[Todd951968]

I've searched the forum and haven't found an answer to my problem. I have an early 92 6speed that started pinging while at part throttle, when the motor is under load. It also seems to ping for a second when I start out in first gear, up a hill (more load).



Quick facts:



-I run 93 octane

-Promax chip is installed

- plugs have 16k miles on them (have not looked at these yet but already have new ones on order)

-original fuel filter (67k miles) but have a new one on order just in case

-original wires

-car overheated, briefly, once about a year ago when water pump failed. Repaired pump and had

compressoin check done-everything normal but don't have exact numbers on compression.

-car seems to maintain full power

-pinging usually occurs in 3-5 gear, between 2,500-3,000 RPM, at part throttle when the engine us under

load (like cruising up a slight upgrade on the highway).

- No pinging under full throttle





Could this be from the Promax chip installed? Pinging didn't immediately after installation but sometime after (I haven't driven the car much in the last few months).



Knock sensors? From what I've read, this may be the issue. Can one somehow test them rather than buying new ones, first. If so, what are the steps?



I contacted Andrew, at Promax and he said its probably not the chip.



Any advice would be greatly appreciated.





Thanks!

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[flash]

i agree - it probably is not the chip



there are a few things that could be causing this:



excessive carbon build up is one - it would have to be bad - take a look at your plugs for signs - shine a light down to the piston top while it is at the top of its cycle too - it should be very evident



knock sensors being bad are another - do the blink test to see if the fault code pops up



water in the fuel can cause this - some ethanol added fuels can too



a much more rare thing could be the variocam stuck on advance - i'll have to think about the test for that, since it would probably be a hydraulic problem and pulling the connector won't help

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[Todd951968]

Flash,



Thanks, Can you please explain how to perform the blink test on the knock sensors?

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[Todd951968]

I'm a little embarrased to ask, but, how do you access the spark plugs? The wires connect to the end, which looks like its attached to the circular plug. Do you pry up the plug? I didn't want to force it.

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[Todd951968]

OK, I figured out how to pull the wires and access the plugs. I am posting picture sof the plugs, they look ok to me...greyish at the tips. There does seem to be some carbon on the plug body end, near where the tip starts.



Anyone have an opinion?

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