enik23

okay so ive been changing the damn sensor for the past 4 hours im tired my hands are bleeding and burnt it was so bad that i could not even get a ratchet onto that damn bolt.
1st off what size is the knock sensor bolt ( mm ? )
2nd what is another way that i could take it off that dosent involve me reaching in there with my saurage fingers and getting my hands cut up and burnt.

enik23

i would really rather not pay a mechanic 150 for them to change it eather.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

It's called an extension and it attaches onto your ratchet.
Put a swivel adaptor on the end and the correct size socket and the job takes 15 minutes.

Seriously... The right tools get the job done faster.
Why in the world are you trying to get your hands in there?

eazymax

Go to Sears and buy the curvy extension to put on your ratchet, i dont remember what size socket is.

something like this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...et+Accessories

enik23

i did use an extension but its impossible to get the extension in there because its too big to fit in there and the ratchet handle dosent even stick out of the manifold so there is no room to turn.

JwaxMax99

iTrader: (14)

Get a longer extension, then you will be able to turn the ratchet handle.

J RO 9

iTrader: (2)

my mechanic at STS tire/auto center charged me $40 to take it out and replace it on my dad's car. call up your local place and see if they'll do it. it only took them about 25 minutes.

xkazik

iTrader: (14)

Or find someone local from the org that did it , maybe he can help you .

WhiteA32

iTrader: (20)

It's 12 mm.

hermtm2

iTrader: (1)

If you can't reach on the area, you have to take the intake manifold collecter off. It will take about 2 hours. If you have any freinds who has small hands, they will do easily.

Thanks.

goldtooth

iTrader: (56)

Took me 10 mins, only cuz my eleven year old bro has extremely small hands. FTW

matts95max

iTrader: (11)

note** dont strip that bolt..or snap the head off or anything** GL

hornepirate

iTrader: (23)

i did mine in 20 mins using a a short ratchet. I've got fairly big hands as well. its a 12 mm size. If its never been removed before it can be a B***h trying to get it off with a short racthet and it took quite a bit of strength. Good Luck!

pahaf

iTrader: (4)

lol it takes me 40 minutes to change it...take off the intake manifold, and do it the proper way....its actually not that hard, the only hard thing is to get to those 2 bolts in the back of the manifold...but after that, peice of cake....in the last 2 weeks, i took mine off like 5 times...30 min max...do it properly. and yes, its a 12mm

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

No, No, No... remove the upper air box and the air intake tube assembly.

Use two or three extensions and a swival (U-joint type) socket adapter.

You'll get the sensor out in about 15 minutes, I promise.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THE UPPER INTAKE.

Divewjason

12mm. I just did it the other day.

ROCKART

iTrader: (23)

get a girl or child with small wrists to get down in there and place the rachet on the KS bolt.

then take a prybar or stick or something and use it as a lever (while she holds the ratchet steady) to pry the nut loose.

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

Is your Max a '99 CA spec? That makes all the difference as to the approach you should take.

enik23

wtfs a ca spec? lol

Maxtank

iTrader: (8)

The 99 Cali's have a swirl valve canister in the way. I got mine off, but still have not got it back on properly (I know ). Need to pull the manifold, that seems like the only way. If you have other than a 99, it's much easier.

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

I do have a '99

enik23

what tools did u guys use?

B_Eaze

iTrader: (3)

Small hands FTW, get a lil kid or woman with small hands to reach in there with a ratchet or wrench

HobHayward

Probably took me 40 minutes to do it (without an extension) and my hands are by no means small...

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

A car with California specification emissions and engine managment controls.

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

1 - Philips head screw driver or appropriately sized socket to remove strangle clamps from air intake tube assembly;

1 - pair of standard pliers to remove pinch clamps from vacuum hoses associated with the air intake tube assembly;

1 - 12mm socket (shorty) to remove sensor bolt;

2 to 3 - 6" socket/rachet extensions to reach the sensor bolt;

1 - swival/U-joint socket adapter to turn sensor bolt once reached.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

Here's how I did it: (no small hands or bleeding required)

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&sName=Sockets

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...et+Accessories

enik23

what is the use of sucha long extension... is it a ratchet handle extension? an extension 14inch long makes no sence theres no way ud fit that in the sensor place

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

I just tried to do mine (thin hands) with what should have been all the necessary tools.
I can't get at it because of the nest of vacuum hoses right there. I'll probably be paying someone to do it. there was no shot of me getting that KS out, much less back in with that group of hoses right there.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

"no small hands or bleeding required"

It worked for me. I don't have time to explain really complicated concepts like a socket and extension, so I guess you're left out

Dave

enik23

okay guys i got a extra long extension maybe 1.5 feet long but i dont get it if i put that extension on a ratchet wtf is it gone help me? if i put the extension on a u joint i might be able break the bolt loose but i still need to unscew it and i cant do it by hand

CRiME

iTrader: (21)

put u-joint on end of long extension. stick extension into hole, put u-joint on KS bolt. attach ratchet to extension, turn the ratchet. breaking it loose is probably half the battle. if you have problems unscrewing it even after it's broken loose, get someone with small hands to do it for you. but I don't really get why that would be a problem if you use the U-joint/long extension method.

or: stick the entire ratchet in there, with no extension attached, and get it on the bolt. then pry at it to break it loose. will take some effort to loosen it that way since it will be hard to keep it on the bolt. but that's how I got mine out, since I didn't have a U-joint.

got_max

iTrader: (5)

If you have small hands its very easy, jsut keep going at it. The first time I did mine it took almost a half hour, but it takes almost 3 minutes now to get it out. If you really need to just disconnect o few hoses, but i jsut pushed mine out of the way, Use a very small ratchet (1/8)

Also use your non domminant hand, tends to be easier.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (10)

Creative use of good sticky duct tape on the 12mm socket will help hold the bolt when you're trying to take it out and put it back in.

Dave

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

How about let's go at this a step at a time...?

1. Did you remove the air box and intake tube?

enik23

i got a Cold air intake so it dosent bother me at all when getting to it

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

O.K. then... standing over the spot where your air box used to be and provided no parts are in the way like you said there aren't, you should be able to pretty clearly look straight at the KS sitting down there in the lower intake. Right? See it?

The upper intake runners make what I equate to a "roof" over the KS. See it?

With parts removed or at least pretty much cleared away between where your air box used to be and the opening of the "roof" over the KS you can get an adequate angle with your rachet extension(s) and your swival socket adapter to break loose, rotate and remove the KS bolt.

When you turn the bolt to loosen or tighten, you'll need to press the extension up into and firmly against the peak of the "roof" to make sure the angle stays adequate to allow to rotate the KS bolt.

Is this making sense? You need any photos?

This should not be that much of a hassle. Like I said it should only take about 20 minutes to change the sensor out.

dkillahster

iTrader: (1)

iono if anyone said this.. i haven't read it all, but make sure you do not have it too loose or over tighten it... because that can make a huge difference in engine timing. happened to me twice. -_-

talk about do it yourself with no torque wrench... but yeah. good luck...

and you might have gotten it by now, but that was food for thought.

MLK

I'm not sure why anyone would have a problem with this job. It's all about having the proper tools. I used 2 6" extensions, a 12mm socket, ratchet, and a universal joint, all 1/4" drive. I didn't remove any other components, just the knock sensor. I started by breaking the bolt loose, removing the ratchet from the extensions, and spun the extensions by hand, leaving the bolt in the sensor. Then I gently pulled the sensor and bolt out by the harness, making sure the bolt didn't escape from me and hide under the intake. Then I unplugged the old sensor, plugged in the new one, and fed it back to the mount by using the harness again. Using two fingers, I squeezed in there and placed the bolt into the sensor by feel. Then I put the socket/u-joint/extension on the head of the bolt and used the harness to help locate the sensor/bolt over the threaded boss and get the bolt started. Spun the extensions by hand again until finger tight and used the ratchet to finish tightening it. The job was done in less than 10 minutes and I've never done it before. I did do some searches on here to get a rough idea of what to expect before I started, but it couldn't have been a simpler job.

papilgee4evaeva

I'm considering replacing the KS myself instead of paying a crapload of money to do it, so I'm watching this thread.

It helps that I'm able to reach in and touch the bolt with my hand, so I shouldn't have a problem.

Anyway....