If you’ve noticed a P0336 OBD2 error code, it indicates that there are issues with your car’s crankshaft position sensor. Specifically, it’s defined as “Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range“, which is a generic diagnostics trouble error code, so it’s not manufacturer-specific.
Now, before we go into how you can diagnose and troubleshoot a P0336 code with your car’s engine, what is a crankshaft position sensor, anyway? Well, quite simply, it’s a sensor inside your engine that determines the position of the crankshaft. Additionally, the crankshaft position sensor also helps to figure out the crankshaft’s rotational speed, otherwise known as RPM.
As such, if it weren’t for the crankshaft position sensor, your car wouldn’t be able to tell what RPM the engine is running at. Moreover, the crankshaft position sensor works alongside the camshaft position sensor to make sure that your engine timing remains optimal. It does this by relying on the reluctor ring (aka the ‘tone ring’) to measure the speed of the crankshaft.
Well, now that we know what the crankshaft position sensor does and generally how it works, where can you find this tiny sensor, anyway? If you look at your car’s crankshaft, there are two ends… One at the front of the engine, and one at the rear. Depending on your car’s make and model, the ‘crank sensor’ is found at either one of these ends, so it’s not too hard to find.
Crankshaft Position Sensor Wiring
For those who are curious about working on your crankshaft position sensor, it might also help to know how it’s wired. Learning how the sensor works is especially helpful if you’re trying to test them. On the crankshaft position sensor, there are two-wire sensors that work with the help of a magnet. So, that’s the ground wire and the signal wire.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned reluctor ring helps to stimulate this sensor while it rotates. By then, the crank sensor starts to produce a signal or reading, which is then sent to your car’s PCM… The Powertrain Control Module. However, there are also three-wire sensors, which include a ground, a supply wire (to power the sensor), and a ground wire.
P0336 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range Performance
So, going back to the P0336 OBDII code – what does this mean, specifically? When you see this error code when diagnosing your car with an OBDII scanner, this means that your crank sensor has detected a problem. For context, the crank sensor isn’t recording voltage – which is how it produces signals for the PCM – in the recommended range. Most sensors read 1v to 5v.
Alternatively, if your crankshaft position sensor is magnetic, it’s not creating enough current. Or, it makes too much current, so your car’s computer brain is confused, and it throws this error code to let you know something’s wrong. This is just one of many diagnostic error codes that you can get when it comes to your car’s crankshaft.
Normally, when you see the P0336 code, it means that the crankshaft position sensor has problems with reading the reluctor wheel. Again, the reluctor wheel is the wheel with teeth that the crank sensor is using to get data from (the engine’s crankshaft). Then, it sends all those readings to your car’s PCM, allowing it to best manage your car’s engine.
What Causes The P0336 Code To Appear?
There are many underlying problems that might prompt the P0336 code to appear, so here are just some of them:
1) Bad Crank Sensor
First up, it could just be a problem with the actual crankshaft position sensor. Older types of crank sensors are magnetic, which are more durable than newer ones, which use three-wire designs (with a voltage supply wire). With these new ones, they’re more prone to breaking regularly, which throws in this error code.
2) Bad Reluctor Wheel
Another common cause of getting a ‘signal out of range’ error like P0336 is a bad reluctor wheel. If the reluctor wheel is bent, missing some teeth, or if there’s a lot of sludge, oil, or other debris between the teeth, it’ll make it harder for the sensor to read it. Thankfully, you can clean it really easily just using some brake cleaner.
3) Misplaced Reluctor Wheel
If a broken reluctor wheel isn’t bad enough, it’s also common to have it misplaced. This is normal when you send your engine for a rebuild or heavy repairs, and the mechanic has forgotten to install one, or they didn’t align it properly. Of course, when this happens, the crank sensor will show that the signal is out of range.
4) Wiring Problems
The crankshaft position sensor has a connector and a bunch of wires alongside it. Remember that these wires pass through hot areas inside your car’s engine. As such, if the insulation fails at some point, the wires can short out. Faulty wiring will cause problems within the sensor’s circuit, so it’ll easily trigger the P0336 error code.
5) Corroded Connector
Another pretty common cause of a P0336 error code appearing is a corroded connector. If there is corrosion or if you notice oil sludge within the connector, it’ll disrupt your crank sensor’s operation. Connectors are very sensitive and prone to failure, so make sure you check that they’re in good condition.
6) Bad PCM
While this isn’t nearly as common, a bad Powertrain Control Module (PCM) can trigger strange codes. When it fails, you might notice a bevy of different OBD codes, all appearing at random. If this is caused by a glitch in your car’s PCM, you can take it to a mechanic to have it checked out.
Symptoms Of A P0336 Code
Aside from noticing a ‘P0336’ code in your OBDII scanner, what other symptoms can you notice? Well, there are a few, primarily noticing a check engine light (CEL). The check engine light is your car’s way of telling you that there’s an error code logged in the computer.
Other than that, you may also notice that your car has difficulty trying to start, or it won’t start at all. This is especially common when both the crankshaft and camshaft sensors fail at once. You will notice that your car is hard to start. Alternatively, it might stall after some time, and then you’ll have trouble trying to restart it.
Moreover, since the crankshaft and/or camshaft sensors won’t be able to communicate with your car’s PCM, your engine’s timing will be less than ideal. As a result, you might notice other symptoms like a lack of performance, misfires, and so on.
If you need to replace the crankshaft position sensor due to a fault, it’ll cost anywhere from $75 to $250. It’s important to make sure that you replace a faulty crank sensor, as the consequence is a heavily damaged or worn crankshaft. The latter is way more expensive than fixing the P0336 code.
Diagnosing & Troubleshooting A P0336 Code
If you want to diagnose a P0336 code yourself, it’s actually pretty easy to do. First off, you need to visually inspect the reluctor wheel on the engine. Check that both the crankshaft position sensor and the reluctor wheel are clean. If not, spray some brake cleaner to get rid of any debris or contaminants, such as oil sludge.
When you’re there, see if the reluctor wheel is bent or has any damage to it, such as missing teeth. If everything is good with the reluctor wheel, you can then move on to the crank sensor’s wiring. Mainly, check the sensor’s connector. And, ensure that there’s no short in the system and that all the wires and connectors are in good shape.
One last thing you need to do is check the crankshaft sensor and test it with a multimeter. These sensors can be bench-tested really easily, so just remove the sensor and grab a multimeter. With the multimeter, you can measure the resistance in the sensor, as well as the voltage.
If it’s a two-wire sensor, the ideal resistance is usually between 2,000 and 2,500 ohms. Or, if you have a three-wire sensor, you can backprobe the crank sensor. So, you’ll have to backprobe the ground and signal wire and turn the multimeter to measure volts. The voltage should go up and down depending on your throttle input.