{"id":1883,"date":"2023-10-09T15:30:45","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T15:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/?p=1883"},"modified":"2023-11-01T10:59:56","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T10:59:56","slug":"bad-crankshaft-position-sensor-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/bad-crankshaft-position-sensor-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor Symptoms \u2013 All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The crankshaft position sensor is a significant part of a vehicle&#8217;s engine management system. It provides the ECU with information regarding the rotational position &amp; speed of the crankshaft.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several<strong> bad crankshaft position sensor symptoms <\/strong>out there, but they primarily revolve around the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Engine related issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>System Malfunctions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Problems with fuel economy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bad-Crankshaft-Position-Sensor-Symptoms-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor Symptoms\" class=\"wp-image-2114\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bad-Crankshaft-Position-Sensor-Symptoms-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bad-Crankshaft-Position-Sensor-Symptoms-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bad-Crankshaft-Position-Sensor-Symptoms-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bad-Crankshaft-Position-Sensor-Symptoms.webp 1244w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs of Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s learn about the symptoms quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Problem to Start<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the first signs of a bad crankshaft position sensor is having difficulty starting the engine.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the sensors calculate the crankshaft position and its speed, the ECU won&#8217;t be getting the proper data which will allow the car to have problems starting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When this happens, you can already guess that there is some sort of issue with the engine components. And most of the time, it is a faulty crankshaft position sensor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engine Stalling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Engine stalling occurs when the sensors have trouble sending signals or if there is a complete loss of signal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During this period, the engine will stall for a period before coming alive. As a result, the engine won&#8217;t have proper fuel delivery or ignition timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Erratic or Rough Engine Operation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without getting the proper crankshaft position and speed data, the engine will have difficulty starting and will decide to force start.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means it will start without the proper calculation conducted by the ECU. When that happens, the right timing of fuel injection or spark ignition won&#8217;t be maintained, resulting in an erratic or rough start for your engine and vehicle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CEL or Check Engine Light Illumination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another common sign of crankshaft position sensor malfunction is getting the Check Engine Light Illuminated on the vehicle dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the ECU isn&#8217;t able to receive proper signals and information from the crankshaft position sensors, it will trigger the CEL on the dashboard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This shows that there is some sort of problem with the engine and its components, and the driver should take a look into the issue as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Issues with Gear Shifting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This symptom is only monitored among vehicles that come with manual transmission.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem with shifting the gears come due to the fact that the ECU isn&#8217;t able to determine the optimal timing for clutch engagement for gear changes as it lacks the relevant data to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engine Misfires<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad crankshaft position sensor can result in engine misfires too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Engine misfire occurs when the air and fuel mix cylinders (one or multiple of them) fail to ignite properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the sensors are not working properly, it will lead to spark plug failure, and that will eventually lead to engine misfire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should be able to confirm an engine misfire when you see a noticeable loss of power or hear irregular sounds and vibrations coming from the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intermittent Loss of Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the position sensors fail to send data to the ECU, then the ECU will consider this as an inconsistent signal, which will result in a momentary loss of engine power while you are driving your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is due to the fact that the ECU won&#8217;t be able to determine the optimal clutch timing along with other engine functions, leading it to stall the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In extreme cases, the engine will completely shut down, and you may be left stranded on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stumbling During Acceleration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the ECU isn&#8217;t able to calculate accurate timing for the fuel injection. You may witness the car stumbling as you accelerate momentarily.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a common sign that there is something wrong with the crankshaft and its sensors. You also experience a delay in power delivery when you press the pedals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Poor Fuel Economy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to a bad crankshaft position sensor, optimal fuel injection won&#8217;t be possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, your engine will waste more fuel than its required amount, leading to poor fuel economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this is the case, you will need to refuel more often than you used to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, keep an eye on the fuel consumption rate of your car and see if it has spiked significantly in the past few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engine Backfiring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The crankshaft sensor has a big role in the synchronization of the ignition timing with the rotation of the crankshaft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, when the sensor starts to provide irregular and incorrect signals, this will start to disrupt the ignition timing, causing unburned fuel to ignite in the exhaust system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If that is the case, then there will be engine backfires, which will be accompanied by popping or banging noises from the exhaust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sudden Engine Shutdowns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to not receiving the proper signals from the sensors, the ECU may decide to suddenly shut down the engine while you are driving the vehicle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When this happens, you may also face troubles just to restart the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Difficult to Start in Wet &amp; Humid Conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the sensors aren&#8217;t working in wet and humid conditions, it is the moisture that is preventing them from working. And if the sensors can&#8217;t handle that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then you can be assured that they will start to fail in other tasks soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Increased Emissions &amp; Black Smokes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Compromised combustions are also a sign of bad fuel injection, which can mean that there is something wrong with the crankshaft sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can result in increased emissions of harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons (HC).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you notice black smoke from the exhaust or fail an emissions test, it could be due to a faulty crankshaft position sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Illumination of Other Warning Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Check Engine Light isn&#8217;t the only sign that may illuminate when there is a faulty crankshaft position sensor.&nbsp; Other sensors like the traction sensor and stability control sensor can also illuminate.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complete Engine Failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an extreme case situation, but if the sensor has stopped functioning altogether and isn&#8217;t providing any sort of data or signals to the ECU, then the engine won&#8217;t start.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can notice this when you turn the ignition key, and there is no response from the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overall Decrease in Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the sensor fails, then there will be a lot of timing issues from the ECU, and this will lead to a drastic decrease in the performance of your vehicle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do Crankshaft Position Sensors fail?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There can be several reasons behind the crankshaft position sensor failure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Damage to the Sensor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the time, this is the primary reason for sensor failure. Multiple factors can lead to a damaged sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, the crankshaft position sensor can wear out, become damaged, or fail due to internal component degradation or due to extreme weather conditions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wiring or Connector Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Damaged or faulty wiring connections and connectors can disrupt the electrical signal between the crankshaft position sensor and the ECU.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dirt Contamination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The crankshaft position sensor can be affected by dirt contamination like oil, dust, or debris from the engine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can interfere with the sensor&#8217;s operation &amp; accuracy, which will lead it to provide incorrect readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Air Gaps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The crankshaft position sensor follows the primary principle of a magnetic field.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means if there is an incorrect air gap between the sensor and the crankshaft wheel, then the sensor won&#8217;t be able to provide proper data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Timing belt or chain problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While this isn&#8217;t that common, in some cases, problems with the timing belt or chain can lead to malfunction of the crankshaft position sensor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A loose or misaligned timing belt or chain can cause the crankshaft to rotate irregularly, giving inaccurate readings to the sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electrical system issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Electrical issues like faulty voltage supply, grounding problems, or issues with other components can affect the crankshaft position sensor and disrupt the sensor&#8217;s ability to provide accurate readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Do When You See the Symptoms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Damaged crankshaft position sensors will eventually lead to permanent damage to the engine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, to avoid this scenario, you should take action as soon as you witness the first signs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Repairing faulty sensors don&#8217;t really work out in the long run. Therefore, we recommend that you replace the faulty sensors with new sensors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can do the replacement all by yourself. Still, unless you have previous experience with the engine components, it is better to seek the help of a professional mechanic on this part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SYMPTOMS OF A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LVimSqrv_hs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em><strong>Related Post: <a href=\"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/what-to-do-after-replacing-crankshaft-sensor\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2019\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What to Do After Replacing Crankshaft Sensor<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a faulty crankshaft position sensor cause the vehicle to lose power while driving at high speeds?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, a faulty crankshaft position sensor can make the engine to lose power even at high speeds. It can disrupt the timing and fuel delivery which can lead to a loss of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will a bad crankshaft position sensor cause the vehicle&#8217;s RPM to fluctuate or become unstable?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, a malfunctioning crankshaft position sensor can make the engine&#8217;s RPM to fluctuate or become unstable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it possible for a bad crankshaft position sensor to cause engine overheating?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, no. But while a bad crankshaft position sensor itself does not directly cause engine overheating, it can indirectly contribute to it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a faulty crankshaft position sensor cause the vehicle&#8217;s speedometer to malfunction?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>No, a faulty crankshaft position sensor does not directly impact the speedometer&#8217;s function.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long can a vehicle be driven with a bad crankshaft position sensor before it causes severe damage?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no specific timeframe as it depends on various factors, including the severity of the sensor&#8217;s failure and the vehicle&#8217;s overall condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve observed bad crankshaft position sensor symptoms in your vehicle, then you should act immediately.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Driving while the sensors aren&#8217;t functioning can only lead to further damage to your vehicle components and increase the risks of an accident.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em><strong>Related Post: <a href=\"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/will-disconnecting-battery-reset-crankshaft-sensor\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2032\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Will Disconnecting Battery Reset Crankshaft Sensor?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The crankshaft position sensor is a significant part of a vehicle&#8217;s engine management system. It provides the ECU with information regarding the rotational position &amp; speed of the crankshaft.&nbsp; There are several bad crankshaft position sensor symptoms out there, but they primarily revolve around the following: Signs of Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor Let\u2019s learn about&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2114,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1883"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1883"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1883\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxiwiz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}