Common Causes of Failure Crankshaft Position Sensor
A vehicle’s crankshaft position sensor can fail for one of several different reasons, some of which tend to be more common than others.
Perhaps the most common culprit of failure is damage to the crankshaft position sensor’s circuitry. It’s not uncommon for sensors of this type to fail at their plugs, failing to provide reliable continuity. Alternatively, a crank position sensor can fail internally, or its wiring harness/pigtail can become pinched or chafed.
It’s also not uncommon for crankshaft position sensors to become damaged during undercarriage debris strikes. Due to the proximity of this sensor to the lower half of a vehicle’s engine, tire casings, and other road litter make formidable opponents to the crank position sensor when struck while in the lane of travel.
Age and heat also serve as mortal enemies to a vehicle’s crankshaft position sensor. With time, the actual structural body of the crankshaft position sensor can become brittle, making it subject to failure under vibration.
Diagnosing a Faulty Sensor
One of the simplest ways to diagnose a faulty crankshaft position sensor involves the use of a multimeter. Live data reporting via a scan tool should show a rise/fall in pulse counts that parallel any rises or falls in engine RPM. A lack of this feedback would require further diagnosis of the crankshaft position sensor and its corresponding circuit.
Can You Drive With a Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor?
Modern computer-monitored engines rely upon accurate engine timing-related feedback to facilitate efficient and properly timed combustion. Without an uninterrupted stream of such data, a vehicle’s engine is likely to run erratically at best.