Somewhat of a newbie here! With a question about Knock..

[94TSiBeast]

So I have a 94 talon tsi. It has several mods done to it, and the stock boost gauge is wired up to read Knock. So every once in a while when I'm driving the stock boost gauge spikes (reading knock) and the car has like no power when this happens. Then it goes away after a min. This happens under normal driving conditions, and sometimes when I try and accelerate. When it happens I let off the gas because I'm sure its not good.. But my question is what is causing this to randomly happen? Some days it happens alot, other days it never happens, or may not happen for weeks at a time. .. So I'll list my mods so that maybe that will help. Also the car is an auto.

16g turbo
680cc injectors
ECU Chip tune
2g Maf
2.5 intercooler pipes/ Big front mount IC
Full 3in. exhaust
Tubular manifold
3in. o2 housing with open dump
255 Walbro pump

I'm probably forgetting somethings, but thats most of it. So if anyone has any insight on whats causing my issue please let me know!! Thanks.

 

[94TSiBeast]

To answer a few questions, Im running 93 octane fuel. My AFR's are right at 14.7 idle, they stay around 13-15 while just cruising. And when in full boost usually around 10 it runs pretty rich. Could use a new tune under boost. But this doesnt happen when im going WOT. Just under normal acceleration usually when my Vac/Boost gauge is right at 0psi it happens. The car does shake/vibrate ALOT it could def. use some new motor mounts.

 

[Tiny Jake]

good info

 

[keltalon]

To answer a few questions, Im running 93 octane fuel. My AFR's are right at 14.7 idle, they stay around 13-15 while just cruising. And when in full boost usually around 10 it runs pretty rich. Could use a new tune under boost. But this doesnt happen when im going WOT. Just under normal acceleration usually when my Vac/Boost gauge is right at 0psi it happens. The car does shake/vibrate ALOT it could def. use some new motor mounts.

The shaking and vibrations could be your answer. Its going to be very hard to tell what type of knock you are having until you get some way to log the event so that it can be examined (dsmlink or similar) for this will tell us many things about the conditions under which the knock occurred. In the mean time an af ratio in the 10s at full throttle doesn't knock easily. Here is my question are you seeing these episodes of knock wot or just cruising maybe I missed it . thanks. but in the meantime yeah replace the old knock sensor as suggested above asap!

 

[Slobonator4G63]

I was reading the blog and couldn't help but think you could just maybe have a cracked intake somewhere and be pulling in air before you maf cause it go lean and detect a knock. There are so many different variables in your car that haven't been answer as to what kinda tune is in your chipped ecu and what it has been set at prior to you owni it. But seeing how your registering a knock on your tach sweeps like most of us had said either unplug it go for a drive see if it's still the same or any better and if you can definitely see some progress then maybe purchase another one. If it still resumes even with the knock sensor unplugged then we have to look somewhere else.

 

[94TSiBeast]

I'll try and look things over this weekend, but its so damn cold here!

 

[Slobonator4G63]

I'll try and look things over this weekend, but its so damn cold here!

Lol don't worry Winnipeg,mb Canada is seeing -45 some day and I've been tinkering in th day time when I can so beleive me I know the feeling.

 

[keltalon]

Lol don't worry Winnipeg,mb Canada is seeing -45 some day and I've been tinkering in th day time when I can so beleive me I know the feeling.

Holy Molie the other day in Atlanta it was 10 degrees and 0 wind chill and we almost had a fit! I can't imagine - 45 Zeeze!

 

[Slobonator4G63]

Lol this is the low for tonight is -42 with the windchill. How ever were getting down to the single this coming week. My neighbours are snowbirds and live in Florida for 6 months of the year. So any progress on the knock sensor 94tsibeast?

 

[CrackedDSM]

It was almost 70* here today. I was enjoying the hell out of it when it was 16-17 but now it's back to this 75* in the winter crap.

 

[Slobonator4G63]

I'd personally come to the USA for the weather people thought I was dam crazy 4 years ago when I went to Florida and jumped in th ocean in December but you only live once it was cold. It I wouldn't Change a thing St. Augustein was amazing. So are we. Making any head way on finding out what his car is doing or what?

 

[94TSiBeast]

Sorry guys didnt get a chance to look the car over on the weekend, got really busy. As soon as I can i'll you all know what I figure out on it.

 

[terrykiller]

I think you have a pretty good start here to make some big power

 

[94TSiBeast]

Why do you say that?

 

[94TSiBeast]

Ok, so I have some new information to share about the phantom knock and my car running great some days and not others.... Its kinda odd so here we go..

I have 3 gauges on a pillar in my car, Boost, oil pressure, and water temp. They are gauges that sweep when you turn the car on and you can change the color of the lighting on them. I've noticed a correlation between the issue with these gauges and days that my car runs like crap... maybe its just in my head, you tell me...

OK so I leave the color of all 3 gauges at Red. When I shut the car off and turn it back on it SHOULD stay set at whatever color that I had them set to.. However, somedays when I go turn the car on the top 2 gauges will have changed to blue and the bottom one will still be Red.. Now the days that this happens are the days my car runs like crap and starts getting phantom knock alot.... Then there are days when I start the car and the lights held the setting at Red, those days the car pulls like a boss and no phantom knock or anything.

I have payed attention to this for quite a while, and every time this happens its the same results.. SO am I crazy? or could there be some relation to the problems? Some kind of electrical issue messing up the tune?

 

[enriquez2000]

Ok, so I have some new information to share about the phantom knock and my car running great some days and not others.... Its kinda odd so here we go..

I have 3 gauges on a pillar in my car, Boost, oil pressure, and water temp. They are gauges that sweep when you turn the car on and you can change the color of the lighting on them. I've noticed a correlation between the issue with these gauges and days that my car runs like crap... maybe its just in my head, you tell me...

OK so I leave the color of all 3 gauges at Red. When I shut the car off and turn it back on it SHOULD stay set at whatever color that I had them set to.. However, somedays when I go turn the car on the top 2 gauges will have changed to blue and the bottom one will still be Red.. Now the days that this happens are the days my car runs like crap and starts getting phantom knock alot.... Then there are days when I start the car and the lights held the setting at Red, those days the car pulls like a boss and no phantom knock or anything.

I have payed attention to this for quite a while, and every time this happens its the same results.. SO am I crazy? or could there be some relation to the problems? Some kind of electrical issue messing up the tune?

It may not be electrical messing up the "tune" per se... but if you are grounding/shorting somewhere it definitely could cause sensor issues in general which the ecu would read as good information and make adjustments like knock retard.

 

[94TSiBeast]

I guess i'll have to track down the wiring issue then.

 

[enriquez2000]

I guess i'll have to track down the wiring issue then.

Those are my favorite ... just take your time and check every possible ground wire first.. thats usually the culprit if its wiring.. as old as these cars are, anything could be loose enough to randomly go in and out of contact. Although you have a good clue where to start since your gauges are acting up.. follow where they are grounded to on the body of the car.

 

[94TSiBeast]

I'll try and do some more investigating on the issue this weekend

 

[94TSiBeast]

So how do you get to the knock sensor?? I Know where its located but I can't even see it let along get to it.

 

[enriquez2000]

HAve to kind of do it by feel and I woul hit it with pb blaster the night before just in case.. its behind #2 cylinder.. maybe remove battery and try

 

[curt-s]

I go in behind the driver's side wheel.

Just a crazy thought, seeing as how it could be related to vibration conditions considering where the 1g ECU is located; have you tried another ECU? It's *possible* the knock board is having issues, and vibration could be speeding up its demise. Just a thought. Combine a 1g KS with a frame and suspension that's not tight like a drum and you run into all sorts of PK issues.

 

[94TSiBeast]

I havent tried another ECU cause i'll have to get another socketed one.... If I need to I will but I figured getting a new knock sensor wouldn't hurt to try first. Also, I now have DSM link V3.... Haven't put it on the car and tuned yet, should I just do that first? Maybe that will give me a better idea of whats going on?

 

[94TSiBeast]

Can you just tune out the phantom knock with V3?

 

[enriquez2000]

Can you just tune out the phantom knock with V3?

Link will give you the tools you need to narrow it down.. as far as tuning it out.. you can set it to not read below a certain TPS percentage and rpm.

 

[94TSiBeast]

ok I may try that first.