All -

I just finished replacing the knock sensor on my 1999 I30t cali spec infiniti.

I came up with a new trick to getting this to work without having to get any hands into the engine. Here is my step by step.

1) Remove the Air Intake and the battery. I probably didn't really need to pull the battery, but I figured I could use the extra space.
2) Pull the hose from the swish valve.
3) Pull the large coolant hose in front of the swish valve.
4) Pull the 2 bolts from the swish valve. DON'T Try to pull the swish valve off. This is just to give you a little more room to work.

At this point, you should have enough room to clearly see the knock sensor. The opening is not big enough to get a hand in, but you can at least fit some tools, and shine a flashlight.

5) Loosen the bolt on the knock sensor using a 12mm socket with a swivel adapter and lots of extensions about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (Don't pull it all the way, yet).
6) Bend the end of a coat hanger into a little 'U' shape and hook the bolt using the gap you just made (make sure it's snug).
7) Loosen the bolt the rest of the way and remove with the coat hanger.
8) Put a little bend in the other end of the coat hanger. Hook the ks and extract it with the harness.
9) Detach the ks from the harness and attach the new one.
10) Use the coat hanger to move the new knock sensor into the approximate spot where it will be bolted on.
11) Here's the trick. Use super glue to attach a 1 foot piece of vacuum hose to the head of the bolt. Be careful not to get any on the sides where the socket engages the bolt. You can now easily control twisting the bolt from the end of the hose, for hand threading, just like you had your fingers right on the bolt.
12) Hook your bolt back onto the coat hanger.
13) Insert the bolt back through the knock sensor and position it over the bolt hole. Twist the vacuum hose to thread the bolt. It will take a few tries to get it right, but it will work.
14) Once the bolt is well started, slip the coat hanger off the bolt, and finish finger tightening the bolt with the vacuum hose.
15) Give the vacuum hose a good solid tug to remove it from the bolt.
16) Tighten the bolt with the socket wrench.
17) Re-assemble everything (don't forget the swish valve and the coolant host!).

I hope this helps someone out there.

Help! I have couple of pics, but I don't know how to include them in this post.

Rob.

 

This is a great explaination. I just learned my 99 Maxima is a CA spec and thought I was going to have to take it into a mechanic to replace the knock sensor. This seems like it will work. I would love to see the pics, could you email them? I can PM you my email address.

Thanks again, posts like this are awesome!

 

i did the knock sensor without removing any of the above, just a bunch of extensions and the swivel adapter. I used an electrical tape to keep the bolt in the socket. took about 30 minutes total.

 

Does anybody have any input on buying knock sensors on ebay? I recently saw some that were "made in Japan". I'm kinda weary about them because they only cost about $50. Is this something I should not try to go "cheap" with?

 

i bought a

Ebay A100 knock sensor for $65 shipped, and got no problems with it

 

I purchased my knock sensor via ebay. The one I received was OEM and identical to the one that I replaced. I would not hesitate doing so again. Ask the seller to confirm that the items is OEM.

Good luck.

By the way, despite all the hints and instructions regarding how to replace a Calif spec knock sensor -- which seem easy enough on paper -- I spared my hands and let me mechanic handle the work using my part (from ebay).

 

I have a KS for sale. It's in my sig link.

I just changed a KS last night, used a 10mm wrench to move that green iacv servo thingy out of the way, and then 12mm wrench on the KS, plus screwdriver for tq to loosen up the bolt. I dunno how long it took, but it was fast.

Dr J

 

[QUOTE=robsst;6553615]All -
.

1) Remove the Air Intake and the battery. I probably didn't really need to pull the battery, but I figured I could use the extra space.
2) Pull the hose from the swish valve.
3) Pull the large coolant hose in front of the swish valve.
4) Pull the 2 bolts from the swish valve. DON'T Try to pull the swish valve off. This is just to give you a little more room to work.


Can someone post a pic of the 2 bolts in step 4. I am new to a CA equipped set up.