HELP!!!

I was driving home today and my service engine soon light came on...i went be autozone and he pluged in the computer deal and it said that my knock sensor was faulty or messed or something...we went inside and he didnt have any in stock and he could not even tell me where the sensor is located on the car??? my question to you all is...

Where is this sensor?
How do i change this sensor?
Where do i buy this sensor?
Is it a big deal if i drive 1400 miles on vacation next week and do not change the sensor?

HELP PLEASE....dont you hate it when something goes wrong when you are suposed to leave for a trip in 2 days! PLEASE HELP...car info in sig...

thank you
patrick

 

p.s.
Is it going to hurt gas miliage if i dont replace?

I cleaned and re-oiled my K&N air filter last weekend, i may have gotten too much oil on filter, would this have caused it?

thanks again guys

 

alright guys i know did a search on old knock sensor threads and i see where they are and how to replace, but nowhere does it say how long i can go with it like it is now?

so how long can i go? is it going to hurt to drive 1400 miles on vacation like this? what is the final word guys?

 

NO it wont hurt going 1400 miles. Youll be down on power thats about it and maybe get alittle worse mpg but thats it.

 

I think you have two knock sensors(someone correct me on all this if I'm wrong)..I had one to go out on me one time and I was down on power big time..I was throwing 4 degrees of knock retard so you'll be down on power as mentioned before..I think they're located underneath the intake..mine was covered under warranty..you may have to get them at the dealership? you should be alright on the trip though, shouldn't effect the car..

 

thanks for the response guys.....i called the dealership, they said with the 98's there were 2 different kinds of knock sensors used...the man said the only way to know is to take off the manifold and get it off and go down to the dealership....i am not quite sure if he knew what he was talking about...i know that i will have to take everything off, but why would they use 2 different kinds in the same production year....any ideas??? what do you all think???

 

The dealership is right... there were different knock sensor connector styles used in 98. You won't know which one you need until you pull the intake manifold.

Tim

 

Is there an aftermarket knock sensor that will give me more power? As long as i have to go through this freaking ordeal i might as well try and get a little gain out of it?

 

as far as diff parts in a model year - i wouldnt doubt it as for your dealers mechanic knowing what hes talking about HAHAHAH i hate to sound negative but....i have been driving f-bodys for 25 years and try to do all the work i can myself. Every time i got in a bind and went to the dealer for help ive had a bad experience maybe its bad luck but everytime a see a GM commercial about the "quality sevice" i have to laugh out loud alot of the probs ive had were just lack of attention and crappy mechanical skills

 

as far as diff parts in a model year - i wouldnt doubt it as for your dealers mechanic knowing what hes talking about HAHAHAH i hate to sound negative but....i have been driving f-bodys for 25 years and try to do all the work i can myself. Every time i got in a bind and went to the dealer for help ive had a bad experience maybe its bad luck but everytime a see a GM commercial about the "quality sevice" i have to laugh out loud alot of the probs ive had were just lack of attention and crappy mechanical skills <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

 

I thought i might update you guys and tell you all that happened today and give you all a good laugh!

I went ahead and pulled my intake at approx 10:30 this morn...as i did this i broke the Oil pressure sensor that is at the very back of the flipping engine! I had to search high and low for the oil pressure sensor and the stupid *** knock sensor. Only place that could get them was the local dealership. But they had to get it from some supply house and i did not have the part in my hand until 4:30. I am pissed at this moment but feeling pretty good now that i have everything, and my dad is coming over and he has had some mechanic experience so i am thinking no worries....The old oil pressure sensor comes out great, but the new one is tough to get in...i get it threaded but because it is FREAKING PLASTIC like everything else on our cars i was being gentle...dad starts to inch it snug with a set of channel locks, he says it is tight enough, but me being the super errogant no it all *** have to get it one last turn, of course as i do this we hear a loud POP, kind of like the sound plastic makes when it breaks....i start calling every place i can like a mad man trying to get another of these oil pressure sensors...no one has any and it will be friday afternoon by the time one comes in! of course i have to leave friday morn for my trip....ok so plan "B"...dad brought this high heat resistant super duper sealing adheasive...and since i didnt totally foul up the sensor we throughly encased the sensor in this crap and then gently put everything back together....so what is the verdict???

i dunno! i did not realize that our cars had 2 knock sensors until everything was back together and i am going to let that adhesive sit over night before i crank up my car and put a load on it...so pray for me guys and wish me luck

thanks for everything
patrick