C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Bad O2 sensor - knock at idle ??

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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 12:29 PM
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Default Bad O2 sensor - knock at idle ??

Hello fellow Corvette enthusiast,

I have a 94 Vert, Auto with 64k miles and at idle I am getting a knocking noise. When I take the engine up to 1,500rpm and beyond the knocking goes away. After driving the car for about 15 minutes, the Service Engine Light comes on. I took the car to AutoZone to have it scanned; the code came in as an O2 sensor.

My question is can a bad O2 sensor be the cause of this knock due to improper fuel mixture?
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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 12:44 PM
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My answer to that would be yes. If you're referring to pinging, also refered to as knock, actually pre-detonation. Have you seen a drop in MPG and performance issue?

Last edited by rick lambert; Nov 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM.
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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 02:13 PM
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no real drop in either MPG or performance.
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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 05:28 PM
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get a mechanics stethascope, like the doctors, cheap, isolate where the noise is comming from. I said yes on the 02 being able to cause pinging, but usually when the 02 goes bad mileage goes down.
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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 07:15 PM
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Isn't the function of the O2 sensor to tell the ECM that it can go into closed loop when the sensor detects a certain level of gasses? If the ECM doesn't go into closed loop when it should, fuel mileage will drop.

A bad grade of gas or even the wintertime gasoline blends can cause pinging but it would be under some level of engine load like part-throttle or full throttle acceleration or even just going uphill.

A code that points to an O2 sensor means that the sensor is either not working or the signal value being sent is out of range. The sensor is not terribly expensive so replacing it would be a step to take followed by clearing the code.
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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 09:16 PM
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Replacing it sounds good to me. Are there 1 or 2 O2 sensors on a 94? And if 2, how do I tell which one is having problems?
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 11:17 AM
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I'm not sure about the 94, I know earlier C4s only had one, but I do believe the laters have two, and I'm not sure if AutoZone scanned it or just pulled the code. Normally on later C4s, when an 02 sensor code is thrown it will also tell which bank, meaning left or right side 02. Do you know if they scanned it or just pulled codes? there is a difference! But if it were mine and it had two, I'd replace both anyway.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 11:44 AM
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I agree, replace the sensors. You know they are bad then address the knock if it is still present.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by c4cruiser
Isn't the function of the O2 sensor to tell the ECM that it can go into closed loop when the sensor detects a certain level of gasses? If the ECM doesn't go into closed loop when it should, fuel mileage will drop.

A bad grade of gas or even the wintertime gasoline blends can cause pinging but it would be under some level of engine load like part-throttle or full throttle acceleration or even just going uphill.

A code that points to an O2 sensor means that the sensor is either not working or the signal value being sent is out of range. The sensor is not terribly expensive so replacing it would be a step to take followed by clearing the code.
hes makes a very good point, detonation at idle doesnt make much sense..
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 10:27 PM
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Funny as it seems, my '94 Vert has a rattle (sometimes it sounds like a knock) at idle. It is the X frame hitting on the exhaust pipe and goes away when driving.
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Old Nov 20, 2008 | 01:49 AM
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Originally Posted by 86GoldProject
detonation at idle doesnt make much sense..
Exactly ,pinging (engine knock ) usually occurs under load.
If you had knock at idle ,it would get worse with revs, sure wouldn't go away over 1500.
More likely a mechanical sound and the O2 fault a unrelated item
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Old Nov 20, 2008 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Eddie & the Cruisers
Funny as it seems, my '94 Vert has a rattle (sometimes it sounds like a knock) at idle. It is the X frame hitting on the exhaust pipe and goes away when driving.
Interesting. I'll have to check this out. But right now it's too cold here in Michigan. It should be warmer next week and I will see what I find.

I will also replace both O2 sensors. That seems like the right thing to do. I did a search on O2 sensor replacement and got about 1 million results. Does anyone know the best thread for this?
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