2004 G35 Sedan. Is there a trick to disconnecting the knock sensor harness at the back of the engine? Cannot get it separated from the connector. Looks like they just slip together, no clip, tab, etc. Don't want to put too much pressure on it for fear of breaking it. Anyone done this and can provide advice?

Thanks

 

It's just in a really shitty location, there's no trick to it. It's got a single small locking tab just like most of those connectors have. I like to use a very small flat blade precision screwdriver and sort of wedge it into the side with the locking tab.

 

Well, they couldn't make this much more difficult. Tried to put a small screwdriver in the loop on the tab and depress it while pushing. Broke the loop off. I give up, guess I will have to take it somewhere and see if they can get it apart. Is it OK to drive to a shop without a knock sensor connected?

 

If the loop is broken it should just pull apart, I would make sure to tie wrap it to something when you're doing so it can't accidentally come undone in the future.

Yes you can drive without the knock sensor plugged in, the ECM will not make any cam timing advances so it won't be as powerful in the high rpms but it will not cause any damage or anything.

I'm not sure why you're having so much of an issue with it though, there's plenty of room to do it it's just a little tight. You did remove the entire intake plenum and collector correct?

 

Also, you're not trying to remove the wire tensioner from the back of the harness or anything right? It's pretty self explanatory if you look at the new harness, you can see the tab on it that needs to be depressed.

 

I was trying to push down the tab on the black connector that the blue connector (above) fits into. That is the one I broke the loop on. The blue connector area you are highlighting above, on this car, is where the blue connector is mounted onto a metal bracket. I don't see a tab there. While I am doing this, I am on a creeper under the car reaching up to it. When I had the plenum and other parts off, I couldn't see the connector from up top.

 

I just had to do this and it's not a fun job at all. There is a 10mm bolt holding the bracket that retains the blue connector to the passenger side aluminum water jacket tube. I used a 10mm hand wrench to break it loose and then a 1/4 drive ratchet to get it completely out. Had to reach from underneath the car to disconnect it. Oh, it won't hurt to run with the knock sensor unhooked. It will just retard the timing 7-10 degrees and make it sluggish.

It must be a inside Infiniti joke when they decide where to put the knock sensors because the G20 knock sensors in 99' fail and they are just as fun to change

 

Yeah having the knock sensor disconnected just makes it so the cam actuators do not work and the ignition timing won't advance beyond the presets.