Quote:
Originally Posted by lordherald
This is where a basic repair class should come in handy. The knock sensor is looking at the exhaust to see if the mixture is correct (at least on my car). The computer uses this to adjust the fuel mixture and in some cars retard or advance the ignition.
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I think you're thinking of the O2 sensor. The knock sensor detects knocking and adjusts the timing as needed.
You don't need to be a certified mechanic to be able to work on your car or to help friends and family. With the internet, most problems can be diagnosed with basic tools and a general understanding of how cars work. You can even find walkthrough videos for some repairs on youtube. Even if you can't do the actual repair, a couple hours on Google can save you from getting screwed when you take it to a mechanic. Sometimes they like to throw parts at the problem instead of doing a good diagnosis, but you can prevent that if you already have an idea what could be wrong (either by letting them know where to look or to know when to refuse an unnecessary repair).