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View Full Version : Turboxs KnockLite giving false warnings?



mt_goat
01-10-2008, 10:21 AM
Is anyone else using one of these besides me?
http://www.turboxs.com/more_info.php?ID=212

I'm about ready to throw it away. :chair:

I got this installed and tried it out. It is connected to one of ECU knock sensor wires (I used the gray #2 wire just because it was easier for me to get to than the black #1 wire) and the ECU RPM signal.

There is some setup to do with it, first you calabrate it to your engine noise by holding the rpms at idle, mid redline and near redline and pushing the button at each point. Once that is set, the sensitivity level can be set from 1-10 with 10 being the lowest sensitivity (Kind of wierd that 10 is the lowest )

First thing I noticed is the light comes on a lot, even though I'm not hearing any audible knocking. But it does seem to light up in the areas that pinging would normally be a problem, like low RPMs around 0 boost and under WOT. (And yes I'm running premium gas).

So, I set the sensitivity level to the lowest possible and I test drove it. That caused the light to stay off a little more, but it still shows quite an alarming amount of pinging. So I guess (if I can believe this thing), I must have a lot of knocking I need to tune out.

Now after a lot of tuning the knock light is still going off a lot but I do NOT actually hear any pinging.

I have adjusted my FTC timing map to 6 degrees of retard in the worst areas of the map with little or no effect on the knockLite. Attempts to retard more than 6 degrees in any cells of the map causes the ECU to throw blinking CELs for misfires.

I'm going to try 2 more tests to see if the knock light is just giving me false knock warnings or if in fact I do have some knocking. One using higher octane gas (currently I'm using 91 octane) and one using less boost (currently running a 2.1 pulley for a max 10 psi of boost)

Yesterday I added 4 gals 101 octane gas (we have a local Shell station that pumps it for $6.25/gal ouch) to a 1/4 tank of 91 octane. That made for a little less than a 50-50 mix of 101 with 91 or I would estimate roughly 95 octane. After driving around for a while the rest of the day I saw no change, the knock light is still blinking at me a lot.

Next test I'll put the stock SC pulley back on and try that with the 95 octane mix currently in the tank, I'd hate to buy anymore $6+/gal gas thank you very much.

If that combo still lights up the knockLite do you think I can safely say it’s showing false knock warnings?

04 Rocko Taco
01-10-2008, 10:31 AM
I would say probbaly so Dale, but just to be sure, find a friend with a similar engine, but not S/C'ed and install it on his ECU, and calibrate it, and see what it says on his vehicle. My guess is - still getting false readings. But its a great way to be sure...

mt_goat
01-10-2008, 10:43 AM
Thanks Chris, that would be a good test but I'm not sure anyone I know would volunteer for their ECU wiring harness to be molested for a test. I wouldn't volunteer if it were me.

04 Rocko Taco
01-10-2008, 10:55 AM
Bah you can put it back, mostly, when your done, right? lol. If I was closer Dale, you could use mine. lol. For you, I would volunteer.

mt_goat
01-10-2008, 11:08 AM
Thanks, maybe instead of throwing it away I'll donate it to a volunteer hehe. :D I know there are a few others on CT that have used one with good results. Here's where I first heard of it:
http://customtacos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86076