Car Not Starting | How to Reset Crankshaft Position Sensor 

Once a new crankshaft position sensor is installed, it has to be relearned or reset. Otherwise, your car may not start. Even if it does, you might face problems such as:

• Lags in acceleration
• Poor engine performance
• Failure to maintain cruise speed

There are two major ways in which the crankshaft position sensor can be reset. One of these methods requires a code scanner and is more reliable. However, the other one doesn’t require any extra tools. 

So, stay with us till the end, and you’ll learn how to reset the crankshaft position sensor no start. 

How to Reset the Crankshaft Position Sensor with a Scanner?

If you have a code scanner at your disposal, this will be the perfect method for you. In the following, we’ll describe this process step-by-step. 

Step 1: Set the Scanner Up

Start by connecting the scanner to the vehicle. Then, switch on the ignition, but don’t start the vehicle yet. 

Step 2: Follow Instructions Provided by the Scanner

Once the scanner turns on, you need to follow the instructions provided by the scanner. Select the brand, model, and make of your vehicle. In some cases, the scanner may ask for the VIN. Make sure to add that. 

Step 3: Let ECM Run

Now, you have to select the diagnosis option from the menu. Navigate to “Control Unit” and find “Power Train” under it. Now, select the “ECU” and let it run. 

Step 4: Choose Special Function

Now, select the “Special function” and let it run. If the crankshaft position sensor is not relearned, you’ll get the option “cam crank relearn”. Choose this option and wait for the process to finish.

Step 5: Start the Engine

Now, start the engine with the code scanner still attached. You need to check if the car engine’s temperature is under the recommended limit. You will be informed by the scanner of the required temperature limit. 

If the engine temperature is within the recommended range, then you’re done successfully resetting the crankshaft position sensor. 

How to Reset Crankshaft Position Sensor without a Scanner?

Now it’s the time to learn how you could reset crankshaft sensor without a scanner. So, let’s get right to it. 

Turn the Accessories Off

To start, you’ll need to disable all the accessories as well as the fuel system of your vehicle. We also recommend disabling the ignition wires from the ignition coil. 

Before you start resetting the sensor, we recommend checking the condition of it. 

If the sensor hasn’t been replaced of late, there’s a chance that it may be damaged. Even if the sensor isn’t, the harness or bracket might become faulty or damaged over time. 

In case of a faulty or damaged sensor, you’ll need to replace it first for it to work. However, if you find it in good shape, you can continue with the process. 

Accelerate

Once all the accessories are deactivated, it’s time to accelerate the vehicle. You need to accelerate the car up to 55 mph and maintain a steady cruise at this speed. 

You need to continue this for 5-6 minutes. After that, let your car hit 45 mph without hitting the brake. 

Rather, let it decelerate slowly. Once it does, maintain the lower speed for a minute. Then, accelerate up to 55 mph again. Repeat this four times in total.

So, why would you do it? This process is called the acceleration-deceleration cycle. It forces the ECU to forget the short-term memory so it could relearn the crankshaft position sensor. 

Apart from that, it fixes other problems such as fuel delivery issues, poor fuel economy, and other problems associated with the fuel delivery system of the engine. 

Related Post: Will A Bad Alternator Keep A Car From Starting?

Why You Should Consider Resetting the Crankshaft Position Sensor?

Resetting the CPS can be beneficial. Here are the reasons why you should consider resetting the crankshaft position sensor:

Fixes the “No Start” Problem

Resetting the crankshaft position sensor can fix the problem where your car fails to start. It mainly happens when the sensor fails to provide accurate readings to the computer of the engine. 

Fixes “Check Engine” Light

Any sort of problem with the engine triggers the “Check Engine” light. If the crankshaft position sensor isn’t reset or is faulty, it triggers the light as well. Resetting the sensor can fix this problem in most cases. 

If it doesn’t, then you’ll have to check if the sensor is faulty or not. Also, there may be issues with some other component that might be leading to this problem. 

Improved Gas Mileage

Even if your car starts and somehow manages to run with a faulty crankshaft position sensor, it’ll still be providing false readings to the computer. Ultimately, the efficiency of fuel consumption will reduce. 

So, resetting the sensor can improve the fuel consumption rate and improve gas mileage. 

Fixes Acceleration Problems

A faulty sensor will lead to acceleration problems. With a simple reset, you can fix this problem.

Related Post: Can A Bad Crankshaft Sensor Cause No Start?

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

How can I find out if the crankshaft position sensor requires resetting?

If your car fails to start at all or performs poorly, then you should consider resetting the crankshaft position sensor. 

How to get the best performance out of the crankshaft position sensor?

The best way to get max performance of your crankshaft position sensor would be to perform regular maintenance of the sensor. 

Why is the vehicle not starting after crankshaft position sensor replacement?

Your car may fail to start after CPS replacement because the sensor isn’t relearned or reset. 

Conclusion

A crankshaft position sensor that’s faulty can send the wrong inputs to your computer, which can jeopardize the entire system. 

But after learning how to reset the crankshaft position sensor with no start, hopefully, you’ll be able to fix this problem easily. 

As you can see, there are two ways you can do this. We recommend using a code scanner as that’s way more reliable than the acceleration-deceleration cycle. 

However, if you can’t get your hands on a scanner, you can go for the second method too. 

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