P0328 Check Engine Light every time it rains

[MrJulian]

My 2012 Sonic throws a Check Engine Light every time it rains and the code is P0328 (knock sensor code). The Check Engine Light eventually goes away on its own (after the rain ends and the car dries).

I’ve brought it to multiple shops only to have the knock sensor replaced 2 or 3 times. It might fix the problem for a few months, but it comes back.

Not sure if it impacts the fuel economy or what. I’ve just accepted it as a strange quirk of the car. This has been going on for 4 years.

I wanted to create a thread about this so it becomes searchable. Maybe one of you might even have a solution to make the Check Engine Light stay off for good?

 

[92dakota]

your not alone with electrical gremlins..lol although not the knock sensor, parents 2015 base has issue with headlights/dashlights/stereo not turning on/randomly turning off dealer is well aware and has been trying since it was purchased for electrical gremlins, but like everything, unless its doing it when comes in, they cant figure it out..

if you want the light to stay off for good... black tape/paint .. works great did this with my 2003 dakota... no codes tho, no issues nothing but light would stay on.. was hilarious..

on a more serious note, check electrical, no damage or chafing in the harness i have found that issue before also grounds ect.. make sure water not getting into the connector, dielectric grease all over/inside it , sometimes the code isn't the actual problem, just that the sensor isn't reading what another is saying.. (probably not the case with knock sensor but who knows)

 

[MrJulian]

Thanks for the tip. I noticed this first happening after running over a large puddle 4 years ago. Water and electronics obviously don’t mix, I know it’s moisture trapped somewhere and triggering the knock sensor (I never actually hear an engine knock).

It’s always an interesting situation when I have to pass the annual New York State Inspection. I basically have to time my car inspection around the weather forecast because the Check Engine Light is an automatic failure on the emissions test.