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CEL 1997 Outback

Featured Replies

I've got a 97 Outback with 168,000 miles. HG repaired at 110,000. Now I'm getting a CEL that local mechanic states is a knock sensor? from the lower engine. The light comes on and goes off without much rhyme or reason. Is this something that will kill the engine sooner than later? Is there anything that can be done other than a rebuild or replace??

Thanks

If it's just a knock sensor, you could A. live with it and deal with hesitation and low gas mileage or B. Spend 50 bucks and 10 minutes of your time and replace it. Pretty simple job.

  • Author

There is unfortunately a "knock" coming from the lower engine! I wish it was just a misinformed sensor! Hep me pleeeze.

  • 1 month later...
There is unfortunately a "knock" coming from the lower engine! I wish it was just a misinformed sensor! Hep me pleeeze.

I've never heard of a knock sensor that is designed to detect a worn lower end. Most knock sensors detect engine knock that is caused by lower grade gasoline. When "knock" is detected, the computer usually responds by retarding the ignion timing. If the knock sensor is throwing a code, it usually means that the sensor is "out of range". So....AFAIK, the code is for a bad sensor, not for the knock that you are hearing. Now....the knocking noise you hear is not good regardless of what that sensor is doing. It might be piston slap or worn bearings both of which require a rebuild to fix. If it were me, I would replace that sensor and just keep driving it with the knock. You might try a thicker oil, it may quiet it a bit.

 

Good Luck.

 

Todd

I just replaced the knock sensor on the outback after getting a P0325 code. The car was very sluggish and fuel economy was poor while the MIL was on. Replacing the sensor was easy. Removed the airbox behind the throttle body per the FSM to gain access and torqued the new sensor to 207 in-lb. Cleared the code and the MIL hasn't come back on in ~50 miles. Running much better.

  • 4 weeks later...
I've got a 97 Outback with 168,000 miles. HG repaired at 110,000. Now I'm getting a CEL that local mechanic states is a knock sensor? from the lower engine. The light comes on and goes off without much rhyme or reason. Is this something that will kill the engine sooner than later? Is there anything that can be done other than a rebuild or replace??

Thanks

 

just to let you know eventually the car will not start either that sensor can enable starting problems keep in mind to

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