Turbo
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Category: Engine Control
Q: Anyone know how to install an indicator which will show when the knock sensor has detected a knock and the EEC is retarding the timing??
A: Find one of those old adapters that had a cassette that went in your tape deck, and a wire that went to your portable CD player. Connect the wire to the knock sensor and turn up the volume. You'll hear what the knock sensor "hears".
I would recommend disconnecting the knock sensor on 85.5 and 86 SVOs, or any other cars equipped with "PE" computers. All kinds of things on 2.3s rattle and set off the KS. The PE is just too sensitive. The 87-88 Turbo Coupe system seems to work well, so I'd leave it connected.
See the Engle dyno results for back to back dyno runs, with the KS connected and then disconnected. It wasn't detonating, and it was worth about 40 hp!
Use your ears, you can hear the detonation *if* it happens. If it rattles, something is wrong. Fix it.