P0336: The crankshaft position sensor signal is intermittent or out of range
Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
The crankshaft position sensor signal is erratic, and the engine can stall without warning. Get it checked today. If it stalls or is hard to start, do not drive it: have it towed.
Stop driving and get help if
- The check engine light is flashing
- The temperature gauge runs high, or you see steam (overheating)
- The car loses power, hesitates badly or stalls
- You smell burning or see smoke
- A brake warning light comes on, or the brakes feel different
Pull over as soon as you can, turn the engine off, and call a tow or roadside help.
What it means
The crankshaft position sensor tells the PCM exactly where each piston is in its rotation at every moment. The computer uses this to fire injectors and ignition coils at the right time. P0336 means the sensor is not being read as absent (that would be P0335) but is producing an intermittent or erratic signal. The PCM expected a specific pulse pattern from the reluctor ring and got something different. Causes range from a damaged reluctor ring on the crankshaft to a sensor that is failing intermittently. An erratic crank signal is one of the most common causes of no-start conditions that get misdiagnosed as fuel pump failure.
Common causes
- Failing crankshaft position sensorThe sensor element degrades with heat and age. Intermittent failures often appear when the engine is hot.
- Damaged or chipped reluctor ring on the crankshaftA missing tooth or cracked ring produces a gap in the signal pattern that the PCM flags as out of range.
- Air gap between sensor and reluctor ring out of specThe sensor must be within a precise distance from the ring. An incorrect gap or wear on the sensor tip causes erratic readings.
- Wiring or connector fault on the sensor harnessThe harness near the bottom of the engine block is exposed to oil, heat, and mechanical stress.
What the fix could involve
From the cheaper fix to the bigger one. Prices depend on your car, your area and the shop, so ask for a written quote that names the part and the labor before you approve it.
- Crankshaft position sensor replacement
- Wiring or connector repair
- Reluctor ring replacement (if damaged)
Symptoms
- Check engine light on, steady or intermittent
- Hard starting or extended cranking before it fires
- Stalling at idle or under light load
- Random misfires across multiple cylinders (P0300)
- Engine may run fine between fault events
What to do next
Check the sensor wiring and connector first, especially if the fault is intermittent. Inspect the sensor tip for damage or metal debris from the reluctor ring. Replace the sensor as a first step since it is usually accessible and relatively affordable. If the code returns after a new sensor, a crankshaft scope inspection or reluctor ring inspection is needed.
Lewis reads P0336 alongside any related crank and cam codes and shows live RPM, so you can see whether the signal drops out while the engine runs. Get Lewis on the App Store or Google Play.
Related codes
FAQ
- Will P0336 cause a no-start?
- Eventually, yes. An intermittent signal can turn into no signal. If the engine is already showing hard starts, the sensor replacement is urgent.
- Can this cause random misfires?
- Yes. An erratic crank signal throws off injector and ignition timing, causing misfires across multiple cylinders simultaneously.
- How do I know if it is the sensor or the reluctor ring?
- Replace the sensor first since it is far cheaper. If the code returns immediately after a new sensor, the reluctor ring is likely damaged and needs visual inspection.
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