What’s a crankshaft position sensor, and why’s it matter?
If you’ve ever heard the term “crankshaft position sensor” and thought – what’s that got to do with my car? – you’re not alone. At our Hamilton workshop, we get questions about these little sensors all the time. Basically, the crankshaft is the bit that turns your engine’s power from the pistons into the rotational oomph that sends you off up Te Rapa Straight or down through Cambridge. The crankshaft position sensor (or crank angle position sensor, if you like) is what tells your car’s computer exactly where that crankshaft is at any moment, as well as how fast it’s spinning.
This info is crucial. Your car’s electronic control unit (ECU) uses the data from the sensor to tweak stuff like timing and fuel injection, so your vehicle runs sweet – whether it’s a Toyota Corolla heading out to Matangi or a Subaru Outback braving the fog on River Road after a cold Waikato morning. Good sensor, better engine performance. Done.
Why do crankshaft sensors go crook?
Kiwis clocking up the k’s around Hamilton know how hard driving can get on your car. Stop-start traffic on Greenwood Street, bouncing over potholes in Frankton, or dealing with all those speed bumps out Pirongia way – that’s real wear and tear. A crank angle sensor can play up for a few reasons:
- The wiring gets damaged (think: road grit, old age, a hungry rat).
- The sensor itself just carks it from inside (sometimes it’s just plain knackered, usually in high-mileage or older Euro stuff like a Peugeot or a VW Passat).
- The crankshaft or the trigger wheel bends or gets damaged – sometimes after someone’s hit a nasty pothole or had a rogue stone fly up from the bypass.
What does a dodgy crankshaft sensor feel like?
Check engine light comes on – That little orange light on your dash? If your ECU reckons the crank angle sensor’s sending weird signals, it’ll ping that check engine light. Best thing is to get it checked with a proper scan tool – otherwise you’re just guessing.
Hard to start – Seen plenty of Mazda Demios and Nissan Dualises that crank over, but won’t fire up, especially when it’s hot. Faulty sensors love to play up in the heat. So, you stop in Dinsdale for some groceries and then the thing just won’t start til it cools down. Annoying as!
Stalling at the lights or roundabouts – Had a Honda Jazz in from Huntly recently. Lady said it kept cutting out at the Five Cross Roads roundabout. Turned out to be a dicey crank angle sensor – wasn’t sending the right signals, so the engine just quit, making every stop a gamble.
Dodgy acceleration and burns more fuel – When that sensor’s shot, the computer’s just guessing, so you lose power and the thing’s a gas guzzler. Not great for the wallet with NZ petrol prices where they are!
If you’re keen to dive deeper, here’s some more info: Warning signs of a bad crankshaft position sensor.
Need your crankshaft position sensor sorted in Hamilton?
If your car’s playing up and you reckon the crankshaft sensor’s the culprit (or you’re not sure!), we’ve sorted plenty of these for folks in Morrinsville, Tamahere, and all over Waikato. One of our techs will check it out, scan it up, and get you sorted fast – doesn’t matter if it’s a Suzuki Swift, a Honda Accord Hybrid, or even something less common like a Fiat Punto or a Kia Carnival.
We only use good gear, and we’ll always be straight with you. Sensors can be tricky to diagnose, but with our scan tools and years under the bonnet, we’ll make sure you’re not left stranded on Mill Street or sweating at the Hillcrest lights.
If you need a new crankshaft position sensor, or just want a car service Hamilton-wide, flick us a call, pop in for a yarn, or book online – easy as!