Parts for your 2019 Toyota Land cruiser-Knock sensor

2019 Toyota LandCruiser knock sensor: is it actually a thing?

Short answer: for Australia and New Zealand, a knock sensor isn’t relevant on the 2019 LandCruiser 200 Series. Local vehicles run the 1VD‑FTV 4.5‑litre V8 twin‑turbo diesel, and that engine doesn’t use a conventional knock sensor. Overseas petrol versions of the 2019 Land Cruiser (with the 3UR‑FE 5.7‑litre V8) do have two knock sensors, but that setup doesn’t apply to the AU/NZ diesel models.

That call isn’t guesswork. It comes from factory documentation and catalogues that spell out what’s fitted to each engine family.

• Toyota Repair Manual for the 1VD‑FTV (LC200) Engine Control System lists the diesel’s input sensors (crank and cam position, MAF, MAP/boost, intake air and coolant temp, rail pressure, accelerator position, EGR and others) and does not include a knock sensor.
• Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for VDJ200 (1VD‑FTV) shows no “Sensor, Knock” under the engine/fuel group, while the URJ200 (3UR‑FE petrol) listing shows two knock sensors and a sub‑harness beneath the intake manifold.
• The 3UR‑FE repair manual (used in markets like North America and the Middle East) documents knock‑sensor monitoring and related DTCs (e.g., P0327/P0332), along with their valley‑mounted locations. This content doesn’t appear in the 1VD‑FTV diesel manual.

Why the difference? Knock sensors are there to detect “spark knock” (detonation) in petrol engines so the ECU can trim ignition timing and keep things sweet on different fuels and loads. A modern common‑rail diesel like the 1VD‑FTV doesn’t use spark at all, it relies on controlled self‑ignition. The diesel ECU manages combustion noise and pressure rise via injection timing, pilot injections, rail pressure and turbo boost, using the existing sensor set. Because normal diesel combustion is inherently noisier, the classic piezo knock sensor for detonation control doesn’t add value here, so Toyota didn’t fit one on AU/NZ 2019 LandCruiser 200 diesels.

What does this mean for servicing? There’s no knock‑sensor item to replace or “maintain” on the local 1VD‑FTV. If there’s a rattle, ping or hesitation, the smart move is to check what actually matters on these engines:

• Fuel quality and water contamination (common‑rail systems are picky).
• Injector feedback/balance rates and pilot injection performance.
• Intake/boost leaks, clogged air filter, or dirty MAF.
• EGR fouling and soot build‑up affecting airflow.
• ECU calibration updates and stored fault codes.

If you’ve got an imported petrol 2019 Land Cruiser with the 3UR‑FE, that’s a different kettle of fish — it does run two knock sensors under the intake manifold, and diagnosing or replacing them is a manifold‑off job best handled with the correct Toyota repair procedures and torque specs.

FAQ: Does a 2019 Toyota LandCruiser 200 in Australia or New Zealand have a knock sensor?

No — the AU/NZ 2019 LandCruiser 200 uses the 1VD‑FTV V8 turbo‑diesel, which doesn’t employ a conventional knock sensor. The engine management relies on injection timing, rail pressure and boost control instead.

FAQ: Why do some guides say the 2019 Land Cruiser has two knock sensors?

They’re referring to the petrol 3UR‑FE V8 used in other markets. That engine runs two knock sensors in the “valley” beneath the intake manifold. It’s correct for those vehicles, but not for AU/NZ diesel models.

FAQ: How does the 1VD‑FTV manage combustion without a knock sensor?

By controlling injection strategy and monitoring the usual suspects: crank/cam timing, MAF, MAP/boost, coolant and intake temps, and common‑rail pressure. Pilot injections smooth the pressure rise, keeping combustion noise and harshness in check without a dedicated knock sensor.