I was underneath the disco the other day changing the various fluids and I spotted a sensor in the side of the block, next to the starter, that appears to have a wire disconnected. See the pictures. I've searched through the RAVE a bit but couldn't figure out what this sensor was for. Anyone got any ideas?

 

looks like a knock sensor?

 

Knock Sensor.

A vehicle knock sensor is a sensor screwed into the engine's block or cylinder head. It is used to detect engine knock or detonation (there is a piezoelectric element inside the sensor). The signal from the knock sensor is sent to the PCM/ECM and that is used to control the engine's timing. Typically you'll have one knock sensor on each bank of the engine (two on V8 engines)

 

Thanks for the info. So a loose wire probably not the factory setting?

 

Here's what it should look like. From the RAVE electrical library. There is one on each side, and the ECU monitors them to adjust timing dynamically, the advance can be different for each cylinder all at the same time. This helps engine run better on that cheap gas you may encounter from time to time.

It will have a shielded cable, with black and shield tied together, plus a pink wire with black or or pink with white wire for the signal lead.

Note that engine in picture in manual has the underbody anti-corrosion system switched off for clarity.

 

the underbody anti-corrosion system on my truck hasnt worked in years

 

Mine is working last time I looked.

 

It does not appear that my Engine system has ever worked, but my Power Steering one just started to work recently. I converted it over to an Oil Slick mod (see image below).

 

oil slick system - first revealed as a mod to the the Aston Martin driven by James Bond in Goldfinger. I suspect it was copied from the original "secret" Rover system....
Rover has continued refinements including the automatic feature, Commander Bond had to use manual controls.

 

My Scangauge is giving me a fault code of p0332, which is a lean reading from the knock sensor. I'll reply if that code goes away after I fix the connection and clear the code.