{"id":23485,"date":"2021-02-22T22:37:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T06:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=23485"},"modified":"2025-05-23T01:14:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:14:04","slug":"bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column23485_b4001f-8d inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-ecc14e  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-32a40d\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23485_eb204c-ca\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The knock sensor uses an internal piezoelectric element to detect abnormal combustions inside the engine called a spark knock.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some of the common causes of spark knock include low octane fuel, overly advanced ignition timing, high engine operating temperatures, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two symptoms of a faulty knock sensor include pinging noises from the engine and poor engine performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Your car contains what seems like an endless array of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-engine-sensors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"sensors\">sensors<\/a>, one of which is the knock sensor. Although the knock sensor doesn&rsquo;t get as much publicity as some of its counterparts, it does play a crucial role in keeping your car&rsquo;s engine running right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the knock sensor fails, you&rsquo;ll likely notice one or more symptoms that you&rsquo;ll want to address right away. If you&rsquo;re wondering, &ldquo;What does a knock sensor do?&rdquo; or &ldquo;What does a knock sensor do for a car? &rdquo; read on to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a Knock Sensor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/knock-sensor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"knock sensor\">knock sensor<\/a> uses an internal piezoelectric element to detect abnormal combustion, known as spark knock, inside of the engine. The location of the knock sensor is usually on the left side of the engine block, just below the intake manifold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/knock-sensor-diagram-1024x750.jpg\" alt=\"diagram of an automotive knock sensor\" class=\"wp-image-88556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/knock-sensor-diagram-1024x750.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/knock-sensor-diagram-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/knock-sensor-diagram-768x562.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/knock-sensor-diagram-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/knock-sensor-diagram.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Knock sensor diagram | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Spark knock (detonation) is an undesirable phenomenon that creates an abnormal increase in cylinder pressure, often resulting in a metallic pinging noise from the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common causes of spark knock include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/can-you-put-premium-gas-in-any-car-plus-other-related-questions\/#What_is_an_Octane_Rating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"low octane fuel\">low octane fuel<\/a>, overly advanced ignition timing, abnormally high engine operating temperatures, and carbon buildup inside the engine&rsquo;s combustion chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If left unchecked, spark knock can cause costly internal engine damage. That&rsquo;s why all modern vehicles use at least one knock sensor to monitor the engine for spark knock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The knock sensor creates an alternating current (AC) signal that gets sent to the engine&rsquo;s computer, which is often referred to as the powertrain control module (PCM). When the PCM detects spark knock, the module will retard ignition timing until the knock is gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"ai-summary-widget\">\n\n        <div class=\"ai-summary-grid\">\n\n            <div>\n                <div class=\"ai-avatar\">\n                    <figure>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/q_auto,dpr_auto,f_auto\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/ai-summary\/ai-bot\" alt=\"AI robot\">\n                    <\/figure>\n                    <span>ELI5<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                <p>A knock sensor is like the engine&rsquo;s ear that listens for bad sounds. Sometimes, the fuel in the engine burns the wrong way and makes a pinging noise, like metal tapping. This can hurt the engine if it keeps happening. The sensor detects the noise and tells the car&rsquo;s computer. Then the computer makes adjustments to stop the noise and keep the engine safe. This helps the car run smoothly.<\/p>    \n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"ai-summary-tooltip\">   \n            <p>Not everyone is an auto repair expert. <strong>ELI5 (&ldquo;Explain Like I&rsquo;m Five&rdquo;)<\/strong> provides layperson-friendly explanations of complex automotive concepts, systems, &amp; parts, so you can fully understand their importance. Great for casual car owners and DIY beginners! Powered by AI.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A knock sensor detects abnormal combustion (spark knock) in an engine using a piezoelectric element. Spark knock causes a metallic pinging noise and can lead to increased cylinder pressure. Common causes of spark knock include low-octane fuel, advanced ignition timing, high engine temperatures, and carbon buildup. If not addressed, spark knock can damage the engine. Knock sensors send signals to the engine&rsquo;s computer, which adjusts the ignition timing to prevent damage. Modern vehicles use knock sensors to monitor and protect the engine from spark knock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For additional technical information on the operation of knock sensors, read our advanced discussion about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/p0327-knock-sensor-1-circuit-low-input-bank-1-or-single-sensor\/#What_Do_Knock_Sensors_Do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"what knock sensors do\">what knock sensors do<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs of a Bad Knock Sensor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When the knock sensor fails, it will usually cause one or more noticeable symptoms. The most common knock sensor problems include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Illuminated Check Engine Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common sign of a bad knock sensor is an illuminated check engine light. When the PCM detects a problem with the knock sensor or its circuit, the module will turn on the check engine light and store a corresponding diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in its memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pinging Noise From the Engine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the knock sensor fails, the PCM may not recognize or correct spark knock. As a result, you may hear a metallic pinging noise from the engine. The noise is often most noticeable when the engine is under a heavy load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Poor Engine Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A faulty knock sensor can also cause the PCM to misadjust the ignition timing, resulting in poor engine performance. If you&rsquo;re wondering, &ldquo;Will a knock sensor cause a no-start?&rdquo; it&rsquo;s rare for this to happen, although a bad knock sensor can make starting your vehicle more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"knock sensor typical location\" class=\"wp-image-23491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-location.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The knock sensor is typically screwed into the engine block or manifold.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Test a Knock Sensor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s a good idea to test a suspect knock sensor before you rush out and buy a new one. Before getting started, however, you&rsquo;ll want to have the vehicle&rsquo;s repair information handy. Manuals, such as those from Chilton, are good, but a subscription to a repair database (e.g., ALLDATA or Mitchel 1 DIY) is even better. You can find more information on accessing quality repair information in our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/why-you-should-always-consult-a-repair-manual\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"repair manuals\">repair manuals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note:<\/strong> The following are general guidelines for educational and entertainment purposes only. Consult your vehicle&rsquo;s factory information for specific repair instructions and recommended safety procedures.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1. Check For Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing you&rsquo;ll want to do is check for DTCs that could narrow down the troubleshooting process. Cars built after 1996 with on-board diagnostics (OBD) II will usually set a code when there&rsquo;s an issue with the knock sensor or its circuit. Some older cars with OBD I will also store a code when there&rsquo;s a problem with the knock sensor. Faulty parts like bad spark plugs can cause a knock sensor code, so you&rsquo;ll need to inspect your vehicle thoroughly if it sets a DTC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check for diagnostic trouble codes using a scan tool or code reader. These days, you can even get an inexpensive OBD II code reader for your smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s important to point out, however, that DTCs do not tell you the exact problem with the car. Codes merely serve as a starting point for further diagnostics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2. Perform a Visual Inspection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you can move on to performing a visual inspection. You&rsquo;ll want to look for issues, such as damaged wires and poor connections. Make sure that the knock sensor&rsquo;s electrical connector is clean and tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Repair any issues found during the visual inspection, clear the DTCs, and see whether the problem returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3. Test the Knock Sensor Directly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Testing a knock sensor can be tricky. There are two primary types of knock sensors: wideband piezoelectric and resonance piezoelectric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wideband piezoelectric sensors pick up vibrations within an entire range of frequencies. On the other hand, resonance piezoelectric sensors only respond to vibrations that are within the same frequency range as spark knock. For this reason, resonance sensors are sometimes referred to as &ldquo;tuned&rdquo; knock sensors because they&rsquo;re tuned into the same frequency range as spark knock (typically, somewhere between 5,000 and 9,000 Hz).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, when wideband piezoelectric sensors were more common, a popular test method was to tap on the engine near the knock sensor. If the sensor responded to the vibrations, you knew it was working to some degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that test does not work on the newer, resonance-style sensors. Most professionals test these sensors using an alternate method, which involves forcing the engine to ping (exhibit spark knock) while monitoring the sensor&rsquo;s output signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can learn more about testing both types of sensors in the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Knock Sensor Quick-Fix\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h54AnKbSfyQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Knock Sensor Location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The knock sensor is typically screwed into the engine block or manifold. But the exact location will vary by vehicle. To determine the exact location of the sensor(s) for your application, you&rsquo;ll want to consult a repair manual or repair database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Knock Sensor for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&rsquo;ve confirmed that there&rsquo;s something wrong with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/knock-sensor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"knock sensor\">knock sensor<\/a>, don&rsquo;t put off replacing it. Otherwise, it can cause issues for your ride and even affect other parts, resulting in expensive repairs down the line. If you&rsquo;re in the market for a top-notch knock sensor replacement that won&rsquo;t break the bank, consider shopping online at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We source our knock sensors from top manufacturers in the industry, so you&rsquo;re sure to get one that&rsquo;s built tough. They come at competitive prices because we want you to get the best value for your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After entering your car&rsquo;s specifications into our vehicle selector, use the search filters to find the knock sensors that match your preferred brand, price, and specs. If you have any questions, our round-the-clock customer representatives are always happy to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shop now and take advantage of our best deals for knock sensors.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Your car contains what seems like an endless array of sensors, one of which is the knock sensor. Although the&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1643,"featured_media":23492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3747],"tags":[1443],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-23485","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-engine","9":"tag-knock-sensor","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Think you have a bad knock sensor? Check out this list of the most common symptoms and learn how to test the sensor properly with our guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Think you have a bad knock sensor? Check out this list of the most common symptoms and learn how to test the sensor properly with our guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-23T06:37:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-23T08:14:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-1024x683.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"1643\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\\\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\"}],\"headline\":\"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-23T06:37:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-23T08:14:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1353,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/knock-sensor.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"knock-sensor\"],\"articleSection\":[\"DIY\",\"Engine\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/\",\"name\":\"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/knock-sensor.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-23T06:37:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-23T08:14:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"Think you have a bad knock sensor? Check out this list of the most common symptoms and learn how to test the sensor properly with our guide.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/knock-sensor.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/knock-sensor.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"knock sensor\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/24fe92f285c72928a6fcb1acb4120275\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png941b63fd087354398e10f659516b809a\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png\",\"caption\":\"Mia Bevacqua\"},\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\\\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"Think you have a bad knock sensor? Check out this list of the most common symptoms and learn how to test the sensor properly with our guide.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"Think you have a bad knock sensor? Check out this list of the most common symptoms and learn how to test the sensor properly with our guide.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2021-02-23T06:37:35+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-23T08:14:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor-1024x683.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"1643","name":"Mia Bevacqua","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485"}],"headline":"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure","datePublished":"2021-02-23T06:37:35+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-23T08:14:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/"},"wordCount":1353,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor.jpg","keywords":["knock-sensor"],"articleSection":["DIY","Engine"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/","name":"Bad Knock Sensor: Common Symptoms and Testing Procedure - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor.jpg","datePublished":"2021-02-23T06:37:35+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-23T08:14:04+00:00","description":"Think you have a bad knock sensor? Check out this list of the most common symptoms and learn how to test the sensor properly with our guide.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-knock-sensor-common-symptoms-and-testing-procedure\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000,"caption":"knock sensor"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/24fe92f285c72928a6fcb1acb4120275","name":"Mia Bevacqua","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png941b63fd087354398e10f659516b809a","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","caption":"Mia Bevacqua"},"description":"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485"],"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/knock-sensor.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2622,"user_id":1643,"is_guest":0,"slug":"miabevacqua","display_name":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","last_name":"Bevacqua","first_name":"Mia","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nThroughout her career, Mia Bevacqua has applied her skills toward automotive failure analysis inspections, consulting, diagnostic software development, and of course, writing.\r\n\r\nMia has a passion for math, science, and technology that motivates her to stay on top of the latest industry trends, such as electric vehicles and autonomous systems. At the same time, she has a weakness for fixer-upper oddballs, such as her 1987 Chevy Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Chevy Astro Van AWD.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist certification<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>15 years of industry experience<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Bachelor's degree in Advanced Automotive Systems<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1643"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23485"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23485\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23485"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=23485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}