knock sensor location
 

I have a 2003 F250 5.4l. Can anyone give me an exact location as to where the knock sensor is. I think it is on the right side under intake. Do I have to take the intake off. How does this come off. The aftermarket doesn't look like factory. Please help.....

It's located under the intake manifold in the valley on the left side (if facing the engine). The intake manifold has to come off but other then that it's straight forward you just need to remove it with a sensor socket.

As a side note what do you think is wrong with the sensor?

knock sensor
 

Thanks for the reply. Do I need any special gaskets or anything to take the intake off, looks difficult but don't know. I am getting a P0325 code stating that the knock sensor is bad so I was going to replace it. Thanks.

Basically remove everything attached the intake and then remove the intake. The biggest thing is the bolt sequence needs to be exact. Also you will need to clean off the old gaskets and replace them.

Below is a step by step from a Haynes manual I have. I paraphrased the steps because I am a lazy typer. I also included a pic of the bolt sqequence.

Removal:
1.) Relieve the fuel pressure.
2.) Drain the coolant.
3.) Remove air cleaner duct.
4.) Remove upper radiator hose from the thermostat.
5.) Remove the accessory drive belt.
6.) Remove the alternator.
7.) Remove the accelerator splash shield, cable, throttle return spring and bracket. Also remove cruise cable.
8.) Disconnect the Throttle Position sensor connector.
9.) Remove the IAC air tube.
10.) Disconnect the EVAP canister vacuum hose.
11.) Disconnect the brake booster vacuum hose and the main vacuum harness from the throttle body
12.) Disconnect the IAC electrical connection.
13.) Remove the 4 bolts on throttle body and remove throttle body and discard gasket. You'll need a new one.
14.) Disconnect coil electrical connections and remove coils.
15.) Disconnect the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose.
16.) Remove heater hose.
17.) Remove thermostat.
18.) Loosen intake bolts 1/4 turn in sequence.
19.) Remove intake and discard gasket.

Installation:
1.) Make sure you remove and clean all the old gasket off the head and intake.
2.) Install new intake gasket.
3.) Set intake in place making sure alignment is correct. Do not shift intake once lowered onto the gasket.
4.) Install intake bolts and tighten to torque spec in two phases and in sequence. First phase is 89 in/lbs and second phase is 18 ft/lbs.
5.) Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.

Hope this helps.

Attachment 14921

knock sensor
 

Hey thanks for the step by step info. Just one last question. Instead of doing this extensive work just to change the sensor could I just unplug the old one and relocate the sensor some where else. In the front ofd the motor in the V under the intake there are a few bolt holes that are empty that I was wondering if I could use them.

Thanks again for all the help.

Some people have said all they had to do was remove the alternator to get to the knock sensor, not sure if that's possible on your truck.

I can't even see it or feel it so I'm not sure if that would work.

Knock Sensor relocation
 

A rat chewed the wire for the original knock sensor. Rather than removing the intake manifold to replace the sensor, I mounted the knock sensor to a free hole in the rh cyl head at the rear. Runs perfect with no errors. '99 v10 f53 motorhome.

I have a 03 v10 and I was able to access the knock sensor by just removing the alternator, it's in the center of the valley and on my truck was buried with acorns and pine nuts (Thanks squirrels.) The only thing that was tough was fishing the harness back through the intake in the rear to reconnected it, but it is possible.

Hey Jeff,. I realize this is an old post (2015?). Just wondering if you have any update on the knock sensor repair on your '99 F53 motorhome. We also have a '99 motorhome on the F53 chassis with Ford V10 engine. We are having a lot of engine pinging and seems to be getting worse. Thinking of replacing the knock sensor first....

can a knock sensor 1 make my 2001 f150? 5.4L misfire cylinder 2? Looking at knock sensor on data stream the knock sensor value is 16 but goes up and down is that to high?

You shouldn't get a misfire because of a knock sensor detecting knock. Please create a new thread and describe your issue. You might want to make that thread in the 5.4L forum.