OBD-II Code · Powertrain
P1336
Crankshaft Position Sensor Variation Not Learned (GM)
Severity
low
Lowest on our scale. Fix it when convenient.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$0–$150
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
(relearn only)
GM-specific — CKP variation relearn procedure required after sensor / harmonic balancer service.
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
- Check engine light
- No driveability symptoms typical
Likely causes
- Needs scan-tool CKP variation relearn
Read the full diagnostic procedureP1336 indicates a Crankshaft Position Sensor / Camshaft Position Sensor correlation fault — the PCM compares cam pulse-to-crank pulse phasing against…
P1336 indicates a Crankshaft Position Sensor / Camshaft Position Sensor correlation fault — the PCM compares cam pulse-to-crank pulse phasing against a learned table and the relationship has drifted outside spec, typically more than 6 degrees of error. On Ford Modular engines, especially the 3-Valve (3V) 4.6L and 5.4L from 2004 onward, this code is the canary for timing chain stretch and the variable cam timing (VCT) phaser unlocking erratically. It rarely means a bad sensor.
Cheapest-first ladder
- start the engine cold and listen for the classic 3V startup rattle — a one to three second metallic chatter from the front cover means the chain tensioners have bled down overnight and the phasers are rattling on their locking pins.
- Scan live data and graph CMP1_DESIRED vs CMP1_ACTUAL — at idle the values should track within 1 degree; if actual hunts more than 3 degrees from desired or lags when commanded to advance under throttle tip-in, the phaser is sticking.
- Check oil pressure at the gauge port: 3V Modulars spec 20 psi hot idle, 45 psi at 2,500 rpm; below 15 psi hot idle the phasers cannot hydraulically lock.
- The expensive misdiagnosis is replacing crank and cam sensors ($80 to $200) when the actual fault is a $1,200 to $2,400 VCT phaser/chain/guide/tensioner kit.
Vehicle-specific patterns2004-2008 Ford F-150 5.4L 3V trucks are the textbook P1336 candidates — Ford TSB 14-0194 details the phaser/tensioner/guide kit replacement, parts ru…
- 2004-2008Ford F-150 5.4L 3V trucks are the textbook P1336 candidates — Ford TSB 14-0194 details the phaser/tensioner/guide kit replacement, parts run $400 to $700 OEM, labor runs $1,200 to $1,800.
- 2005-2010Ford Mustang GT 4.6L 3V cars suffer the same phaser/chain wear but with easier access.
- 2005-2014Ford Expedition/Navigator 5.4L 3V engines see P1336 with the cold-start rattle by 100,000 miles consistently.
- 2007-2014Ford Edge 3.5L Duratec 35 (Cyclone) suffers P1336 from water-pump-driven timing chain failure — the internal water pump leaks coolant into the oil and accelerates chain wear; check oil for milkshake before condemning phasers.
Estimated repair$400 to $4,500.
Look up another code
P1336 — frequently asked
What does a P1336 code mean?
GM-specific — CKP variation relearn procedure required after sensor / harmonic balancer service.
What causes a P1336 code?
Common causes: Needs scan-tool CKP variation relearn.
What are the symptoms of a P1336 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; No driveability symptoms typical.
Is it safe to drive with a P1336 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $0-$150 (relearn only).
How do I diagnose a P1336 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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