P0332 - Potential Fire Hazard!

Hey folks - Just wanted to give an important update on my run-in with the P0332 (knock sensor ) issue - this code can be tied to a major system fuel leak on the motor that drips on the exhaust!
I created a thread back on Feb 5- https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/po332-after-frame-replacement.706781/
I didn't get any response (boo) and I drove the truck a couple times after- the code was persistent and then on my last drive it disappeared. So I thought maybe it was gone for good! Just at the end of my drive I pulled into my long driveway and could smell a hint of gas. By the time I got to the end of my driveway I could taste it, so strong! I immediately turned the truck off and noticed a lot of fuel pouring out of the back top right of the motor. Upon a little more looking after the motor cooled off I could see the return fuel rail connector wasn't seating properly. I could push the hose back into the connector but it wouldn't stay seated. The gas was spraying out of the fitting in a fine mist upwards and a big stream that was hitting the firewall and landing down on the drivers side manifold just behind the first Catalytic Convertor, one of the hottest spots on the exhaust! Somehow I managed not to burn the truck up! I had it towed back to the dealer where they fixed the connector- It's tucked under the plenum and difficult to service. Since then I have ran a couple tanks of gas and the P0332 hasn't returned. Technician advised the code likely caused by the leaking return line.

MORAL OF THE STORY - IF YOU GET A PO332 CODE, VERIFY THE RETURN FUEL RAIL CONNECTOR IS NOT LEAKING. IF IT IS LEAKING IT IS IN A VERY BAD PLACE AND CAN CAUSE A BAD FIRE, REPAIR IMMEDIATELY.

Hope this saves someone from losing their Taco!

 

Thanks for the update.
This very well could help someone in the future

 

Glad to hear you and your Tacoma survived that scare.

 

Yikes, glad it didn’t become worse. I wouldn’t call that trouble code a potential fire hazard, seems just a series of unfortunate events. Normally it would be a sensor or wire issue. Just so happens, your sensor failure was due to gas being poured on it. Did you notice worsening mpg?

 

Glad you got it fixed and everything worked out. Like 6 gearT444E stated, that code usually is just the knock sensor or faulty wiring. Surprised you didn't have any drivability issues with that code.

 

I had the truck back from the frame replacement for 10 days before the knock sensor code started popping up. During that time I towed a 7x14 double axle enclosed trailer with 2 snowmobiles for a 200 mile round trip. Luckily the hose didn't come off then! Other than when the check engine light came on and then the fuel leak I didn't have any issues. I didn't tow with the truck with that code as I read that the engine wouldn't be good on the highway as it would be in some kind of limp mode. But it seemed to drive fine not towing anything with the light on. Toyota mechanic believes the knock code was related in that the engine was partially starving, leaning and causing the knock to actually happen. I'm assuming the ECU tried to compensate as much as it could b4 assuming the knock data was false and triggered the code.

 

It will not go into limp mode, but will attempt to suppress the knock by delaying ignition timing. In the case of your DTC, a low voltage for more than 1 second will be diagnosed as a sensor failure rather than an engine knock

 

Thanks 6 gearT444E! Yeah so maybe it was getting a bath in Fuel and grounding out? Regardless the code and the leak appear to be related.