diagnostics show that my 96 es300 needs #2 knock sensor & a mass air flow sensor. does anyone know where they are located and how hard it is to replace?
best place to buy?

is there anyway to bypass for inspection purposes?

james in texas

 

Clean the MAF with a q-tip dipped into rubbing alcohol & reset the ECU. If it continues to show up - replace the MAF. (MAF's are low failure rate items, I'd hit TAPRecycling.net for a used v6 Camry/ES before I'd shell out for a new one.)


The knock sensor's are located under the intake manifold. The *real* intake manifold, I.E. the lower one.

Upper Intake Air Chamber:


Intake Manifold:



Here is a collection of old pictures. You can see the knock sensors, one for each bank of cylinders.













It's not difficult, in fact there is ALOT of good maintenance you can do while you are check/fix/replacing knock sensors! It's a good bit of work for someone that has never taken the upper manifold off before, but nothing about the process is difficult.

The FSM's (which are online at abunch of places) can easily walk you through it - so can a Haynes manual.







The good news, is that 90% of the time, the knock sensor<s> are fine. It's the wiring that has taken a ****. (Generally the harness!) So some wire stripping / a little soldiering & that's it.

The knock sensors are easy to test. It's nothing mroe than continuity. If there is continuity between the knock sensor terminal & ground (The body of the KS/engine block). The sensor is D-E-D dead!

 

thx for the quick reply....will take your advise--step by step. it was good the first time w/the crankshaft pulley dilemma! looks like i'll be investing in that haynes manual after all.