Hi everyone,
This is one of my first posts on this forum but I have been a member for a while and a lot of this information has been very helpful to me. However this one issue I am having I cant seem to find any answers for?
To begin, I have an 1997 r33 Series 2 that is completely stock besides a cat back. The previous owner put an atmospheric BOV which I had changed with haste to the stock one. It has been having crazy fuel consumption issues (getting 200-250kms to a full tank) and blowing a bit of smoke. It also lost power at high rpm when I booted the car, as if the car instantly lost boost and made a rapid fluttering noise out the exhaust. Since changing bits and pieces such as new PCV valve, new valve seals, compression test shows 135 across the board, new spark plugs gapped to 1.1mm and today, a replacement AFM. The smoke has almost completely disappeared and the fluttering noise had gone as well as fuel consumption has been much better (200kms to half a tank). This is where the problem has appeared.
I ran a diagnostic test using the paper clip method only a couple weeks ago and my ecu showed everythign was fine, (code 55). Since replacing the AFM however, I ran another check and the code 34 came up which is my knock sensors. The funny thing is I cant hear any pinging or knocking when im driving and if anything there is a slight noise which is barely audible near the turbo after a good drive when its idling (I dont know if this is considered knocking as I have never heard knocking before, kind of sounds like the heat shield is cooling down or osmething because the knock is very intermittent and doesnt sound at all like marbles in a tin can). I only hear this when the car is idling or on turbo timer and only if i open the bonnet.
When replacing my AFM I was a little pissed off cause my hands are too big and i couldnt reach the one stupid bolt connecting the stock air box which is under the solenoid without risking it falling into the engine bay somewhere so I ended up shoving it in as hard as I could and i suspect i could have accidentally damaged the wiring to the solenoid.
SO my question is, are there any other reasons as to why my ECU could be showing the fault code 34? Could it have been my roughness with the air box and fiddling around that somehow damaged the wiring on something (like the solenoid) that could have confused the ecu into thinking the knock sensors were effed? Or am I kidding myself and it actually is the knock sensor? Ive read that knock sensors need a good thrashing ot actually not work properly, So i dont see how mine all of a sudden "don't work"?
Any suggestions, advice or ideas would be appreciated!
Thanks for your time!