P1332

What it means

On Volkswagen, P1332 means the engine control unit has reduced ignition timing on cylinder 8 as far as it is allowed because of knock, and it still detects knock. The knock control limit for that cylinder has been reached. This only applies to V8 engines, and the ECU sets it after repeated knock events on that cylinder despite maximum timing retard.

Symptoms

• Engine warning light on
• Reduced power and flat acceleration
• Pinking or knocking noise under load
• Rough running or misfire-like hesitation
• Poorer fuel economy

Possible causes

• Poor quality or low octane fuel, or contaminated fuellikely
• Heavy carbon deposits in cylinder 8 causing hot spots and pre-ignitionpossible
• Faulty or loose knock sensor, or damaged knock sensor wiring or connector for that banklikely
• Worn or incorrect spark plug, or weak ignition coil on cylinder 8possible
• Lean mixture on cylinder 8 from a fuel injector fault or an air leakpossible
• Engine noise mistaken for knock, such as piston slap, bearing wear or a loose component near cylinder 8rare
• Outdated engine control unit software calibration, where a manufacturer update exists for the enginerare

How to diagnose

1. Read all stored fault codes and freeze frame data, noting load, rpm and temperature when it set, and check for other knock, misfire or fuel trim codes.
2. Ask about the fuel used recently and consider whether a poor or low octane fill-up preceded the fault.
3. Inspect the knock sensor wiring, connectors and mounting torque for the affected bank, looking for chafing, oil contamination or corrosion. Sensor location depends on the engine.
4. Check live data for knock retard on each cylinder and compare cylinder 8 with the others under load.
5. Inspect the spark plugs and ignition coil on cylinder 8 and compare with neighbouring cylinders, swapping coils to see if the fault follows.
6. Check fuel trims and look for intake air leaks and injector problems affecting cylinder 8, including injector balance or flow tests.
7. Listen for mechanical noise with a stethoscope and consider a borescope inspection for carbon build-up or damage in cylinder 8.
8. Check whether a software update applies to the engine and vehicle, following the manufacturer's information.

How to fix

• Drain and replace poor fuel with the correct grade of fuel.
• Repair or replace damaged knock sensor wiring or connectors, or replace the knock sensor, tightening to the specified torque.
• Replace worn spark plugs or a failing ignition coil on cylinder 8 with the correct specification parts.
• Repair intake leaks or replace or clean a faulty injector causing a lean condition.
• Remove carbon deposits using a method approved for the engine, and repair any mechanical fault found.
• Update the engine control unit calibration only if an applicable manufacturer update addresses this fault.

Can I keep driving?

This code for other makes

• P1332BMWKnock Sensor 4 Low Input

Nearby codes

• P1331VolkswagenCylinder 7 Knock Control Limit Attained
• P1335VolkswagenEngine Torque Monitoring 2 Control Limit Exceeded