I never knew it felt so good!!
I had been driving my car for awhile, taking the previous guys word that the CEL was only for the o2 sensor as it seemed to be running decent. A few months in to owning it, I ran the code scanner on it and got 4 codes and two alerts. Codes being (o2 sensor, o2sensor heater, MAF malfunction, and Knock sensor malfunction), and alerts being (something EGR related i forget the actual wording, and CAT incomplete). A few weeks ago, I regrounded my MAF, and the code went away and things seemed a whole lot better. I took it as "Things are good again". Today, I FINALLY replaced the knock sensor. You guys don't kid about how much of a pain and the ass it is... I spent 3 hours in an oil change bay at the shop today trying to change it, finally just unbolted the big V shaped brace and pulled it back to have enough room to get a wrench and my big hands up in there (I broke the large right bolt on the bottom of that brace, oops, Someone tell me it's not a big deal since all the rest were put back in lol). The old sensor was cracked to hell, literally split all the way around and was rusting inside out. Anyways, I then cleared the codes and the only code that came up was the o2 sensor. Woohoo! I don't know what exactly I did while I was in there pulling parts off and putting parts on, but the car now idles perfectly, has 150% better response, no more sluggish feeling at less that 2500rpm, and no more sluggish feeling over 3k-rpm. Runs strong all the way from 1800-redline. I can't believe it's possible that a knock sensor could make THAT much of a difference... I did crack the two sides of the connector that goes to the knock sensor, but it still clipped in fine as there was enough left to hold that little metal pin in place that surrounds the connector.
Can anyone chime in if that bottom right bolt on that big v shaped brace is going to make a difference?? It snapped off in the block, and I don't see any way I can get it out without removing the whole motor, so that is almost out of questions...
Also, wtf is that brace even for?? I clipped all the plastic clips holding connectors and the harness and all that fun on it, so they are hanging freely. I was going to just remove it completely but after taking all the bolts off, I realized there wasn't enough room to remove it through the bottom..
Can anyone chime in if that bottom right bolt on that big v shaped brace is going to make a difference?? It snapped off in the block, and I don't see any way I can get it out without removing the whole motor, so that is almost out of questions...
Also, wtf is that brace even for?? I clipped all the plastic clips holding connectors and the harness and all that fun on it, so they are hanging freely. I was going to just remove it completely but after taking all the bolts off, I realized there wasn't enough room to remove it through the bottom..