So after reading the stickies, I went out and tested my Max ('97 SE) and my wife's Max ('96 GXE) knock sensors and the digital ohmeter read 10 Megaohms (meaning infinite resistance). I checked the ohmeter and it gave the correct resistance for a resistor I had lying around. I'm sure I had the right wiring harness. So my question is, should I have gotten an actual reading outside of the 500-620 kohm range? If the knock sensor is bad, will it read infinite resistance or simply a number outside of the acceptable range? Are the knock sensors in both of my Max's bad, or is something wrong with how I tested them? I used the negative battery terminal as the ground and tried both pins in the harness and got the same result. Do I need to buy two new knock sensors?

 

have you tried just pulling codes?

 

Yeah +1 on finding any codes, sometimes the knock sensor throws a ghost code.

 

yes, I get 0304 (knock sensor) and 0303 (o2 sensor) off of the 97. I haven't tried to pull codes off of the 96 yet. I'll probably do that tonight.

 

what kind of readings did anyone else get?

 

Readings mean jack sometimes...Mine was reading ok... but it was throwing the code and was performing ... I changed it and havent looked back.

 

O2 sensor codes usually set off the ks code as well. Replace the O2 sensor first and try pulling codes again.

 

From Chilton pg 4-22
"VE30DE and VQ30DE engines, check the continuity between teminal A and ground. Continuity should exist."
Also, it says to use a meter that can measure more than 10 megaohms.

I didn't get any continuity when I tested my KS. I also had two other codes, besides the KSbut after replacing the KS this past weekend I'm back to 0505. My Max runs better.

 

My meter reads up to 10 Megaohms, not more than. I guess that coud be an issue, but why would it matter? Our range is in the kilo-ohms.

 

so the check engine light wasn't on and I checked for codes and still got 0304 and 0303. Why would I throw 0303 ( o2 sensor) but not have the cel on? I understand that the nkock sensor throws a ghost code, and I have already ordered a new ks. Any ideas?

 

i'm having the same problem, I have other codes going off, one of which is the knock sensor, I tried to test it and all I got was infinate on both terms? am I also doing something wrong or does this mean the KS is faulty??

 

It could mean either/or. You have to be more specific as to how you tested it.

 

haha... on that. I changed the KS last week and the code is gone, and the performance has returned.

 

Just do it. You'll feel better, and we'll feel better knowing that another busted KS has been replaced and also Mother Earth will hate you less. The guy quoted text from the Chilton's manual saying that you need to use a meter that can read over 10 meg-ohms. I replaced mine with a bit of fenagling and a clever design of u-joints and socket extensions. if you have a small child, that works too.

Also, from what I've read, heard, and experienced, the O2/KS combo ghost code could come about from an O2 reading outside the norm, tricking the computer into thinking that the KS is malfunctioning, and either one of those would be sending the ECU into safe mode. Now maybe it doesnt actually light the CEL because the different reading doesn't happen in the 3 driving cycles it needs to light it. (pretty sure it works like that, explains why CEL's come and go)

Someone jump in if I'm wrong please