Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor
The CKP sensor is a hall effect sensor mounted at the rear of the engine block, adjacent to a trigger wheel located on the crankshaft. The trigger wheel is a 60 minus 2 steel disk with 58 evenly spaced magnetic indicators and a minus 2 indicator slot spaced for each 6 degrees of crank angle. As the crankshaft rotates, the CKP sensor produces a square wave for each magnetic indicator edge of the trigger wheel and it detects the missing 59th and 60th magnetic indicator. This configuration allows the CKP sensor to provide the PCM with the angular position of the crankshaft relative to a fixed reference for the CKP sensor. The PCM uses the CKP sensor input to calculate engine RPM, fuel timing, fuel quantity and duration of the fuel injection.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.