Camry knock sensor issue

Hey, I'm having a weird issue with my 2001 Toyota Camry with a gasoline engine. The check engine light is on, and I've noticed my fuel consumption is way up. Also, the engine idles really rough sometimes. I scanned it and it's showing a defective knock sensor. I've checked the sensor itself (visually, anyway) and it looks okay, but the cable and plug connection seem a bit dodgy. Could a bad connection really cause all these problems?

4 comment(s)

I had a similar issue with my Camry. Check engine light, rough idle... Is your ignition timing off, too? It might be more than just the sensor itself. I'd start by really cleaning those connections and seeing if it makes a difference before replacing the sensor.

Thanks for the quick reply! Ignition timing – that's a good point. I haven't checked that specifically. When you had the problem, did cleaning the connections fix it for you, or did you have to do more? Was the malfunction indicator always on?

Cleaning didn't fully fix it, just made it a bit better for a while. The light came back on after a week. Honestly, in the end, I took it to a workshop. They told me that with this mileage it's better to change it directly.

Okay, thanks! Sounds like I'm probably looking at a workshop visit too. I was hoping it was just a simple fix. A new sensor is 95€ so I will invest it. Appreciate the insight!

Join the discussion now: