ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006) Forum for all 1990 - 2006 ES300 and ES330 models. ES250 topics go here as well.

1999 es300 knock sensor bypass question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-01-15, 05:29 PM
  #1  
bolsen
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
bolsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: AZ
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 1999 es300 knock sensor bypass question

So i got the dreaded knock sensor error. So I by all oem parts and get to taking it all apart and get to replacing the knock sensors. When I am tightening one of the sensor bank 2 I think closest to the radiator. The threads break off in the block. I was not cranking hard on it at all. So there is a threaded line in the senor and as able to get the sensor on but it is still throwing the same error.

I have seen write ups on bypassing the sensor through the ecu. Does anyone have which pins in the ecu or cables to cut. I have seen on on the rx300 but it looks a little different. Any solutions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Old 11-01-15, 08:31 PM
  #2  
JetsonES
Lead Lap
 
JetsonES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: tx
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Oh man, that's awful. Is it put back together and you're planning on just using the one sensor permanently? Or are you going to try to extract it at a later date?
Old 11-02-15, 06:00 AM
  #3  
bolsen
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
bolsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: AZ
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I did put everything back together but I am still getting the code. Engine runs fine....I was,nt sure how to get the threads out and was scared I would do more damage than good. I am looking into bypassing that sensor but was having a hard time figuring out the pins and wires on the ecu.
Old 11-02-15, 06:09 AM
  #4  
JetsonES
Lead Lap
 
JetsonES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: tx
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Well first you're going to have to rigure out what that sensor sees as a good input under normal operating conditions. Can you measure the one that you broke with an ohmmeter? If you can this would give you a resistance value that you could then jump across the wires using the appropriate wattage resistor
Old 11-02-15, 08:23 AM
  #5  
LeX2K
Lexus Champion
 
LeX2K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Posts: 19,779
Received 2,807 Likes on 2,374 Posts
Default

Knock sensor can't be measured with an ohm meter it is a piezoelectric element that generates voltage from vibration. Bypassing a sensor simply involves splicing the harness so both sensors are wired in parallel, this will likely fool the computer but the engine won't run as well. The ECU looks for a specific waveform (at all times not just when the engine pings) and if it doesn't see this it throws a code.

The broken sensor should have been removed and replaced, also the harness sometimes suffers heat damage and requires repair.
Old 11-02-15, 08:29 AM
  #6  
JetsonES
Lead Lap
 
JetsonES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: tx
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Thanks for the info. Personally, I would have extracted it but it's not my car and I can see how someone would say screw it given either time or monetary restraints.
Old 11-02-15, 09:32 AM
  #7  
mmatheny
Instructor
 
mmatheny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Dickinson, Texas
Posts: 873
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Use an EZ Out to pull the sensor out.
Old 10-09-20, 06:34 PM
  #8  
AlanPauler
Driver School Candidate
 
AlanPauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: fl
Posts: 3
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Yes i have already used this hack i replaced both knock sensors on my 2000 RX300 knock sensors wire harness and all that darn ECM KEEP READING MY KNOCK SENSOR BANK 2 AS BAD THANK GOD FOR THIS BRILLIANT HACK !
Old 10-09-20, 08:13 PM
  #9  
Arsenii
Pole Position
 
Arsenii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,787
Received 792 Likes on 664 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by AlanPauler
Yes i have already used this hack i replaced both knock sensors on my 2000 RX300 knock sensors wire harness and all that darn ECM KEEP READING MY KNOCK SENSOR BANK 2 AS BAD THANK GOD FOR THIS BRILLIANT HACK !
Hello,

While it is easier to do, it is not necessarily a best way out, since if you will run into knock in a bypassed bank, there will be no way for the ECU know that, which may quite literally ruin the engine.

You said you replaced both sensors and the wiring with no luck. There is not a lot in the knock sensor circuit that can go wrong, and you already replaced pretty much everything in it.

What codes are you getting?
Did you check the wiring up to the ECU? How did you bypass the sensor?
What parts did you use, OEM or aftermarket? Even OEM sensors are prone to premature failure, and that goes without talking about aftermarket ones.

Hope this helps and best of luck!
Old 10-09-20, 08:55 PM
  #10  
LeX2K
Lexus Champion
 
LeX2K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alberta
Posts: 19,779
Received 2,807 Likes on 2,374 Posts
Default

I wonder if the ECU can dial back timing on just one bank? Anyone know? The first Toyota V6 engines had only 1 knock sensor, well originally none it was added later.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ayroman
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
12
12-04-23 03:00 PM
LexusOwn15
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
1
04-10-21 02:27 AM
astroth
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
1
09-28-14 12:48 PM
Crown
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
6
03-15-12 03:25 PM



Quick Reply: 1999 es300 knock sensor bypass question



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:49 PM.