Well I got up under the car to change the knock sensor and I swear to god I barely touched the plastic bracket and it crumbled in my hand. Split in half so now there is nothing to hold the wire into the sensor.

Any recommendations? Being as GM put the thing in the best possible place, RIGHT up under the exhaust manifold, what can I even do about it in regards to heat resistant fixes?

/sigh

 

well unless they moved the location of the knock sensor from 87 to 89 it should be closer to the oil pan. the one by the exhaust manifold i believe is a temp sensor for your coolant with the same connection type, if thats the case mine did the same thing. best bet would be to go get a new one that is made with better plastic. no one carries them though so you would have to get one from a dealership. it was something like $19.52 so i went to the junk yard and ripped one off a old blazer and spliced it on. works good as new and for the total price of 3 bucks (2 to get in and 1 buck for the sensor) ill keep doing it if it breaks again.

 

Yeah, sounds like you're messing with a temp sensor, the knock sensor is within easy reach on the passenger side of the block. Which plastic crumbled, the plug or on the sensor? Whatever it is you're needing to fix, are there any prongs sticking out that you can solder the wire to? Otherwise, you're gonna need to replace it.

 

So do the knock and temp sensors look identical? I'll get a picture tonight.

 

No, they don't. The knock sensor is noticeably larger around. Go to www.rockauto.com and lookemup for comparison.

 

Yeah sorry not trying to be a pain in the *** I have a new knock sensor already and it looks exactly like the one I broke the bracket on. I'll get a picture tonight and post it. Maybe my perspective isn't that great because it looks exactly like the new knock sensor I have.

 

Maybe it was just your description then? You made it sound like it's tucked under the exhaust manifold, in the head where a temp. sensor would be. The knock sensor is lower, in the side of the block.

 

Nope found it. So the sensor I was describing is pretty much like the knock sensor only not as big around. I managed to find the knock sensor and no it is not easy to get to. Its up almost behind where the starter mounts and yes closer to the oil pan. Not looking "easy" to get to

Mystery solved though!

Although there is a bolt hole with nothing in it in the block

Here's the random hole and also the broken sensor a bit up and to the left:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...n/IMG_0354.jpg

And here's a bunny with a pancake on its head:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ny-pancake.gif

I've gotten it "fixed" for now. I had to do a temp fix to get it to its appointment tomorrow to fix the AC system

 

That mystery bolt hole is where a support bracket would go and connect to the end of the starter. A lot of times that "unnecessary" bracket gets left off when someone replaces the starter.
It's a good idea to have the bracket on there, to take stress off the starter mounting bolts, and to help keep the starter from swinging while under torque.

 

Would that missing bracket cause it to slip as well? The grinding noise starters sometimes make.