Making a Knock Sensor Gauge
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 77
From: Fl
Car: 5.3L turbo 2800lbs RWD
Engine: Prefer 3L Iron & 5.3L Aluminum
Transmission: 4l80e
Axle/Gears: 3.512
Making a Knock Sensor Gauge
I know its redundant but Im considering taking a knock sensor from any-old wrecked car from a junk-yard and putting it on my NON-CC vehicle and finding a way to "listen" to the knock sensor so i can hear for myself whats going on inside the engine while im driving. Does it operate using voltage like a O2 sensor? or using resistance? or.. ? how would one make somthing like this? I have a board that can record voltages with a resolution of .082 volts and I use it for my O2 sensor so i can record air/fuel readings into my laptop... Im working on recording other things like rpm vs. time and boost pressure... this is just one more thing to add to my list of things to "figure out"
Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Falls Tx
i'm thinking that you could splice in a voltage meter to the knock sensor wires. then when it sends a signal it's show on the meter.
just a thought though i have no clue in hell about the wiring or how a knock sensor works.
just a thought though i have no clue in hell about the wiring or how a knock sensor works.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 2
Car: 91 Red Sled
Axle/Gears: 10bolt Richmond 3.73 Torsen
http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/proj...nock/knock.zip
Kiss my ***
cause I think I might be one of the few that's every built this circuit and never figured out what wire to tap into on the ESC 
.
I've had the darn thing built for a few months now, just never got around to installing it.
That was taken from the www.gnttype.org website. Good stuff there!
Kiss my ***
cause I think I might be one of the few that's every built this circuit and never figured out what wire to tap into on the ESC .I've had the darn thing built for a few months now, just never got around to installing it.
Knock Indicator Theory of Operation
Contributed by Larry Fisher (GNone@tiac.net)
3 July 1996
The turbo Buick engine control system retards spark timing when "knocking" is detected so that engine damage can be prevented. The knock indicator described here and shown in related diagrams is a diagnostic tool that informs the driver when such knocking is occurring.
Knock Detection Overview
------------------------
The ECM (Electronic Control Module - engine computer) is signaled that knock is occuring by the ESC, or Electronic Spark Control module. The ESC module is a band-pass filter and logic driver circuit that is connected to an acoustic sensor mounted on the engine block. Normally, the output line of the filter going to the ECM is held "high," or about 10-12 volts. When the filter detects knocking-type sounds, it "grounds" the signal line going to the ECM.
On '84-'87 Turbo Buicks and the '89 Turbo TA, the sensor is mounted on the rear of the engine block, above the transmission bell housing. On '86-'87 Turbo Buicks the ESC module is mounted on the inner side of the passenger fenderwell in front of the heater fan.
The purpose of Knock Indicators
-------------------------------
Aftermarket knock indicators are used as tuning tools and warning devices to prevent engine damage. As a tuning tool, a knock indicator is frequently used as feed-back on whether the engine is operating under too much boost. Boost is one easily-adjusted performance variable that is commonly adjusted to fine-tune a car for maximum performance.
To be completed:
what the knock indicator does
how a knock indicator works
How this circuit works
- characteristics of operation
- diagnostic assistance.
potential additions and variations (based on the basic sense method)
Contributed by Larry Fisher (GNone@tiac.net)
3 July 1996
The turbo Buick engine control system retards spark timing when "knocking" is detected so that engine damage can be prevented. The knock indicator described here and shown in related diagrams is a diagnostic tool that informs the driver when such knocking is occurring.
Knock Detection Overview
------------------------
The ECM (Electronic Control Module - engine computer) is signaled that knock is occuring by the ESC, or Electronic Spark Control module. The ESC module is a band-pass filter and logic driver circuit that is connected to an acoustic sensor mounted on the engine block. Normally, the output line of the filter going to the ECM is held "high," or about 10-12 volts. When the filter detects knocking-type sounds, it "grounds" the signal line going to the ECM.
On '84-'87 Turbo Buicks and the '89 Turbo TA, the sensor is mounted on the rear of the engine block, above the transmission bell housing. On '86-'87 Turbo Buicks the ESC module is mounted on the inner side of the passenger fenderwell in front of the heater fan.
The purpose of Knock Indicators
-------------------------------
Aftermarket knock indicators are used as tuning tools and warning devices to prevent engine damage. As a tuning tool, a knock indicator is frequently used as feed-back on whether the engine is operating under too much boost. Boost is one easily-adjusted performance variable that is commonly adjusted to fine-tune a car for maximum performance.
To be completed:
what the knock indicator does
how a knock indicator works
How this circuit works
- characteristics of operation
- diagnostic assistance.
potential additions and variations (based on the basic sense method)
Last edited by JPrevost; Aug 31, 2002 at 02:10 AM.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 77
From: Fl
Car: 5.3L turbo 2800lbs RWD
Engine: Prefer 3L Iron & 5.3L Aluminum
Transmission: 4l80e
Axle/Gears: 3.512
so I take it knock sensors are basically ON or OFF there is no "sort of knocking" or "really knocking" hmm that makes things easier... eh ... simple too... now if its just the same for OUR knock sensors... thanks alot man that helpd a bunch!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
R3500
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Wanted
1
Aug 17, 2015 12:16 PM
