Wtf: Knock Sensor Plug

[2005.Neon.SXT]

On my way home from work, I'm sitting at the light fixing to get onto the interstate and my car just... Dies. "Weird", I crank it back up... Struggles to stay running, then dies again. "WTF", light's about to turn green and I go to crank the car again... And it's acting like it doesn't want to turn over... Try again... Nothing. Once more, it fires up and the light goes green. I start accelerating and car goes into limp mode as the MIL turns on. I pull over and check the codes with the key (thank God for Dodge/Chryslers having that ability). P0325 and 0335 (knock sensor and crankshaft positioning sensor)... I'm thinking "knock sensor? And crank pos sensor? I just changed the cps past year!" (Along with the cam shaft pos sensor). So I hop on 2gn, try to find a solution... And couldn't really find anything except occasional demon saying something about the plug "just coming loose"... I look under the manifold and much to my amazement... The sensor had gotten unplugged, somehow, and tripped my car up.

Anyway, plugged it back in and started the car... It sputtered and died. "DAFUQ?!"... Look around the engine bay, make sure it all seems good to go, and start it up again. Let it idle for about 15 minutes and head home.

At a light, the car was wanting to choke and die again. Everything seems fine for now, and there's a slight tick from motor. Oil level is fine, there's a slight leak of trans fluid near the trans drain plug (where the pass drive axle goes into the bell housing).

With all this being said... What should I do? As some of you saw in my other post, I'll be doing my timing belt next week. Gates OEM timing belt, Gates water bump, PCI Mech tensioner, Timing belt motor mount/anchor, and both drive belts. Do I need to take care of anything else? Any input?...

Thanks guys.

[occasional demons]

The knock sensor is on it's own dedicated circuit, so I doubt it has anything to do with the crank sensor.

I would check the crank sensor connector, or replace it again, if the wiring checks out good.

At least the knock sensor has a CEL/code on NGC. Mine only had the "Simulated Cummins Warning System"

[2005.Neon.SXT]

Would it really be defected already though?

[2005.Neon.SXT]

Another symptom I'm noticing, if anyone can chime in, is when I'm driving and I get around 3.5k-4k RPMs... It wants to sputter and choke before I shift to the next gear... What could be causing this?

[NickKo]

Another symptom I'm noticing, if anyone can chime in, is when I'm driving and I get around 3.5k-4k RPMs... It wants to sputter and choke before I shift to the next gear... What could be causing this?

Sounds like a misfire, to me.
What exactly is causing that misfire, I wouldn't know.



* Wait a minute.... I have an idea.
You mentioned now hearing a 'tick' from the engine, which wasn't there before.

I once had an issue with a (defective) MoPar Performance plug wire set which had one wire, shorting.
There was no obvious misfiring - no codes -and the car ran fine.
Checking the plug wires with an ohmmeter, showed that they all 'spec'd' O.K.
However... It had what I thought was a (loud) 'lifter tick'.

I replaced the Mopar Performance wires with some Magnecores that I bought from a friend, as an 'upgrade'.
Guess what ? The 'lifter tick' went away, too !

Apparently, the defective wire, was shorting internally.... causing the loud 'ticking' noise.





So, if you haven't changed your plug wires yet, use this as an 'excuse to upgrade'. It may fix the issue..... Especially if your plug wires have not been changed for quite a long time.


- Nick

[2005.Neon.SXT]

Hmm... That could be a potential possibility. Plugs were changed last year summer and then again a couple months ago. And I have not changed the wires since I got it in '07 with 12k miles.

Thank you.