Crankshaft Position Sensor & Camshaft Position Sensor Replacements

 What Crank and Cam Sensors Actually Do

The crankshaft position sensor tells your ECU exactly where each piston sits in its rotation, timing fuel and spark to the millisecond. The camshaft position sensor works alongside it, confirming valve timing so the engine fires cylinders in the correct sequence. When either sensor drifts out of spec or fails outright, the ECU either compensates poorly or shuts the engine down entirely as a protective measure, which is why symptoms can range from mild hesitation to a complete no-start.

Crankshaft Position Sensor Terminology Explained

Buyers search for this part under several different names, and it's worth knowing they refer to the same component so you don't second-guess your order.

• Crank position and crank pos sensor both describe the standard crankshaft position sensor fitment
• Crank shaft position and crankshaft angle sensor are used interchangeably with crank angle sensor in most parts catalogues
• Position sensor crankshaft is simply a reordered search term for the same part
• All variants on this page refer to a single, correctly specified component; we haven't split listings by naming convention

Diagnosing Before You Order

Getting a confirmed diagnosis before replacement saves money on parts that were never the problem.

1. Pull fault codes with an OBD scanner rather than guessing from symptoms alone
2. A P0335 or P0336 code typically points to the crankshaft position sensor circuit
3. A P0340 or P0341 code usually points to the camshaft position sensor instead
4. Inspect wiring and connectors at the sensor before assuming the sensor itself has failed
5. If codes reference throttle, MAP, or oxygen circuits instead, those sensors are covered separately within our Fuel & Air and Exhaust ranges

Fitment and Installation Notes

Crank and cam sensors are usually straightforward to access, but a few details matter more than drivers expect.

• Sensor air gap and mounting depth vary by engine; confirm your exact code before ordering
• Some engines use a Hall effect sensor, while others use a magnetic reluctor type; these aren't interchangeable
• Reset any adaptive ECU learning after installation where your vehicle requires it
• A new sensor that doesn't resolve the fault may indicate a wiring or ECU issue rather than a second faulty part