from him) for around $90. A universal joint on a 24" extension and it's a 10 minute job, if that. The dealship will try some bull**** like removing the intake manifold, but trust me (and a lot of people on the .org) its easy to do without removing the intake manifold.