ROM Performance KnockAlarm
Engine Knock / Detonation Detector - LED Visual Alarm Display
If you run a standard turbocharged or performance modified car it's always good to know how well your car is running generally, especially during those times you want to explore and exploit some of that turbocharged performance.
Why?
It's during those times when you're putting your engine under high loading that makes it's prone to the No.1 engine killer of highly stressed engines - Pre-ignition!! You may also know this as Knock, Pinking or Detonation.
You don't have to be running at high engine revs on a wide open throttle to experience pre-ignition, this can happen at low revs with high loads too. There are a number of reasons for pre-ignition ranging from poor fuel or high air intake / ambient temperatures to faulty components, a bad tune-up / remap, or just too much boost.
The possible outcomes from Pre-ignition are ultimately bottom end issues which will always be expensive to fix. Repairs to damaged bearings / crankshaft, bent connection rods or melted pistons are not cheap to repair. I've yet to come across a good quality engine rebuild cositing less than £4000-£5000 and more often a lot more if you use very high end components.
There are a couple of ways to avoid these issues. In a modern car the factory ECU will usually try and remedy pre-ignition issues by retarding ignition timing and adding fuel if it gets that bad, but it's still no guarantee it won't be fatal. Some well known aftermarket ECU's although they can detect Pre-ignition they can't control the issue like a factory ECU does so there's even more scope for castastrophic failure and expensive engine damage, even on well remapped ECU's it still happens. Severe Pre-ignition will test the most well built engines and generally ends up highlighting and exploioting any weak spots in the engine's build use of poor quality components.
Another way of protecting yourself is to know when it's happening while it's happening however small the amount of pre-ignition might be. A little bit of pre-ignition early on at low revs may well be a good indicator of something far more sinister when you start pushing on, running higher revs at greater engine loads.
This is where the ROM Performance KnockAlarm (Engine Detonation Detector for Turbocharged and normally aspirated engined cars) - LED Visual Alarm comes in.
This advanced warning device will visually alert you via a line of coloured LEDs to the presence Pre-ignition. It isn't affected by increased engine noise from the rising rate of engine revs because it's specifically tuned to the frequency at which pre-ignition occurs so the only warnings you will see are from currently occuring pre-ignition events. Additionally this system will neither affect nor be affected by any of your vehicles electrical/electronic systems because it is completely independent and just requires a 12v supply from your vehicle ignition system so it activates when you start your engine.
This is how it works:
If you're only seeing the first two Green LEDs flicker or lighting up that's great news....No Pre-ignition!!
If you start to see the next two Orange LEDs flicker and start to light up that's not such great news because you're seeing Pre-ignition that will start causing serious engine damage if left ignored, and that's not good news however, the good news is you are being alerted to it and it's time to ease off that throttle pedal quickly. Expensive problems avoided!!
If you've ignored the two orange LEDs and see the last Red LED start to flicker and come on it's likely your engine is suffering severe engine damage due to some very serious to catastrophic Pre-ignition events occuring. Don't even go there!!
All our KnockAlarms come with a 12mth guarantee and full fitting instructions. KnockAlarm is hand manufactured using high quality electronic components and materials found in many high end automotive electrical systems and every KnockAlarm is tested in-house before shipment.
You can mount the KnockAlarm conveniently using sticky pads widely available from any art/graphic or stationary shop. All we are selling is the KnockAlarm system.
For those of you wanting that custom look you can mount the LEDs in your dashboard clock surround or other area of your dash. For a small extra charge we can extend the LEDs on wires from the KnockAlarm giving you the flexibility to have that full custom look. Please contact us about this before purchasing.
Price Includes VAT
Disclaimer: Purchasing a KnockAlarm will not make you immune to engine damage. Knockalarm only provides an indication of potential damage occurring within your engine from Pre-ignition events and is not responsible for actual damage to your engine. There is no fooproof method to avoid internal engine damage from Pre-ignition therefore we will not be held responsible in any way whatsoever for actual damage occuring to your engine from Pre-ignition or any other events.