Method for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle

A method for operating an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• operating an internal combustion engine that comprises:
• a first combustion chamber in which combustion processes take place during a fired operation of the first combustion chamber;
• a second combustion chamber, in which combustion processes take place during a fired operation of the second combustion chamber;
• a first knock sensor assigned to the first combustion chamber, by means of which irregular combustions in the first combustion chamber can be detected;
• and
• a second knock sensor assigned to the second combustion chamber, by means of which irregular combustions in the second combustion chamber can be detected;
• operating the internal combustion engine in a first operating state, in which:
• a channel switch is carried out, in which a knock control alternates between evaluating a first signal provided by the first knock sensor during a respective first time period and evaluating a second signal provided by the second knock sensor during a respective second time period;
• the knock control sets (an) ignition timing for the first combustion chamber depending on the evaluation of the first signal;
• and
• the knock control sets (an) ignition timing for the second combustion chamber depending on the evaluation of the second signal;
• and
• in response to determining that one of the knock sensors is inoperative and the other knock sensor is functional, switching from the first operating state to a second operating state, in which:
• the channel switch does not occur, and the knock control only evaluates the signal provided by the functional knock sensor;
• the knock control sets the ignition timing for the combustion chamber that is assigned to the functional knock sensor, depending on the evaluation of the signal provided by the functional knock sensor;
• and
• the knock control sets the ignition timing for the combustion chamber that is assigned to the non-functional knock sensor, depending on the evaluation of the signal provided by the functional knock sensor.