Hi all,
Just fitted a KS3 to my 96STI fully forged 2L with Mahle pistons. Iv fitted the sensor in the block near cyl 2. I don't have a clue what settings to use, but I took it for a hard drive after fitting to see what readings I get. Normal driving 10 to 20, moderate boost 20 to 30, but when I gave it max boost at high revs it peaked at 56. Is this too high, have I got a problem? What settings should I be using?
Thanks, Richard.

 

I fitted mine to the rear of the block under the intercooler just behind the standard knock sensor i'm running a my05 wrx and settings are 6 or 6.5 khz
As the calculator on their website said 6.2 khz when using 92.5mm pistons i only see a max of 13-15 on full bore and nothing when cruising my alert is set to 20 . Make sure all the connections are good as the supplied connections aren't upto much and i ended up replacing them with some i got from work ,bad connections can give false readings!!

 

The KS3 will only pick up on actual knock[DET] unlike the original knock sensor which picks up on all the noises including clutch/gearbox etc,not very accurate which is why I bought a KS3.
I'd say like above look at all the connections and set it to above then retry.

 

Connectors seem ok done a resistance check whilst pulling on the wires & constant resistance. I'm running about 440 BHP & max boost is 1.9 bar, my Simtec CEL light has never flashed for det, but I'm starting to feel a bit paranoid. The KS3 paperwork states that 80 is the level det is achieved but how accurate is that & at 56 I'm not far off that. Other people state their readings are much lower than mine , have I got my settings wring or do I have a problem.

 

If it is set to above then either you have an issue with the KS3 or your running near the thresh hold of DET Richard

 

Also, be aware that even a KS3 is measuring noise all the time, whereas your Simtek (AlcaTek) is only listening, to each cylinder specifically, for the time period that det can actually occur. So, a noisy engine can still fool even a KS3.

But, as Ryan says, check installation first.

 

Good advice Tim and see you soon mate

 

OK, Iv changed the frequency to 6 now & lowered the gain by 1. I'll try it tomorrow & post how it goes. I don't think I'm getting det as my CEL hasn't flashed but I'm worried I'm close to it. I'm thinking my sensor position may be a factor as although above cyl 2 under the inlet where the AC pump was looks really good, it's towards the front of the engine & may pick up noise from the PS pump, alternator & drive belts etc. I hope it's not det, Iv only recently had a remap so I'm not sure where to go with this now, wish I hadn't bought the bloody thing, ignorance is bliss & all that.

 

Couldn't agree more Richard,as good as these's gauges look and perform it can take the pleasure out of driving the car with worrying about this that and the other and that go's for most gauges imho

 

I'm sure it's great if you put some bad fuel in or if something suddenly goes wrong it may save your engine, but right now this is giving me a big headache & making me really paranoid. I hope I get better readings tomorrow.

 

I have sold my defi's/KS3 to buy a Toucan with the sensor package/wide band lambda so it's all in one package and any low readings will simply bring a warning up on the screen and let me know what reading caused it.
I just found I was spending more time watching the gauges and worrying about the readings than actually enjoying what I had spent a lot of money/time building.

 

Only thing I might check is when the Simtek (Alkatek) has been set to flash the CEL for knock...often it's at 5 degrees retard, but if it's been set to more than that I might be a bit concerned.

 

Thanks JT, is that 5 degrees off knock? My mapper is highly respected, & known for leaving everything slightly on the safe side. I don't think it's a mapping issue, nut I'm slightly concerned now.

 

I'm going to back pedal slightly... the 5 degrees is the amount of ignition timing removed as a result of knock; but that's only on the upgraded/AlcaTek versions of the (original) Simtek ecu.

If it's still running original firmware, it is still very good at detecting knock but I now can't remember what parameter causes the CEL to flash. Basically, that it has detected high levels of knock, but I can't remember what "high levels" is quantatively...sorry.

Ask your mapper to be 100% sure

 

Im a bit confused on the KS3 setting up, if i have a standard engine a set the frequency as recomended basing it on piston size, if i have a forged engine with the same piston size, will the forge engine not be naturally a noisier engine and therefore show knock when there is none?

 

I'm confused too, the instructions with this thing are crap & info on the web site is a joke. Where are people getting settings from piston size? I can't find the info.
As stated how can a forged build have the same levels as a standard engine & surely a heavily tuned motor running 2 bar of boost is going to give different levels to a standard motor. In reality I don't think this is any better than a knock link & loads more cash.

 

Agree'd the info supplied is not the best as is the connections that were giving, they were very poor and gave bad results until a fitted my own connections and wiring that are precrimped at factory just a case of connecting to the loom via crimps then it settled down abit. My gain is at -6 i think which was 1 off the factory reset settings . But think this is designed not to be a Diy fit/set up but a garage install so possible reason for lack of instructions. heres the link for the frequency calculator :
http://www.phormula.co.uk/KnockCalculator.aspx

 

OK Iv changed the settings & this morning it stayed below 10 at low to medium boost. I'll take it to max boost in the next day or two & post my findings, I'm hoping it was a settings issue, fingers crossed.

 

Good news Richard,keep us posted...

 

Is that true of 'original' Simtek?

Or is it only for the new AlcaTek (and old Simtek upgraded to AlcaTek)?

 

I'm double checking with the main man before I answer incorrectly

 

Cheers lol

 

Surely the best way forward is for your mapper to setup the KS3? I have one waiting to go on and was planning on leaving it for the mapper to sort out.

 

Get someone to watch the ks3 while you are driving.
If it gradually increases to 56 in relation to rpm, then it is noise.
If it runs at say 20 then jumps to 56 then it's det.

Det can occur anywhere, but the 'HOT' zone is normally at peak torque and around 4,500 to 5,200rpm.

The level recorded is also proportional to the gain setting of the KS3, so 56 could be high if the gain was set to 7, but pretty normal if set to 20.

 

OK, went for a hard drive today much better readings, mostly peaking at about 30 under hard acceleration at high boost. The highest I got it to was 43 at max boost & near the red line. Iv now set the alarm to 45 the frequency to 6 & the gain to 6. I'm happier now but I'm going to get a mate to film it on his phone to check for any sudden jumps which may be det.

 

It is true of new AlcaTek (and old Simtek upgraded to AlcaTek) ECUs since serial number 70

 

I had my 'old' Simtek supplied new, fitted and mapped in the beginning of Sep 2011 - is it likely to be a "70>" series then?

 

Yep - serial number 70 was probably over 4 years ago

 

"Tha's tha squ'iare!"