Well, I thought my car was acting sluggish, but the dealer didn't think so. Now at least I have a smoking gun.

I did a search on "sluggish knock sensor", and found that the KS will definitely make the car lose power/mileage. It also seemed that 0304 was very often combined with bad 02 sensors, which could falsely trigger the 0304. Anyone else?

The 0103 is Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor, and I wonder what the problems I face with this diagnostic code are. Is this basically saying that the car may be running (much) hotter than reported?

The car is mysteriously burning oil (no leaks and no smoke), so I took it to the dealer who gave the theory that the piston rings are allowing passage of oil and it's so little that they can't see it.

The engine has 132K on it. Should I keep with it or look at replacement options?

Any help/opinions appreciated

 

i had that 0103 before. when the dealer replaced my starter he just forgot to plug that sensor back in.

 

uhh.. change your knock sensor.

 

If the knock sensor detects knock (duh), and retards timing at the expense of power and mileage, what does the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor sense (duh... What I really mean is _how_ does it do it, and how hard is it to replace), and what symptoms may I see if it's bad?

If I replace only the Knock Sensor, will I see my power and mileage return?

Thanks for any info.
Phil

 

Before you change the knock sensor, change the engine coolant temp sensor first. If the engine coolant temp sensor is reading constantly cold, you may be running to rich, thus causing the knock itself. Fix the engine coolant temp sensor so the cars ECU knows what temperature the motor is at. There are 2 sensors for engine coolant temp, one is for the gauge on the dash and the other is for the ECU. The one closest to the engine block is the one for the ECU which is throwing the code. Replace that, I bet your 0304 code stops coming back!

 

Argh! I already bought the knock sensor! Oh well, maybe the guys will let me return it *fingerscrossed*.
Thanks for the tip!

How much should I expect to pay for a temperature sensor, and is it a DIY job? Any pointers to writeups would be great.

Thanks!
Phil

p.s. Any progress on that 4th gen microfilter?

 

I let the dealer do this one, and lo and behold, the knock sensor code doesn't return. A much less expensive repair.
Unfortunately for me, I already paid for the KS, and their parts dep't is unlikely to want to take it back, even though they stock it.
Doubly unfortunate is the fact that it was opened. The parts guy wanted to show me the part that I was paying so much money for, so he opened it. *sigh*
In any case, I saved about $200 in labor.

thanks!

 

sell it in the FS forum.. lots of these guys need knock sensors

 

A good idea.
I'll check and see if the parts dept is going to give me a hard time, otherwise FS it goes.

thanks

 

if you do have to sell it in FS.. not matter what.. don't let them haggle you on price.. i know those things are expensive

 

I just got the car back and the lag I felt in the lower revs is clearly gone. The car pulls noticeably stronger if I get on it.
Now comes the mileage test. I'd been getting 19-21mpg.
The parts dep't even said that they'd take the part back(!) as long as I have everything, which I do.
I'll hold it over the weekend in case I need it after all, otherwise returned next week.

njmaxseltd, hat's off to you