Replacing knock sensors and have ?'s

[smoothdime]

i fixed my plugged heater core and so of course there is coolant on the engine. so i sprayed it off and now 2 days later the common P0332 knock sensor code comes on. i purchased 2 new GM sensors and the harness. my question is am i actually sealing the boots around the sensor to the valley cover or am do i just build a half moon dam with silicone to channel water around the sensor. would there be any negatives if i did both. the truck has 158K on the clock. besides intake gaskets is there anything else i should replace while im in there. thanks gary

[RedHeartbeat]

Either way should work. I seal the front half of the boot when I do them and I duct tape the wires down to the cover.

[PEARL JAM]

Ive always silicone sealed the boots completely after cleaning any moisture/dirt out of the sensor holes. Done a number of them this way with no comebacks.

[smoothdime]

Red whats the benifit of taping the wires down? does it prevent the wires from moving and loosening the boots? thanks gary

[RedHeartbeat]

I do it for piece of mind, no motion on the wires means you won't develope a short at the bends.

[GasGuzzler]

Just make the dam to redirect the water. If you seal them up they can still rust because they cannot breath.

[GMCtrk]

Just make the dam to redirect the water. If you seal them up they can still rust because they cannot breath.

Mine were rusted stock, with no sealer. I sealed my new sensors and harness completely up with high temp RTV.

[smoothdime]

thats how i did mine as well. i figured the factory setup let water and gunk in why not seal it completely. thanks for all your help guys. finished it today with no issues. now i just need to fix my whinning power steering pump. gary

[WARLOCK]

Lucas power steering additive. Works great

[smoothdime]

thats pretty much all thats in it. its just a whiny bastard! the colder it get the louder it is. im just to lazy right now to take it off and have it warranted.