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

1991 knock sensor

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 30, 2014 | 07:17 PM
  #1  
LucyC4Lucy's Avatar
LucyC4Lucy
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Default 1991 knock sensor

Hi!. I have a 1991 , I drove it to work parked and saw smoke coming out the drivers side of the hood, then some nasty brown water fluid came out the bottom, , I was scared to drive it, had it towed home, and there she sits!... I was doing some reading that it may be a knocker sensor , or freeze plug... Any idea which I should check first?. I had no dash codes , it was running a little warm, water pump , temp sensor and thermostat was recently replaced, and since it's water that was leaking , I'm not sure where to look?.. Any suggestions would be Greatly appreciated, since I try and do the work myself!. Thanks in advance!.. Oh also how tough are these to replace??
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2014 | 07:35 PM
  #2  
WVZR-1's Avatar
WVZR-1
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,365
Likes: 2,731
Default

Originally Posted by LucyC4Lucy
Hi!. I have a 1991 , I drove it to work parked and saw smoke coming out the drivers side of the hood, then some nasty brown water fluid came out the bottom, , I was scared to drive it, had it towed home, and there she sits!... I was doing some reading that it may be a knocker sensor , or freeze plug... Any idea which I should check first?. I had no dash codes , it was running a little warm, water pump , temp sensor and thermostat was recently replaced, and since it's water that was leaking , I'm not sure where to look?.. Any suggestions would be Greatly appreciated, since I try and do the work myself!. Thanks in advance!.. Oh also how tough are these to replace??
There could be many possibilities on a '91 for a massive coolant leak in the vicinity that you mention. There's a pair of coolant hoses there for the engine oil cooler if you have the option. If your car has a KC4 option look at this link in the varius snapshots and you can see what I've mentioned. The fifth image is what I'd guess the most likely if you've the KC4 option:

http://corvetteparts.com/item/hose-s...tion-1990-1991

If you don't have the KC4 option the freeze plug or knock sensor catastrophic failure are the next more likely I would think. In the driveway neither is a pleasant task, freeze plug is likely a "shop job" but the knock sensor a possibility.

You made one very good decision! You "towed it"

Last edited by WVZR-1; Jul 30, 2014 at 07:38 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2014 | 07:53 PM
  #3  
MrWillys's Avatar
MrWillys
Drifting
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 31
From: Reno Nevada
Default

I would doubt it would be the knock sensor, because it's more like a plug. You have to jack it up and look. Coolant will most likely leave a path to the culprit.
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2014 | 08:01 PM
  #4  
LucyC4Lucy's Avatar
LucyC4Lucy
Thread Starter
5th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Default

Originally Posted by MrWillys
I would doubt it would be the knock sensor, because it's more like a plug. You have to jack it up and look. Coolant will most likely leave a path to the culprit.
Ok, it's been parked for a week, haven't really had time to even check it out, I do know the radiator is empty, but there is a little coolant left in the resovior, what came out underneath was a brown rusty color. Are the freeze plugs difficult to replace,? Thank you!
Reply
Old Jul 31, 2014 | 02:24 AM
  #5  
Cliff Harris's Avatar
Cliff Harris
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Default

Originally Posted by LucyC4Lucy
Are the freeze plugs difficult to replace,? Thank you!
That depends on which one is bad. The rear one is easy. The front one is behind the motor mount. That one is tough. If it's the front one I recommend taking off the exhaust manifold to get access to it. The motor mount needs to come out.
Reply
Old Jul 31, 2014 | 09:27 AM
  #6  
bjankuski's Avatar
bjankuski
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,150
Likes: 551
From: Glenbeulah Wi
Default

Fill the car with water and crawl under it and find out where it is leaking, after that ask advice on how to fix it.
Reply
Old Jul 31, 2014 | 01:00 PM
  #7  
GKK's Avatar
GKK
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by bjankuski
Fill the car with water and crawl under it and find out where it is leaking, after that ask advice on how to fix it.


It could be anything?...The throttle body coolant lines could've leaked, radiator hoses, intake manifold leak...Also, brown water is a sign of neglected cooling system service.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2014 | 01:32 AM
  #8  
Cliff Harris's Avatar
Cliff Harris
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Default

You need to clean up the area under the engine to find out where the water is coming from.

When I had a coolant leak it appeared to be coming from the oil cooler hoses. After I tightened them up I found that the front freeze plug had a hole in it and it was dripping down onto the oil cooler hoses.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1991 knock sensor

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:59 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE