I know it has to do with the knock sensor and ESC module but not sure what the reading really tells me. Yesterday I went on a longer trip (100 miles one way) and on the way home with the ScanTool plugged in almost the whole way, the "ESC counter" slowly kept getting higher, I think ending at 15. I did a search on here but haven't really found anything. Trying to figure out what it means.

 

thats the knock counts the ECM sees from the knock sensor.
if the timing is too high, you get knock counts.
besides having the timing set too high, there are other things that can cause excessive knock counts, bad gas, carbon buildup in the combustion chambers, and poor quench are the most common.
from time to time the ECM will advance the timing to the point the motor should have spark knock. if the ECM doesn't see any knock, it will set a code and pull timing.
loose rod or main bearings, a loose bracket, or bad motor mounts can show up as false knock.
15 for a 100 mile trip isn't bad.

for some more info about the subject,
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-...al-answer.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-...d-routine.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-...al-answer.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-...ugh-final.html

 

Thanks for the info! Very helpful. I just had the car "tuned" and this was the second of the two new PROM's, this one I managed to get 23.1 mpg on the trip, going 65-75 most of the way with the windows open and tops off too, car still felt like it had roughly the same power. The first PROM I didn't watch the ESC counter but it got 17.3 mpg with the windows up/tops on in slightly cooler weather (morning). The second PROM is 10% leaner I was told, neither set a code. I also had a wiring issue with the knock sensor (through when the car was being tuned) that it wasn't reading anything, the knock sensor wire was swapped with an old e-fan wire I had , essentially the knock sensor wire was unplugged . I believe it's since been solved though, at least the wire is connected as intended. I take it as the ESC counter was working the knock sensor/ESC circuit is operating as it should.