Crankshaft position sensor: how it works, symptoms, problems,

testing
Updated December 04, 2018

Ford Crankshaft position sensor (CKP)

The crankshaft position sensor measures the rotation speed

(RPMs) and the precise position of the engine crankshaft.
Without a crankshaft position sensor the engine wouldn't
start.

In some cars, the sensor is installed close to the main pulley

(harmonic balancer) like in this Ford in the photo. In other
cars, the sensor could be installed at the transmission bell
housing, or in the engine cylinder block, as in the photo
below. In the technical literature, the crankshaft position
sensor is abbreviated to CKP.
How the crankshaft position sensor works

In this GM engine, the crankshaft position

sensor is installed at the cylinder block

The crankshaft position sensor is positioned so that teeth on

the reluctor ring attached to the crankshaft pass close to the
sensor tip. The reluctor ring has one or more teeth missing to
provide the engine computer (PCM) with the reference point
to the crankshaft position.

As the crankshaft rotates, the sensor produces a pulsed

voltage signal, where each pulse corresponds to the tooth on
the reluctor ring. The photo below shows the actual signal
from the crankshaft position sensor with the engine idling. In
this vehicle, the reluctor ring is made with two missing teeth,
as you can notice on the graph.

The PCM uses the signal from the crankshaft position sensor
to determine at what time to produce the spark and in which
cylinder. The signal from the crankshaft position is also used
to monitor if any of the cylinders misfires.

Crankshaft position sensor signal on the oscilloscope

screen.

If the signal from the sensor is missing, there will be no spark

and fuel injectors won't operate.

The two most common types are the magnetic sensors with a
pick-up coil that produce A/C voltage and the Hall-effect
sensors that produce a digital square wave signal as in the
photo above. Modern cars use the Hall-effect sensors. A pick-
up coil type sensor has a two-pin connector. The Hall-effect
sensor has a three-pin connector (reference voltage, ground
and signal).
Symptoms of a failing crankshaft position sensor

A failing sensor can cause intermittent problems: a car may

cut out or stall randomly, but then restart with no problems.
The engine might have troubles starting in wet weather, but
starts OK after. Sometimes you might see the RPM gauge
behaving erratically. In some cases, a failing sensor can cause
long crank time before the engine starts. If the sensor is bad,
the engine will crank but won't start. Read more: Why an
engine cranks but won't start: common problems.