OK guys I was restoring my wiring harness today and discovered that my EST bypass wire was completely severed. This obviously was simulating the bypass for who knows how long. I know it's supposed to be bypassed just to check the timing but what does this do to normal engine operation?

 

Kills it, if the knock sensor goes off the ECM can't do jack with the timing to save the engine, without the EST the ECM has absolutly no control over the timing.