HI All,

Got lots of pinging going on when I climb the hill going to my home. Thought maybe the knock sensor isn't working so checked the Haynes. It says a quick test is to smack the block with a hammer near the sensor and see if the timing changes.

Sounds like a pretty easy test - except - it doesn't tell me where the knock sensor is located other than it's in the cylinder block. Can anyone be a little more specific?

It's an '89 lariet with a 5.0 EFI and auto-tranny

Thanks

 

Should be backside of engine. Right next to the drivers side head, and above the tranny mounts.

 

there is no knock sensor on the early windsors. id go to the egr system to find your problem. maybe the valve isnt working or the ports are clogged.

 

Lightning, he said 5.0L/302.... They had 'em.

 

woops...whenever i think 302 i always think of mustangs...sorry!

 

Thanks - Will stick me head under the hood tomorrow and see if I can find it.

 

I also have 89 f150, with 302, 5.0, that has a problem with ping. I have replaced the plugs, wires, dist. cap., checked timing. Still no help, I was told by a mechanic that the problem may be a bad EGR valve. I am planing of changing it, if i can find it. I have not checked the knock sensor.

 

The knock sensor on your 89 is on the passenger side on the backside of the block. The upper plenum is keepin' it nice and hid. A mirror helps.

Randy

 

if your still looking for the EGR valve and you have an EFI plant like my 5.0 try this:

look in the middle of the front of the engine on top - there is a big black plastic cover that covers the throttle linkage. to the left and foward of this unit there is an upside down cupcake looking unit that has a metal tube coming out of the bottom that goes to the exhaust manifold. That cupcake looking thing is the EGR valve. There is also a unit plugged into the top of it that has a two wire connector. This is the EGR valve position sensor.

Hope this helps

 

Also check your your o sensor .A lean mixture can get you pinging to.

 

I have noticed that there is a strong odor to the exhaust lately. Could the pinging and smell be related?

 

On 5.0 EFI truck motors (old 302 firing order), pinging is usually attributed to spark cross-fire. Most troubleshooting manuals for this engine refer to this cross-fire as a usual suspect (check first).

Check the routing of the plug wires, to establish that #2 & #4 wire, or #7 & #8 wire are not against each other, and are separated as much as possible.

If that checks out, check initial timing advance, as most folks bump it to get more low end. Usually not a problem until you tow something, wear oversized tires, or the engine starts showing its age.

Check the free stuff first!

kyle1175243
90 Bronco 5.0
89 F-150 5.0
88 Mustang 5.0