b18c. throws knock cold only when it is warm outside. seems to throw it when the car comes up to temp. when it is cold outside temp. needle barely comes of stop and it never throws cel

 

Have you checked the wiring for the knock sensor? Rule out the simple stuff first.

Temperature barely coming off the stop sounds like a stuck-open thermostat. That shouldn't be related to the knock sensor.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Have you checked the wiring for the knock sensor? Rule out the simple stuff first.

Temperature barely coming off the stop sounds like a stuck-open thermostat. That shouldn't be related to the knock sensor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

the car only throws a cel when the temp gauge reaches the 1st line (normal operating temp?) if it is cool outside and the temp gauge stays below the 1st line, it won't throw a cel. i'm not sure if the car is running in open loop when it stays below the 1st line on the gauge and isn't using input from the knock senors or what?

 

Open-loop refers to whether the O2 sensor is active or not. That isn't about the knock sensor at all. And I wasn't aware of the knock sensor being inactive when it's cold??

Even when it's cold outside, the temperature is supposed to come up to normal. You're in Mississippi? I bet it doesn't even get REALLY cold there anyway.

 

I don't know what is going on, is it possible that when the engine coolant temp is cool, it is running on a richer map and when the temp raises it leans the fuel mapping and the car starts pre igniting?

 

Is it knocking? Do you hear noises? Any symptoms when your running?

I think it should throw a knock-sensor CEL when the knock sensor is messed up. Unplugged, maybe it's wire is shorted to ground, broken sensor, stuff like that.

If the sensor hears knocking, ECU pulls back the timing, it won't throw a CEL for that. That's how the system is supposed to work.

But deal with your temperature problem first. That sounds like a thermostat, it should be easy...

 

i can't hear it rattling under accelaration. the plugs are a little on the white side. it pulls hard when it isn't throwing the cel, but after it throws the cel, it is sluggish.