Crankshaft position sensor

What it means

The crankshaft position sensor tells the computer how fast the engine is turning and where each piston is. Spark and injection are timed from it. If the signal disappears, the engine stops and will not restart until it returns.

Codes in this group

Bank 1 is the side of the engine that has cylinder 1. Sensor 1 is before the catalytic converter and sensor 2 is after it. More terms explained.

What you may notice

• Engine cuts out, sometimes when hot, and restarts after cooling
• Cranks but will not start
• Rev counter drops to zero while the engine is still turning
• Misfires

Common causes

Most likely first:

• A failing sensor, often heat-sensitive
• Damaged wiring or a loose plug
• Metal particles on the sensor tip
• A damaged toothed ring on the crankshaft

What to check first

• Note whether stalling happens only when the engine is hot: that pattern points to the sensor
• Because the engine can cut out without warning, avoid motorways and have it repaired promptly

Have a mechanic confirm. A fault code tells you which system reported a problem, not which part has failed. The same code can have several causes, and they differ between car models. Use this page to understand the code, then have a qualified mechanic test the car before any part is replaced.

After the repair

Once the cause is fixed, the code can be cleared with a scan tool, or the warning light goes out by itself after several trips without the fault. Clearing a code without fixing the cause only hides it for a while. More about clearing codes.

Related codes

Crankshaft and camshaft timing do not agree (P0016), Engine misfire (P0300), Knock sensor (P0325), Camshaft position sensor (P0340), Ignition coil circuits (P0350), Glow plugs (diesel) (P0380). All codes.

Written in November 2026. These are generic OBD-II codes, the same on all makes. Causes and repair steps differ between models.