I bought a car that had b18c in and I just recently turboed. Now I'm running an AEM EMS with it and I'm trying to tune it myself before I hit the dyno to save some time and money but I realized that the stock knock sensor had been removed and not reinstalled. Would it be worth it to replace it or should I settle for some other methods of detecting knock (microphone/headphone)? Mainly I just want to adjust a/f but I don't want another chunk of metal.

 

why not get like a chipped ecu? eliminate that knock sensor? $150 better than buying another knock sensor and what if it breaks when you install it? better yet save some money get your ecu chipped.. saves $$

 

umm... I might have missed something you wrote, but why would I need a chipped ecu when I have the ems. The ems doesn't throw a CEL at all even if I'm missing the knock sensor or any others for the most part. I don't know, maybe you missed my question. If it wasn't clear enough let me re-phrase it. I want to tune my car by myself, but the stock knock sensor was not there. So, is it worth it to go out and buy a new knock sensor, figure out where the wires went, and connect it to the ems OR just settle with a microphone and headphone to listen to knock. And yes, I know you can hear knocking from inside the car, but I want to prevent it from even getting that loud, but is the stock knock sensor good enough quality to spend money on?

 

the mic idea is the best.
the OEM honda knock sensor is far from good.

but it is better than nothing IMO.

If you want the security of the knock sensor then pick one up, if you feel confident in the tuning why add another sensor that may go bad on you.