OBD-II Code · Sensors
P0335
Crankshaft Position Sensor Malfunction
Severity
critical
Highest on our scale. Expect major repair cost if it is ignored.
Can you drive it
Not for long
Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it.
Indicative cost (USD)
$150–$400
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
CKP sensor not reporting engine rotation correctly. Critical sensor — engine may not start.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- No start condition
- Check engine light
- Stalling
- Rough running
Likely causes
- Failed CKP sensorMost common
- Wiring issue
- Damaged reluctor ring
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0335 means the ECM is seeing zero signal from the primary crankshaft position sensor circuit, which is the master timing reference for fuel and spar…
P0335 means the ECM is seeing zero signal from the primary crankshaft position sensor circuit, which is the master timing reference for fuel and spark. A no-CKP-signal condition will throw a crank-no-start or a stumble-and-die, and on most platforms the engine will not relearn timing until the signal returns.
Cheapest-first ladder
- wiggle the CKP harness at the sensor connector and along the loom near the bellhousing while monitoring CKP RPM PID on a scan tool during cranking (should read 180-250 RPM steady; flatlining at 0 during wiggle = harness fault, not sensor).
- Pull the sensor and inspect the tip for ferrous swarf clinging to the magnetic pickup, which indicates worn bearings or a chewed reluctor and not a sensor problem at all.
- Bench-ohm the sensor cold (most variable-reluctance CKPs read 200-1000 ohms across the two signal pins; Hall-effect 3-wire types should pass 5V reference and ground continuity to ECM).
- Scope the signal during cranking and look for clean square waves (Hall) or sine waves (VR) with no missing teeth at the index gap.
- The expensive misdiagnosis here is throwing a $400 sensor and a tow bill at what turns out to be a chafed harness ground at the bellhousing bolt or a reluctor ring shifted on a slipped harmonic balancer.
Vehicle-specific patternsGM 3.6L LY7 (2007-2012 CTS, Acadia, Enclave, Traverse) throws P0335 as a downstream symptom of timing chain and cam-actuator wear — the cam phasers w…
GM 3.6L LY7 (2007-2012 CTS, Acadia, Enclave, Traverse) throws P0335 as a downstream symptom of timing chain and cam-actuator wear — the cam phasers wear oblong, the chain stretches, the CKP correlation goes out of spec, and you chase the crank sensor when the real fix is a full timing kit. Nissan VQ35DE (2002-2008 Altima, Maxima, 350Z) suffers CKP heat-soak failure where the sensor reads fine cold but drops out after 20 minutes at operating temp because it sits in exhaust heat near the bellhousing. Ford 5.4L 3V Triton (2004-2010 F-150, Expedition) sets P0335 as collateral damage when a failed cam phaser corrupts the crank correlation calculation — listen for the cold-start phaser rattle before condemning the CKP. Toyota 2GR-FE (Camry, Avalon, Sienna 2005-2012) goes intermittent above 4500 RPM as the sensor pickup ages and the signal amplitude drops below the ECM detection threshold.
Estimated repair$120 to $850 (sensor and labor on the cheap end, full timing job on the GM and Ford).
Look up another code
P0335 — frequently asked
What does a P0335 code mean?
CKP sensor not reporting engine rotation correctly. Critical sensor — engine may not start.
What causes a P0335 code?
Common causes: Failed CKP sensor; Wiring issue; Damaged reluctor ring.
What are the symptoms of a P0335 code?
Typical symptoms: No start condition; Check engine light; Stalling; Rough running.
Is it safe to drive with a P0335 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $150-$400.
How do I diagnose a P0335 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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