You probably would not hear the noise coming from the engine of your Toyota, but you have a magnificent device in your auto that senses it. This device is installed on the right side or the front of the engine block, about halfway between the pan and the head, towards the front or left side of the motor. It manages to send signals that vary from mild to severe to your vehicle computer to be able to identify engine problem and to regulate it before it causes disturbance. This device is the Toyota knock sensor.

The knock sensor consists of an electrical coil that wraps around two ceramic rods in which a magnet is sandwiched at the center. The coil pack is a magnetic field where current passes. The two ceramic rods directly receive vibrations from the cylinder valves that disturb the current passing through the magnetic field. These vibrations alter the reference level that is expected to reach the vehicle computer. When this is so, the computer analyzes if the signal is a characteristic of an engine knock.

Generally, engine knocks are categorized into two major levels, the mild and the severe. Mild knocks sound like pinging of bearing balls and vibrates like marbles are being poured, while severe knocks sound like someone is banging on the door with intensified vibrations. The engine greatly depends on the knock sensor to sense when this is happening. The sensor sends irregular signals to the vehicle computer, which will determine the characteristic of the said signals and retard the timing of compression between the air and fuel mixture until the signal returns to the reference level.

Mild knocks can adversely cause reduction of your vehicle power, wastage of fuel, and increased emissions. Severe knocks, however, will completely disable your engine from working. You definitely would not want any of this to happen to your high end Toyota engine, so you must administer proper maintenance to your knock sensor. But like your other vital auto parts, the Toyota knock sensor may also give in to wear and other forms of irregularities through time. It will be wise for you to get an aftermarket replacement from your auto parts partner, Parts Train.

Parts Train is your one-stop, total auto parts and accessories provider, regardless of your auto make and model. Here, you get the same quality and durability as your original Toyota knock sensor. For best results, make sure that you also get Toyota air filter, Toyota fuel filter, Toyota spark plugs, and Toyota spark plug wires which Parts Train also offers. Check us out now through our website or feel free to call us toll-free.