[03Element03]

So basically I've done a bit of a DIY somewhat ghetto intake recently, where I got a Spectre filter from AutoZone and fitted it over the stock rubber intake tube with a metal pipe inside of it to keep it sturdy and give me something to tighten down on. I know this doesn't give any performance upgrade but honestly I just like how it sounds.
Immediately after installing it I got a CEL and assumed it would just go away. About a month or so went by with me dealing with the light and I got tired of it. So I reset the light by pulling the fuse out for a few seconds put it back in and drove around. The light came back on and I started noticing some lack of throttle response which got me worrying. I have had a friend with a scanner scan the CEL and the code was P0325 which is for a faulty knock sensor/mechanism.
Upon doing research it seems as though that code can also come up if the knock sensor is actually detecting a knock? And listening to my engine it doesn't sound that great. I don't believe its always sounded like this and it does seem to be 'pinging'. I cant hear it from inside the car though not even with high rpms. But outside of the car at idle you can hear it. I've tried to do a visual inspection for a vacuum leak, I have also cleaned my MAP sensor both yielding no results. I don't know as much as I would like to think I do about engines so I'm close to taking it to a mechanic to get his opinion. Figured I'd reach out last minute though.
TL;DR I changed my intake setup and got a P0325 CEL for a knock sensor. What could I have done to cause this/where should I look for issues, and is this something I should even attempt at home?

Thank you for reading and I'm sorry if I did anything poorly about this post, I haven't really posted on a forum like this before but I tried my best.

 

[03Element03]

Update

I just reset the CEL again and took it for a drive and monitored it more closeley. The light came on after ~12 miles while I was going 50 MPH with 2500 RPMS. I did not have any throttle response issues until the light came on.. which makes me think its not a vacuum leak so I'm even more lost. Also wanted to note my idle is not jumpy/high even though I'm having this issue.

 

[craigvr6]

A P0325 code is fairly common to happen on Honda motors and sometimes go unexplained. Knock Sensors listen for knock inside the motor they are very sensitive to sounds and sometimes pick up sounds that are not engine knock. Most Knock Sensors are actually piezoelectric crystals and those are extremely sensitive to pressures, sounds, and light.

Anyways, since you mentioned that you think you are having some pinging. That could cause a knock sensor fault if its loud enough. It is possible to have bad gas to cause a knock, especially if you bought gas at a discount gas station or a low volume backwoods gas station since most of those gas stations don't sell "Top Tier" Gas.

You could also have a loose connector on the knock sensor.

Here is a thread on this forum about the issue. Lots of potential issues and possible solutions.
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62789

 

[babock]

You of course got rid of the silly SRI and put it back stock right?

 

[03Element03]

You of course got rid of the silly SRI and put it back stock right?

I just put the intake back to stock and still having the issue. I'm not exactly sure whats wrong with it and there just seems to be too many things that could be causing it. Thinking I'm just going to take it to a shop on Monday.

 

[03Element03]

Issue found

So I got my Element back from my mechanic the other day and just wanted to update and say that it did just end up being the knock sensor. But I didn't bother taking it out and testing everything before bringing it because it seemed like they rarely broke/the code could come up for a number of things/I got the CEL right after I changed something in my engine. So I lost $50 on labor. Might honestly go back to the old intake setup as I've seen someone else do it with no issues. Unless there is some way that could cause the knock sensor to break that I am unaware of? Will do some research of my own beforehand to make sure. I'm just a big fan of the loud noises lol.