98 Q45 2 Errror Codes P0325 & P0301

[malagantt]

I'll try to make this short.

Got an engine check light and the car started to hestitate at about 40mph. Went to autozone got it hooked up to the troubleshooter. Got the 2 codes P0325 Cylinder misfire in cylinder #1. and P0301 Knock sensor condition.

I bring it to a local mechanic. He calls me today and tells me he pulled the #1 coil and the plug was covered in oil. Oil was leaking from the valve cover. and that my knock sensor is bad and wants to charge me $1400 bucks.

Why would my knock sensor be bad? Wouldn't a cylinder misfire also cause the knock sensor condition?

Am i being ripped off?

[qship96]

Knock sensors {2 of them} fail on EVERY q45, usually last 7-9 years- parts are about $250, labor is what gets you.

Cylinder misfire commonly on your year Q is due to a faulty coilpack for the sparkplugs

All q45 sooner or later develop leaking valve cover gaskets which can drip on exhaust headers and also fill the wells where the sparkplugs are located, again lots of labor{5-7 hours worth}

Plan on having valve covers resealed,knock sensors replaced, and probobly replacing at least 1 coilpack....will be close to $2000 whe all is complete{change all plugs while in there, replace any worn hoses,etc}

[malagantt]

so one of my knock sensor decided to go bad at the exact same time a cylinder misfired?

does the knock sensor need to be replaced? what does it do?

Valve covers and plugs and coils I can do myself.

[maxnix]

It keeps your timing from becoming retarded and performance declining.

You replace both and the harness (OEM from Joe or NTK from http://www.sparkplugs.com) and curse your self for not doing it the last time you were under the plenum.

[Q45tech]

Knock sensors are critical to squeezing out the Nth degree of MPG on the highway as the KS system is constantly advancing the timing and fine tuning the engine on the ragged edge of knock when MPG is best.

A single dead or quiet KS will cause the KS system to dial back peak advance by 3-5 degrees and much more [up to 15] when you accelerate to protect engine.