1992 Honda Accord EX 2.2 L pinging Does this car have knock sensor

The car pings sometimes, sometimes not. I have retarded the timing a
bit by rotating the distributor. Seems a little better but still pings
sometimes.

Does this engine have a knock sensor?

Please don't answer unless you know for sure.

Its a US version (not California) 1992 Honda Accord EX 2.2 L with air
and auto transmission


thanks

Mark

 

Mark,
I believe that it does have a knock sensor but am not 100 per cent sure.
You could find out by visiting the parts counter at the local Honda
dealership. They can quickly determine whether or not your vehicle has a
knock sensor and even tell you the part number and price. If it does have
a knock sensor--it's possible that the one on your car is broken and
therefore needs to be replaced. In the mean time, try making use of high
octane gasoline since it's less likely to cause pings and knocks. I know
this is true since I once owned a car that had a pinging problem and did
NOT have a knock sensor. When I started making use of high octane
gasoline--it really helped. Consider trading your vehicle in on a Honda
that has VTEC. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.) and love it--it
does not have a pinging or knocking problem.

 

<< Consider trading your vehicle in on a Honda

My 1994 VTEC pings quite a bit. It's worse since I had the timing belt
replaced a few weeks ago. Is pinging actually harmful, or just a nuisance?

 

It's harmful. Your knock sensor is probably not working. It's possible
that your timing needs to be adjusted.

 

It's bad. If severe enough, pinging can eat holes in pistons.

Either ignition timing or timing belt is wrong. Take it back.

 

I'll get that checked out asap. Thanks.

 

What model car is this? I had the same experience with a '94 Civic
(D16Z6 engine, SOHC VTEC). Never a pinging problem until after replacing
the timing belt. Workaround was to use higher octane gas or retard the
timing a tad (late side of factory spec)

 

1994 Accord EX, SOHC VTEC. Didn't get it to the shop this morning (been home
sick) but will take it by tomorrow. Right after I got it back (timing belt,
water pump, alternator belt) I took it by because the alternator belt was
raising hell. He told me to bring it in for anything else I want adjusted,
so I'm going to take him up on it. (Alternator belt finally got seated and
shut up.)
I thought about the gas. It's pretty empty right now, so maybe I'll put some
higher octane in it. This wouldn't compound matters if my timing's off,
would it?

 

I know this engine does not have a knock sensor, I have owned a 91 for 10
yrs now.
I am assuming you are using regular gas, if so this is normal with an older
engine, you might want to switch to a higher grade fuel. Also do not just
retard the timing without a timing light.

 

Grahame,
Great post. Keep up the good work. We now know why Honda is placing knock
sensors on their cars. They must have received thousands of complaints
from Honda owners in the 1980s and early 1990s that had knocking and
pinging problems. The knock sensors were the solution to the problem.
However, if the timing is off or the knock sensor is broken--pinging and
knocking problems happen.

 

Sometimes cheap quality gasoline brands can contribute to pinging, and it
doesn't matter what octane you use. This happened with my '93 Accord.

 

Any idea if the '94 Accord LX uses knock sensors? My Owner's Manual
says: "Your Honda operates most effectively on unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 86 or higher."
I use the medium grade gasoline with pump octane ((R+M)/2) of 89, yet I
do get some pinging on hotter days or during heavier engine load. So I
wonder if my car has knock sensors but don't work.

Rudy

 

Grahame
thanks
yes regular gas. I don't like the cost of premium gas.

what changes in an older engine to make it knock/ping

carbon buildup in the cylinders?
EGR valve problems?

Why can I not retard the spark a few degrees. I scribe a mark to mark
the starting point then retard the distributor a few degrees while
idleing listening to the idle slow down a bit.

Mark

 

Rudy,
Visit the local Honda dealership and ask the person at the parts counter
to give you the part number and price of a new knock sensor. He or she
will check their computer and parts books. He or she will tell you whether
or not you have a knock sensor in your car. They have detailed diagrams of
every Honda engine.
Jason

 

The answer is yes to the first two questions,
You can adjust your timing this way but how do you know how many degrees you
have gone by just listening to the idle speed? A timing light is a cheap
enough investment for the do it yourselfer.

 

Hey Jason, I also have a 2001 Accord and it does not have a knock sensor
either!

 

Well, I did call up my Honda dealer's service dept and I was told that
my model did not have a knock sensor. So now I wonder if the reason for
pinging is too much timing advance or the car really needs the highest
octane gas available at pumps: 93. I can easily try the latter option
even though I think the Chevron 89 octane I use now should be more than
enough if the Owner's Manual is to be believed.

Rudy

 

yes, carbon build up can do it, or wrong grade plugs. also check things
like the thermostat.

regarding timing, yes, that'll definitely do it. if the timing belt is
out a tooth, it can advance the timing significantly.

regarding fuel grade, etc., i have had "bad" tanks of gas that have made
a car ping like crazy, but that's rare & fixable. regarding general
honda stuff, because honda are so consistent, if one honda has a
problem, they /all/ do, eg. main relay. it's unusual for hondas to ping
unless there's something wrong. i'd look to whatever the service items
were before the onset of pinging & there will be your problem.