What Are the Symptoms of a Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a bad crankshaft position sensor are: If the crankshaft position sensor fails, it cannot determine the rotation angle of the crankshaft. The engine control unit (ECU) does not receive the signal from the crankshaft position sensor, and to protect the engine, it will not ignite or inject fuel. The car will exhibit signs such as no high-voltage spark, no fuel injection, and failure to start. An obvious indicator is the illumination of the engine warning light on the dashboard. The crankshaft position sensor determines the position of the crankshaft, monitors engine speed, and detects signals including the top dead center (TDC) signal for each cylinder used for ignition control and the TDC signal for sequential fuel injection control. There are mainly three types of crankshaft position sensors: magnetic induction type, Hall effect type, and photoelectric type.
There are quite a few symptoms when the crankshaft position sensor goes bad. One time my car wouldn't start no matter how many times I tried, and after several attempts it finally started, but then it kept stalling while driving. I was terrified thinking the engine was done for. Later during inspection, the mechanic said it was a sensor issue that messes up ignition timing and fuel injection accuracy. So you might notice sluggish acceleration, a sudden spike in fuel consumption, and the check engine light on the dashboard will definitely come on. In severe cases, the car may shake non-stop even when idling, like it's drunk. Don't push your luck—get it checked ASAP, otherwise breaking down on the road could be dangerous. By the way, wiping the sensor area during regular car washes can prevent dust buildup and potential failures. This little component may seem insignificant but has a huge impact.
