Ok so last night i took my car out on some country roads to run it out and stretch her legs a little. well, i hit 2 strait aways no longer that a 1\4 each. my top speed was only 88.2mph. and when i came to a stop sign my chack engine light was on. so i pop the hood and check...dunno if its normal, but my intake manifold was glowing red hot. then i checked for cods and P0325- Knock sensor # Circuit pops up. anyone know how to replace a knock sensor? should i just take it to a shop? it bad to drive with this? any help is appreciated, thanks

 

if you're getting a knock sensor code it's more likely due to detonation rather than a bad sensor. fix that issue first.

 

what do you mean by detonation issue? as is ignition timeing? cylinder detonation? i dont know much about cars either so bare with me. But for the last 2 days i have been driving it softly......very soft. and it runs and rides perfect and my check engine light has turned off since, but im goping to call a shop tommorow and try to get my car in there.

 

of course it's running fine if you're playing nice. knock only happens when you get on it. the cel went off because after a while all cel's disappear. doesn't mean that the code isn't still there, just that it's not telling you anymore.

detonation is what happens when the left over air and gas in the engine ignite after the normal ignition occurs. this causes vibration in the chamber, which is what the knock sensor picks up. that's why we have a knock sensor, to detect these types of occurances. when you get a knock sensor code thrown it's rarely due to the sensor being bad, but because you have knock. so don't replace the sensor, fix the knock.

usually knock is caused by too low of an octane in the gas. so your best bet is to put better gas in the car, clear the code, and see if it comes back again. if it does, there could bea more serious issue, but try the small stuff first. don't bother taking it to a shop, they're going to charge you lots of money to tell you either 1. they want to replace your knock sensor, which most likely does not need replacing, and is an expensive part - i think it was $95 or so when i had to replace mine (yes they do go bad, but usually not) or 2. there's nothing wrong.

so do the easy thing and save yourself some money and just put in some better gas, clear the code, and see what happens.

 

Yeah it's definitely not normal for your intake manifold to be glowing red and hot! I agree with PSI chick, try to fix the knock, try better gas. Shell V-Poweror Sunoco Ultra 93 if possible. Be sure you are using super, 93 octane if possible. How many PSIs are you boosting at?

 

Wow i really wish i could have seen this sooner, i just got home from taking it to the shop. i drove to portland and back last night and my light didnt come on the whole time. i completely forgot about clearing the code though and tryin different gas. i always put 76's premium in it, pretty sure its 93 octane, maybe 92. now i have to pay 80$ for a diagnostic fee, and they cant look at it til wensday... maybe i will call them and see if i can get it back. im still runnin stock boost, 11psi.... but when i was about to put my CAI on i felt the fan in the turbo and it has a small rugh spot, so i think that migth be creating a lot of heat. And i think i may have called the axhaust manifold the intake manifold. which ever one connected to the turbo...

 

sometimes you just get a bad tank, it happens, even from the most reliable of stations. get the car back and just clear it and see what happens.....

 

well at least i learned something. gas doesnt only screw us on prices, but quality too.. lol it was prolly regular and they put it in the premium tank so they make even more money.... damn gas companies!

 

word on the bad gas. our shopette here on post got a shipment of bad gas recently. if you bought between -said times- you could bring your receipt in and the cost of any repairs (fouled plugs, draining the tank, that kinda stuff).

 

Are you in Oregon? Don't they have "full serve" gas stations there? I live in NJ and we have them here too. I always make sure I watch the guy filling the tank because numerous time I would ask for super and I watch them and they are about to put in regular, so I usually stand outside the car and make sure they are putting in super. Maybe they filled it with regular even though you asked for super.