I have a 1986 Turbo GL-10 and haven't been able to find a knock sensor for it. I need to take the car on a 200-mile road trip early next week and don't have time to wait for a new part. How risky is it to drive the car without the knock sensor? Is there a way to disengage the turbo to make the trip less risky? I'll be needing to drive over a pass so I'm sure the turbo would be used. Is it worth it to have the car towed?

Help!!

Yeah, not a good idea.

PM me your addy and I can send a used one to you.

i'd get his or start calling yards. EA82 knock sensors rarely fail so used ones are easy to find for next to nothing.

Not that easy. My understanding is it would have to be from an 85 through early 87 turbo model.

 

In an emergency I think if you retarded the timing by a few degrees and ran high test mixed with some of that octane booster in a can stuff, you could make the trip without the sensor.

In an emergency I think if you retarded the timing by a few degrees and ran high test mixed with some of that octane booster in a can stuff, you could make the trip without the sensor.

 

+1

 

I drove my 86 turbo for years without a KNock sensor. Delivering pizza no less.

 

Pull the timing back to 22 or so (instead of spec. 25) and run mid-grade or higher. Listen for any knocking and pull back timing if there is any.

So, i was told that it would be cool to drive around town without one-I'm essentially looking for the engine knocking if there is a problem? (seems obvious, but I want to make sure). If the engine is knocking does that mean it's overheating? Yes it's been a hard one to find. If I can't find a used one I'll get a new one I just need to move by Monday. Would traveling 60 miles be pushing it? I can get it towed over the pass from there.

I've looked at yards between Sacramento and Reno and haven't found one, so if anybody can find one in their area I'll gladly pay! It's the white 2-prong type, and yes it's been said that they can only be found in 85' and 86' turbo models-from what I know that's true. Keep your eyes peeled!!

So, i was told that it would be cool to drive around town without one-I'm essentially looking for the engine knocking if there is a problem? (seems obvious, but I want to make sure). If the engine is knocking does that mean it's overheating? Yes it's been a hard one to find. If I can't find a used one I'll get a new one I just need to move by Monday. Would traveling 60 miles be pushing it? I can get it towed over the pass from there.

 

Its not overheating, its just the timing isnt advancing to compensate for the extra load. It probably wouldnt hurt to drive it 60mi, just put some super in the tank. You can also retard the timing some temporarily.

Update: Decided to drive the car as far as we could anyway after finding out we need a new radiator (ours is disintegrating into the coolant-three days of flushing and we still got black flakes from the radiator and crud!!). We made it about 100 miles (to the foothills) and it started overheating. Was going alright then jumped up into the red. Pulled over immediately and all the coolant shot out of the plastic reservoir. Got it towed the rest of the way and now we're gonna shop for a new radiator.

 

Thanks for all the info. I didn't hear a single knock or ping the whole way.

 

Originally, a friend snapped one of the knock sensor's prongs down into the unit. He jiggled it back up, super glued it and we put it back in just for fun. Maybe it works?

 

I'm still looking for one, though!!

If ambient temps are low, like in the dead of winter, you'd probably be able to get away with it. During the summer at WOT, I think you'll blow her up, especially without an intercooler or water/meth injection.

Thanks, We drove her in the middle of the night to help out. All was well on flat ground, but as soon as we hit the foothills the temp started to creep up. Hopefully it's just the radiator. I'm starting to learn it's never "just" anything with a subaru of this age