Where is the Sonata Crankshaft Position Sensor Located?
3 Answers
Sonata's crankshaft position sensor is installed near the pulley. The working principle of the crankshaft position sensor is to provide ignition timing (ignition advance angle) and confirm the signal of crankshaft position, which is used to detect the top dead center of the piston, crankshaft angle and engine speed. The function of the crankshaft position sensor is to determine the position of the crankshaft, that is, the angle of the crankshaft and the engine speed. The following is the introduction of the measurement method of the crankshaft position sensor: 1. Check that the normal gap between the crankshaft position sensor and the pulse wheel (target wheel) should be greater than 0.5mm and less than 1.2mm. If the pulse wheel is installed incorrectly, too large or too small, it may cause signal deviation. 2. Turn off the ignition switch, disconnect the crankshaft position sensor plug, and measure that there should be 400～600Q between terminal 1 and terminal 2 of the sensor. If it is not within this range, it can be determined that the crankshaft position sensor itself is faulty and the sensor should be replaced. 3. Turn on the ignition switch and measure the voltage of the two signal lines to ground should be 1.4V, which is the preset voltage of the engine control unit on the signal line. When starting the starter, the signal voltage of the crankshaft position sensor should be close to 1.6V. If the sensor is internally open or short-circuited, the signal line is open or short-circuited, or the engine control unit is internally open or short-circuited, the computer will not be able to receive the crankshaft position signal, which will cause the engine to fail to start.
I remember when I helped my friend fix his Sonata last time, the crankshaft position sensor was at the front of the engine, usually near the crankshaft pulley. The location may vary depending on the model year; for example, in Sonatas from 2010 to 2015, the sensor is mostly on the side of the transmission, near the flywheel. You'll need to open the hood and carefully look for a small black component mounted on the hub. Once this thing fails, the car can develop issues like failing to start or severe engine shaking, with the check engine light on. I recommend getting a repair manual or searching online for diagrams to confirm, as the location is hidden and you might damage other parts if you try to find it by touch. It's best to take it to a shop—professional tools can locate it faster, safer, and more conveniently. The sensor's wiring is also fragile, so remember to turn off the power before working on it.
Last time my Sonata had a crankshaft position sensor failure, which almost made me late. It's usually located at the bottom of the engine, near the flywheel housing. For 2018 and newer models, it's positioned closer to the transmission side. If you look under the car, you'll see a square box mounted on a metal base. When faulty, it causes weird symptoms like stalling or poor acceleration, which can lead to misdiagnosis. I tried replacing it myself, but the awkward location requires a lift for proper access. Don't mess around - just take it to a specialist shop. Pro tip: The sensor hates oil contamination, so check for loose connections during routine maintenance to prevent issues.
