

Any time you’re investigating crank sensor issues, it’s critical to verify the CKP circuit. If the wires between the ECM and the CKP sensor are damaged, the ECM can’t recognize the signal. The CKP sensor works at a certain distance, accounting for the air gap from the reluctor ring, but captured metal shavings extend the magnetic field, closing the gap and leading to poor signal generation.įinally, faulty circuits can cause CKP sensor failure. Bent, broken or worn reluctor ring teeth can also generate a weak or unstable signal, which the ECM will be unable to analyze.Īlong the same lines, damaged metal parts can create debris in the form of metal filings or shavings, which the magnetic crankshaft position sensor can pick up. Even tiny fluctuations in thermal expansion, or vibrations themselves, can weaken and break the internal wiring and circuits in CKP sensors. Though built for this, most sensors eventually succumb to the ever-present heat and vibrations of the engine. There are a few things that can cause the crankshaft position sensor to fail, including damage, debris and faulty circuitry.Įven for modern electronics, the engine is a violent and destructive environment. As each tooth of the reluctor ring passes the sensor, it briefly dampens its magnetic field. There are many teeth on the reluctor ring, usually “missing” teeth corresponding to cylinder positions and cylinder number one’s top dead center (TDC).

This crankshaft position sensor mounts behind the harmonic balancer. Regardless of type, the CKP sensor is mounted near a toothed reluctor ring or reluctor wheel. Hall effect CKP sensors have a three- or four-wire circuit and transmit a digital signal.Inductive CKP sensors have one or two wires and generate an analog signal.Both sensors look similar, but function slightly differently: There are two crankshaft sensor types, hall effect and inductive, which generate a signal based on magnetic fields. Crankshaft sensor issues can cause a range of problems. If you have crankshaft sensor issues, the ECM can’t synchronize fuel injection, spark ignition (for gasoline engines) or control variable valve timing. Without the crank position signal, the engine control module (ECM) can’t detect where the cylinders are or how fast they’re moving. It’s also referred to as the engine speed sensor (ESS or RPM, for revolutions per minute). The crank position sensor (CKP) is perhaps the most important sensor in the modern engine.
