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Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: Shimy87 on August 18 2011, 03:14:51 PM

Title: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 18 2011, 03:14:51 PM
I want to install a knock alarm in the car. The wife is starting to drive it more and she is getting a bit of a heavy foot from the light. I KNOW she dosent look at the SM and wouldnt know knock if she heard it. Who sells a good one. I would like to get one I've seen before that is like a gauge with green,yellow,red lights and an audible alarm. I've been searching but cant find what I want. Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: SuperSix on August 18 2011, 03:53:18 PM
I want to install a knock alarm in the car. The wife is starting to drive it more and she is getting a bit of a heavy foot from the light. I KNOW she dosent look at the SM and wouldnt know knock if she heard it. Who sells a good one. I would like to get one I've seen before that is like a gauge with green,yellow,red lights and an audible alarm. I've been searching but cant find what I want. Any help would be appreciated.

I would look for a valet option for the chip, or turn the boost down.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Steve Wood on August 18 2011, 04:20:30 PM
I don't consider the ones with lights very true to the knock being occurred...I prefer an audible alarm also...one has to remember that they work off the raw data and they may scream knock when the ecm does not see it...Caspers may be the only vendor with them these days...I agree, turn the boost down a few pounds for the best insurance
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 18 2011, 04:27:48 PM
I can only find the lighted one at Caspers, I dont think it has an audible alarm? I have the wastegate set at the lowest position ( no tension to slip over arm) and it pushes 15 LBS. I cant lower it. I dont expect issue's as there isnt a problem now, but again, stuff happens, and she wouldnt have a clue to lift.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: SuperSix on August 18 2011, 05:11:29 PM
If you have knock at 15psi - no one should be driving it. :)

http://www.casperselectronics.com/store2/product_info.php?products_id=599 (http://www.casperselectronics.com/store2/product_info.php?products_id=599)
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 18 2011, 05:22:15 PM
Thanks for the link, that is what I was looking for!
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Steve Wood on August 18 2011, 06:08:02 PM
educate her
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Charlief1 on August 18 2011, 10:19:31 PM
I don't consider the ones with lights very true to the knock being occurred...I prefer an audible alarm also...one has to remember that they work off the raw data and they may scream knock when the ecm does not see it...Caspers may be the only vendor with them these days...I agree, turn the boost down a few pounds for the best insurance.

MSD makes one but you have to add another sensor to the engine. Don't know if it's audable or not but they do have them.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 19 2011, 10:36:26 AM
educate her

Steve, are you married???? Just kidding. That does sound like the obvious answer, but in reality it would be much less painful and probably cheaper to just spend the $50 for the alarm and tell her to let off if she ever hears it.

Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: SuperSix on August 19 2011, 10:44:14 AM
I'm still curious why you have any knock if you have it set to max at 15psi
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Steve Wood on August 19 2011, 11:01:08 AM
he does not have knock at the present, but, had an ongoing issue sometime ago which was resolved.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 19 2011, 11:01:38 AM
I dont have knock now, well 1-2 at the 1st to 2nd shift but thats probably false. But stuff happens, loss of fuel pressure, or the solenoid going bad again, or any number of things, and if I'm driving it I watch the SM, probably to the point of obsession, and I know that she dosent. So $50 for an alarm is pretty cheap peace of mind for me when she is driving it. Plus as cash permits I want to add alky and start turning up the boost, and I dont want to have to make adjustments for her driving it and then me driving it so with an alarm she will always lift before pieces start flying.....hop efully!
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: SuperSix on August 19 2011, 12:05:34 PM
Better yet, buy her a TR!!!
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 21 2011, 11:07:27 PM
I have an alarm on the way. I'm nervous about messing with the wires to the computer, my automotive electrical skills are limited. Any tips or tricks to this job? Also would the blue quick connector type connectors be okay to use?
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Steve Wood on August 21 2011, 11:12:45 PM
I don't like them, but, they usually work
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: SuperSix on August 21 2011, 11:54:30 PM
It's not too hard to put in a tap without using the blue 3M connectors. I don't care for them either, and don't use them.

This is how I do it:
Separate the wire you want to tap into. LIGHTLY heat a small section with a lighter (the goal here is to soften the insulation, not melt it), and use our fingernails (quickly, it's obviously hot) and gently break/slide about 1/4" of insulation, exposing the wire.

Remove about 3/8" of insulation from the end of the wire you want to attach and tightly wind it around the exposed wire you just exposed. For best results, you should solder it. It should work fine either way. Wrap the connection in electrical tape, and you are done.

Practice on some spare wire.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: $1987 GN$ on August 22 2011, 12:37:02 AM
Or just get these as you should have them anyway.

AJ___
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Shimy87 on August 25 2011, 04:08:35 PM
Got it installed last night, and tested out fine. What degree of knock sets it off. I took a test spin and watching the SM got about 1.2 degrees while passing before it downshifted... .no alarm. Just wondered how much knock before it sounds??

Thanks!
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Steve Wood on August 25 2011, 05:13:26 PM
I don't know that I have ever seen an answer to this.  John's write up says it begins to chirp at moderate knock and goes to a solid tone at severe knock.  I guess someone needs to ask him.  I would guess that it starts around 3.0 degs..but that is what it is, a guess.

The only problem with that is 3 degs at 16 psi is not much.  Three degs at 25 psi is more than I would like to see.
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: Steve Wood on August 25 2011, 05:21:41 PM
I sent him a note.  We will see what he says, if anything :)
Title: Re: Knock alarm
Post by: daveismissing on August 25 2011, 06:17:53 PM
I would expect it to start at the same increments as the visual unit. Will be interested in the answer.
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