How to test a 3-wire crankshaft sensor with a multimeter

In some car models, over time or with intensive use, the component may fail. Among them, the crankshaft position sensor can cause several problems that cause various symptoms.

That's why it's important to detect a failure or problem as soon as possible. In this case, you can use different tools, although a multimeter might be the best option. In particular, a digital multimeter allows you to carry out checks without much inconvenience.

How to check the crankshaft position sensor?

If you need to check this specific part of your vehicle, you are probably experiencing one of the following issues.

• Start and stop conditions.
• Cranking, not starting state
• It's hard to start
• indecision
• Rough idle
• Poor acceleration
• Autumn
• Increased fuel consumption
• Check if the engine light is on

With this, you will need to follow the steps to verify that the inductive type CKP sensor is working properly. You should refer to the vehicle repair manual for the required specifications.

• Here it would be better if you disconnect the CKP sensor first.
• Next, you must set up the DMM by selecting the lower range on the DC voltage scale.
• Turn the car key to the ignition position without starting the engine.
• Then it would be better if you connected the red and black wires. 
• It is important here to prevent the engine from starting, or you can remove the fuse and deactivate the fuel system.
• Once this point is reached, select the low range AC voltage scale on the voltmeter.
• To get your meter reading, you must connect the wires from your voltmeter to certain parts of the engine. This part will need to be replaced if no voltage pulse is detected.

How to reset the crankshaft sensor without a scanner?

It may be that your vehicle is not being used with a scanner like the ones that exist these days. However, by following these steps, you can reset the crankshaft sensor.

• The temperature of the coolant and air should be at 5 degrees Celsius. From this point on, you should be able to start the engine and hold it in neutral for approximately 2 minutes.
• At this point, you should get your car up to 55 mph for about 10 minutes. The goal is for the car's engine to warm up to the correct operating temperature.
• Once you have reached this temperature level, continue at the same speed for another 6 minutes.
• After 6 minutes, slow down to 45 mph without using the brakes and continue driving for one minute.
• Every 25 seconds, you must slow down and complete four cycles without using the brakes.
• After four cycles, you should continue driving at 55 mph for 2 minutes.
• Finally, stop the car with the brakes on and hold them for 2 minutes. Also, the gearbox must be neutral and the clutch pedal depressed.

Can the crankshaft position sensor be reset?

An effective way to do this is to use the negative battery terminal to disconnect the battery. After that, you must keep the battery disconnected for an hour and reconnect it.

This procedure will allow you to reset the check engine light. So, after the procedure, short-term memory must be cleared because the electronic energy has been depleted.

Is it difficult to change the crankshaft sensor?

When replacing the crankshaft sensor during the procedure, some problems may occur. Here you will notice that there is a long rod among the components. So this component can get stuck in the block and cause problems. (2)

Therefore, it is necessary to hold the sensor firmly after loosening it. A twisting motion is required to remove this part from the engine block. From there, you can replace the crankshaft sensor to avoid many inconveniences in your car.

How to check if the camshaft position sensor is faulty?

Sometimes the camshaft position sensor can fail due to wear and tear over time. For this reason, some useful signals will let you know if you need to repair or replace a component.

1. Car stops repeatedly: The vehicle may accelerate slowly, the engine power has decreased, or the fuel consumption is insufficient. The camshaft position sensor should be replaced when one of these signals appears on the vehicle. These problems can be a sign of various other problems. (1)

2. Check engine light is on: As soon as the camshaft position sensor has certain malfunctions, this indicator lights up. However, it should be borne in mind that this indicator may light up for other reasons.

3. Car won't start: If you are experiencing the above problems, your car is probably close to not starting. The camshaft position sensor can fail, causing wear to other parts of the vehicle. Of course, this is the worst situation that can happen while driving or parked.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, it's very important to use a multimeter to check if the crankshaft sensor is working. A failure of this component can lead to a cascade of problems for your vehicle.

So you will avoid many problems and failures in the future. This means nothing more than a reduction in the money you will need for future repairs. 

We hope this article will help you. You can also check out other tutorial articles such as How to Test a Capacitor with a Multimeter and How to Test a Purge Valve with a Multimeter.

We have also put together a guide for you on choosing the best multimeters available on the market; Click here to see them.

Recommendations

(1) camshaft - https://auto.howstuffworks.com/camshaft.htm

(2) crankshaft - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/crankshaft