P0335 fault code: crankshaft sensor circuit fault
Plain-language definition
Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit
What does it mean?
The crankshaft position sensor (crank sensor for short) tells the engine computer how fast the crankshaft is turning and what position it's in. The engine computer uses this signal to calculate engine speed and to set the timing of fuel injection and, on petrol engines, ignition. That makes it one of the most basic signals the engine needs to run.
From the moment the engine is cranked, the engine computer expects a steady signal from this sensor. If the signal never arrives, drops out intermittently or isn't in the expected form, it stores P0335. For example, if there's a signal from the camshaft sensor but no crank signal, the engine computer reads this as a problem in the crank circuit. The code covers not just the sensor itself but the whole circuit, including the wiring and the toothed wheel the sensor reads.
You may notice the engine not starting or being slow to start when you crank it, the engine suddenly stalling while driving, misfiring and jerking. A rev counter that doesn't move at all while cranking can also point to this problem. Sometimes the problem appears once the engine warms up and disappears when it cools down.
How serious is it?
This is a Priority code: without the crank signal the engine computer can't time fuel injection and ignition, so the engine may not start at all or may suddenly stall on the road. Even if the symptoms are mild, it's a good idea not to delay having it checked.
Severity is a guide; if the warning light is flashing or you notice symptoms while driving, have the car checked at a workshop.
Common general causes
- A failed crank sensor (sometimes the fault only shows up once the engine is warm)
- A break, a loose connection, corrosion or chafing at the sensor's connector or in its wiring
- Damage to the toothed wheel the sensor reads (the trigger wheel), or metal dust building up on it
- The sensor not sitting fully in place, or an incorrect gap between it and the wheel
- Less often, a fault in the engine computer
The list shows general causes; a workshop finds the actual cause on your car with a check.
Definitions by make
Some manufacturers record the same code under their own wording:
- Audi, Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen
- CKP Sensor A Circuit Performance
- Fiat
- engine speed error signal,
- Honda
- Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Circuit No Signal
Related codes
How does it appear in the 2dakika report?
Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit
If the code is read as a confirmed (stored) fault, the report shows it with the "Priority" severity; in pending or past records, codes that don't request the warning light and aren't critical appear as "Info". If the engine computer stored them, the conditions when the fault was recorded (engine temperature, rpm, speed) are shown too.
Read this code with the OBD-X1, and clear it from the app after the repair.
Clearing the code doesn't fix the fault; if the problem persists, the code comes back.