"Dual Knock Sensors?"

[DetGeno]

After reading few of the "favorable MM reviews" I can't help but notice some of the changes for 2004 models. Really there are two additions one is the Two Tone Dark Charcoal and Light Flint Leather Seats and the other is the "Dual knock Sensors" that suppose to provide more precise spark advance and a corresponding improvement in the engine's overall performance and "low-end acceleration". I guess this one is going to the Services Gurus'. Is this addition that we can upgrade to be installed on our 2003's MM? Is it costly? Or just impossible? Thx in advance!

[DetGeno]

Wow, after 3 days and no one can tackle this question! I guess I'll have to give Mercury a call to see what happens!

[warren]

Don't we already have dual knock sensors!!!
Dennis Reinhart, Logan or Brian - do you have some thoughts on this???

Thanks,
WarrenB.

[TripleTransAm]

Look like we only have one knock sensor. Not sure which side it's on (I *could* go down to the garage and look it up, but I gotta be up at 4:30 am... so... no).

I can see where having only one knock sensor would be restrictive... the sensor has to pick up on detonation or pinging across 2 entire banks of 4 cylinders, and as such has to be tuned to pick it all up. My guess is that once one cylinder pings or knocks, the sensor will report the event and the whole engine will suffer... or perhaps it can only "listen" to one side, and thus the PCM programming has to be held back, in case one side pings and the sensor can't pick it up.

Dual sensors are the way to go... I'm thinking the engine can be brought yet closer to the ragged edge of pinging without risk of damage. But the PCM has to be set up (wired, programmed, etc) to handle two separate sensor inputs, or at the very least be able to handle two sensors wired into the existing single input. That could mean a retrofit involving only the addition of wiring, some new PCM s/w, and the second sensor, or it could mean an entire retrofit of a 2004 PCM/harness/sensors combo. We'll only know once the 2004s are out, and if the 'retrofit' is made available.

I'm also curious as to how much more aggressive Dennis / Jerry could get with the tuning if they had the benefit of 2 knock sensors. I'm hoping Dennis can chime in with some feedback on this. I wouldn't mind going the whole 9 yards with a 2004 retrofit + more aggressive tuning, if it was the case.

[darebren]

This was discussed at the Trilogy Open House, the Ford representative said he would look to send out a notice to dealers on how to retrofit old MM's with the new dual knock sensors... anyone seen anything?

[DetGeno]

Sweet! Hopefully we will atleast have an option! Thx darbren!

[MapleLeafMerc]

I've asked my dealer the same thing and will post when I hear back from him.

[jgc61sr2002]

Sounds good. Keep us posted. Thanks

[MapleLeafMerc]

Originally posted by darebren
This was discussed at the Trilogy Open House, the Ford representative said he would look to send out a notice to dealers on how to retrofit old MM's with the new dual knock sensors... anyone seen anything?

darebren, can you tell us the name of that ford rep? I asked my dealer about this on Sep 17, and I think it might help him in his search for info if he had a name/dept, etc. to start with.

Thanks :)

[gonzo50]

Dual Knock Sensors, double the performance fun, sounds like a winner. I hope it can be available for the 2003 MM, (retrofit). :up:

[Dennis Reinhart]

I have looked into this, and it can be done but it will require the 04 EEC and associated wiring

[MapleLeafMerc]

Thanks a ton, Dennis! Do you have any shops or guys you know in the Toronto area or do you think Ford dealers will do it?

:banana:

Do you know what they're worth?

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by Dennis Reinhart
I have looked into this, and it can be done but it will require the 04 EEC and associated wiring

the whole '04 EEC? so it's more than just the knock sensor, related wiring, and programming?

[looking97233]

our cars do have two O2 sensors. One for each bank. When talking about the 04' and dual O2 sensors they mean four of them one on each side up and down stream of the cats. Dennis can correct me if I'm worng, but I think this is mainly to lower emmisions.

[TripleTransAm]

Looking97233, I think you've mixed the terms "knock" and "o2". Both 2003 and 2004 Marauders have 4 O2 sensors, 2 before the cats to feed mixture information to the computer, and 2 after the cats to monitor their efficiency. In fact, pretty much all if not definitely all of the OBD-II cars are equipped with before and after O2 sensors. (and since our Marauders have two distinct exhaust paths with exclusive cats, that means a total of 4 O2 sensors).