Will a P0335 code stop my car from starting?

It can. This sensor is what tells the computer to make spark and fuel. When the signal is fully lost, the engine cranks but will not start. When it is intermittent, the car may start fine, then stall later, often once the engine gets hot.

I replaced the crankshaft position sensor but P0335 came back. Why?

Two common reasons. The sensor circuit has damaged wiring or a bad connector you did not fix. Or the new sensor is a cheap aftermarket part that failed fast. Buy OEM. On GM and some Chrysler and Honda vehicles, you also must run a crank relearn after replacing it.

How much does it cost to fix code P0335?

A straightforward sensor replacement usually runs $150 to $400. If the sensor is buried behind the timing cover or in the block, it climbs to $500 to $800. A wiring or connector fix is cheaper, around $100 to $300. A damaged tone ring is the worst case at $400 to $1,200.

Codes › P0335

P0335: Your engine's crankshaft position sensor signal is missing or unreliable

Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Malfunction

High severityCan you keep driving?

Not safely. This sensor can cut the engine off with no warning at any speed, and a stall means losing power steering and power brake assist. If it still starts, drive only a short, slow trip to a shop. If it has already stalled, tow it.

What it means

The crankshaft position sensor tells the computer how fast the engine is turning and where the crankshaft is. The computer uses that to time the spark and the fuel. The sensor reads teeth on a ring that spins with the crankshaft and sends out a pulsing signal. When those pulses go missing or turn garbled, usually caught while cranking or running, the computer sets P0335. Because this signal is what makes spark and fuel happen, a hard failure often means the engine cranks but will not start. The classic pattern is a stall when the engine is hot, then a restart once it cools.

Common causes

Failed crankshaft position sensorThe most common fix. Often heat-related and intermittent: stalls when hot, restarts after cooling.
Damaged wiring or connector in the sensor circuitChafed harness near exhaust heat, corroded or oil-soaked plug, spread terminals, or a broken wire inside good insulation.
Cheap aftermarket sensor that is bad out of the boxNon-OEM crank sensors often fail fast. Nissan and Honda are especially picky. This makes P0335 come back after a repair.
Damaged or slipped reluctor (tone) ring, or wrong sensor air gapA cracked, missing, or slipped tooth ring, common on high-mileage GM V6s. Or a gap set out of spec after install.
Broken or jumped timing belt or chainThe crank turns but the computer sees no valid crank signal. Rare, but rule it out first on interference engines before cranking again.
Computer fault, bad ground or low voltage, or a skipped relearnRare. On GM, skipping the crank variation relearn sets P1336. Never replace the computer until the sensor, wiring, and ring check out.

What it costs

Crankshaft position sensor replacement, easy-access location$150 to $400
Sensor part only if you do it yourself$40 to $200
Wiring or connector diagnosis and repair$100 to $300
Sensor replacement, hard-access (buried behind timing cover or in the block)$500 to $800
Reluctor (tone) ring replacement, worst case$400 to $1,200

Symptoms

Check engine light on, sometimes the only sign at first
Engine cranks but will not start
Stalling while driving, classically when the engine is hot, then restarts after it cools
Rough idle and misfiring
Hesitation or loss of power when you accelerate
Tachometer reading erratic or dropping to zero

What to do next

Do not just throw a sensor at it, which is how people pay twice. First spend five minutes on the cheap check. Unplug the sensor connector and look for corrosion, oil, and loose terminals. Then trace the harness where it runs near the exhaust and engine mounts for chafed or chewed wire. Bad wiring causes a large share of the "replaced it and the code came back" jobs. If the sensor needs replacing, buy OEM, not the $25 part that often arrives dead or dies in weeks. On GM, Chrysler, and some Honda, run a crank relearn after replacing, or you get P1336 and disabled misfire detection.

Lewis reads P0335 alongside live engine RPM and related crank and cam codes, so you can watch whether the signal cuts out the way a shop would. Download Lewis.

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FAQ

Will a P0335 code stop my car from starting?: It can. This sensor is what tells the computer to make spark and fuel. When the signal is fully lost, the engine cranks but will not start. When it is intermittent, the car may start fine, then stall later, often once the engine gets hot.
I replaced the crankshaft position sensor but P0335 came back. Why?: Two common reasons. The sensor circuit has damaged wiring or a bad connector you did not fix. Or the new sensor is a cheap aftermarket part that failed fast. Buy OEM. On GM and some Chrysler and Honda vehicles, you also must run a crank relearn after replacing it.
How much does it cost to fix code P0335?: A straightforward sensor replacement usually runs $150 to $400. If the sensor is buried behind the timing cover or in the block, it climbs to $500 to $800. A wiring or connector fix is cheaper, around $100 to $300. A damaged tone ring is the worst case at $400 to $1,200.