Knock sensor code won't go away

[GoProtege]

I threw in the spool stage 1 kit a while ago. Since day one I've been throwing a number of cel codes (as was to be expected), one for the 02, sensor, and one for the a/f ratio. But one of them was for the knock sensor.
I didn't worry about it because I figured it was due to an exhaust leak at the manifold. Finally got the manifold machined and replaced the gasket the otehr day, cleared the cel, but the knock sensor code returned.
The only suggestions that I saw in other threads was to use higher octane gas replace the plugs, but I've used high octane gas from day one, and replaced the plugs with the ngk's that came with the kit.

I don't hear any noise out of the ordinary, but between the turbo, wastegate, exhaust, and general engine noise, it's hard to hear anything.
I've never actually heard knocking/pinging in real life, so I don't know how loud it really is.
One more thing, One time when checking the codes, I got a bank 1 too lean, and cyl 1 misfire, but that happened only once and never again.

I'm now worried that something really bad is going on. (nervous)
Any thoughts?:confused:

Thanks

[sam1]

maybe time to updrage the fuel pump/rail/etc? what kind of boost are you running? ems?

[GoProtege]

maybe time to updrage the fuel pump/rail/etc? what kind of boost are you running? ems?
Using the vortech fmu that came with the kit, but stock fuel pump and rail. no ems. I'm running rich as hell.

Almost forgot: Running around 6 pounds of boost.

Thanks

[kudakev615]

knock sensors are piezometric which means it creates a voltage singal to the ecu when it detects a certain frequency. that frequency its looking is the by product of misfiring/detenation. there most likely 3 causes for the code. wiring issue, malfunctioning sensor or misfiring cylinders. and since youve had a code for misfiring previously, i would rule out the first two possiblies.

[GoProtege]

knock sensors are piezometric which means it creates a voltage singal to the ecu when it detects a certain frequency. that frequency its looking is the by product of misfiring/detenation. there most likely 3 causes for the code. wiring issue, malfunctioning sensor or misfiring cylinders. and since youve had a code for misfiring previously, i would rule out the first two possiblies.

I kind of figured it was misfiring, the only thing that made me doubt was that the misfire code has only appeared once in 13 months, and I check the cel codes regularly. But anyways, any suggestions on a way to prevent misfiring and any damage to the engine, without buying an ems(way too broke for that (pissed))

[GoProtege]

Ok, checked the code it was P0325 circuit malfunction.
mp3josh wrote in another thread:


P0325 Knock sensor circuit malfunction
Knock sensor malfunction
Possible causes:
Connector or terminal malfunction
Open or short to ground circuit between knock sensor connector terminal A and PCM terminal 57
Open or short to ground circuit between knock sensor connector terminal B and PCM terminal 59
Short between two wires of knock sensor But I don't see how any of this could have happened.
When I erase the code, it returns within 5 minutes of driving, even if I don't hit boost.

The only thing I can think of doing is getting colder plugs, but I doubt that will have any effect.

Also, I've lowered the boost from 6 lbs to 4lb but the code still comes back

Thanks for the help.

[sam1]

have you tried following any of the wires from the connector-back? maybe something was damaged during the turbo install?

[GoProtege]

have you tried following any of the wires from the connector-back? maybe something was damaged during the turbo install?

I can't follow all of the wires back to the sensor without having to jack the car up and that's too much of a pain in the ass. I'm yet to see a jack that gets the car high enough to put it on jack stands.

Am I wrong in thinking that P0325 is not an indication of misfire or engine knock?

[GoProtege]

Update, lowered the boost as low as I can get it. running ~3 lbs, the knock sensor code hasn't returned, but the 02 sensor and the air/fuel metering codes have, but I've only driven about 3 miles, it might still come back.
Running 3 lbs sux, my friend's 89 Chrysler POS has more power.
It's suppossed to run 6 lbs...why not for me? (sad1)

[sam1]

might be worth it to crawl up underneath there. my stock jack raises it just enough to get it on the jack stands, then i put a 2x4 underneath it and jack it up a couple more inches. its a pita, but may be worth the trouble. with only 3psi, you might as well be N/A... =)

[GoProtege]

might be worth it to crawl up underneath there. my stock jack raises it just enough to get it on the jack stands, then i put a 2x4 underneath it and jack it up a couple more inches. its a pita, but may be worth the trouble. with only 3psi, you might as well be N/A... =)
I'll go through the whole ordeal of jacking it up, let you know what I find tommorrow afternoon. It is possibe that I damaged it when putting in the feed line. Thanks

One last thing..Other than a busted wire/connector, is there anything else that I should look for?

[sam1]

corrosion maybe? i would also look for wires that may have got melted together, especially if the oil feed line is resting on them. basically anything out of the ordinary. since its up under the car, it should be nice and clean (aside from the normal dirt from driving around).

[GoProtege]

corrosion maybe? i would also look for wires that may have got melted together, especially if the oil feed line is resting on them. basically anything out of the ordinary. since its up under the car, it should be nice and clean (aside from the normal dirt from driving around).

k...I'll do that had to go somewhere this afternoon and the code came back on running around 4 lbs.

Thanks!

[GoProtege]

I'm a dumbass...The sensor wasn't screwed down all the way. That's the first thing I checked when I went through this a year ago, and It felt like it was on tight, but I didn't remove the oil filter that time, and I guess I didn't get a good hand on it then.
I'm pretty sure that it's fixed because p0325 code has not returned and now I'm getting a new code that wasn't there before P0401 egr flow insuffecient, which I assume is due to plugging the egr line as instructed by Spool.

Thanks for the help! sorry I'm an idiot!

[sam1]

well at least you got that one taken care of and dont have to worry about it anymore. now on to the rest of them... =)

[mazdaspeedemon2]

at least you got it running
now maybe you can drive to the meet

[GoProtege]

at least you got it running
now maybe you can drive to the meet

Maybe, still probably won't be able to afford the gas through