KnockLink G4

[jondee86]

Anyone using the KnockLink G4 ?? Seems like a handy piece of kit
for not much money, but does it live up to the hype ??

Cheers... jondee86

[jondee86]

Anyone using any standalone knock detection on their engine ?

Cheers... jondee86

[Dell'Orto]

I think Lith has one? I'm surprised he hasn't commented.

[iOnic]

Got one in my MR2. Tbh it's of no real use unless you are in the habit of getting bad batches of fuel regularly or have a junk tune.

[jondee86]

Yeah... I guess that for $300 I could get a dyno tune, and have the
dyno guy listen with his fancy knockbox. I know that with my home
tune, I'm getting some minor det that I can't pick up by ear. My
thinking was that the Knocklink could pick that up, and I would know
where to back off the timing.

But for sure, once the car has a decent tune onboard, there would be
no further need for the Knocklink.

Cheers... jondee86

[Lith]

I think Lith has one? I'm surprised he hasn't commented.

I have been not forum whoring this weekend, funnily enough because I have been busily using my G4 KnockBlock up till today

The Knocklink is pretty sweet, though they can get a bit overexcited and flash for phantom knock - one of the cars I have been involved with is a Turbo Honda which runs one, and it would sense no knock whatsoever then would light up like a Christmas tree when VTEC engaged.... no matter what was happening with timing, fuelling etc.

That was a little annoying/worrying - I know the motor gets way noisier when VTEC engages and was totally sure there should be none (I was also using my KnockBlock when this happened) but nonetheless it was a little unnerving so resulted in a bit of exhaustive investigation to make sure there were no other signs or potential causes of knock, despite the fact that that much knock on boost would probably be noticeable - if not because the engine would have thrown its bits everywhere.

After discussing with Link, they suggested moving the knock sensor onto the intake manifold as things may have been too noisy where it was - which has since got rid of the flashing, but hopefully not for the wrong reasons.

Another guy I know is having similar issues with a STi, same kind of thing - timing isn't aggressive and he can't hear any knock through his headphones but the KnockLink is flashing the occasional time.... whether that means the KnockLink can be overly sensitive, or fantastically good for detecting knock that you might not is a call I'd not want to make for others.

At this stage I've used them as another opinion on how things are operating, not gospel but could be a useful thing to have around.

[Akane]

Does the knocklink uses it's own knock sensor, as there was a HUGE talk about the different size of the bore uses different types of knock sensors, more specific to the frequency range that knock will give out. This whole talk spawned from replacing the stock MR2 knock sensor (which blows up often according to the Amerikans) with the GM knock sensor (Which never blows up on the MR2).

[jondee86]

I'm running N.A. but with fairly aggressive timing. Somewhere down
the line I will get an STM tune. However, I don't want to do that until
I have finished messing around with cam settings, ram tubes, zorst
and intake ducting.

Link recommend a separate sensor for the Knocklink. I would use
the stock sensor for the reason given above. As I understand it, the
factory sensor is "tuned" for the engine, and therefore should give
a better result than a universal sensor.

Cheers... jondee86

[85AW20v]

My brother had one in his Starlet rally car with a 1300cc Suzuki twincam in it. The knocklink would flash occasionally through a stage but not during touring. We found a stone wedged between the sump and the sump guard at the same time as we found a broken engine mount. Fixed the engine mount and got rid of the stone and it stopped flashing.

So yes they do show up problems that might not be engine related.

[RedMist]

The old knocklinks used to be triggered by gravel rash on sumps or bash plates. I ended up ignoring mine as it would be triggered every time I picked up any amount of gravel.
I think the knockblock is considerably better tuned to specific knock noise than the older knocklink, but in all honesty I haven't tried one.

[Lith]

The old knocklinks used to be triggered by gravel rash on sumps or bash plates. I ended up ignoring mine as it would be triggered every time I picked up any amount of gravel.
I think the knockblock is considerably better tuned to specific knock noise than the older knocklink, but in all honesty I haven't tried one.

The G4 Knocklink is a different thing again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvewfsDxN54

[QikStarlie]

wouldn't bother with flashing lights. use headphone feature and listen is the best. and if you can hear knock without any detset/ listening device, its pretty bad knock

[RedMist]

The G4 Knocklink is a different thing again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvewfsDxN54

Thanks for the instruction. Didn't realize they had a new knocklink. Saying that I run a conservitive tune and have no need to display knock. (I do however record it, for some unknown reason).

[jondee86]

Thanks for the input. Reality check says the Knocklink is a tuning
tool, rather than an engine monitoring instrument like a pressure or
temperature gauge. So I think I will see if I can get the knock
readout from my ECU working properly, and then just set the timing
a degree or two below the knock threshold. Haven't got a headphone
output on the ECU... maybe next time

Cheers... jondee86

[Al]

This whole talk spawned from replacing the stock MR2 knock sensor (which blows up often according to the Amerikans) with the GM knock sensor (Which never blows up on the MR2).

That is because the motor goes first.

[QikStarlie]

Thanks for the input. Reality check says the Knocklink is a tuning
tool, rather than an engine monitoring instrument like a pressure or
temperature gauge. So I think I will see if I can get the knock
readout from my ECU working properly, and then just set the timing
a degree or two below the knock threshold. Haven't got a headphone
output on the ECU... maybe next time

Cheers... jondee86

fire me a pm if you want to discuss na 4age ignition maps, got a few you can look at