FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
Courtesy of Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Crankshaft Position Sensor: Description and Operation

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR-PCM INPUT

Timing Reference Notches:




The second crankshaft counterweight has two sets of four timing reference notches including a 60 degree signature notch. From the crankshaft position sensor input the PCM determines engine speed and crankshaft angle (position).

Crankshaft Position Sensor-2.4L Engines:




The crankshaft position sensor mounts to the engine block behind the generator, just above the oil filter.

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

Crankshaft Position Sensor:




The crankshaft position sensor mounts to the engine block behind the generator, just above the oil filter.

Timing Reference Notches:




The PCM determines what cylinder to fire from the crankshaft position sensor input and the camshaft position sensor input. The second crankshaft counterweight has machined into it two sets of four timing reference notches including a 60 degree signature notch. From the crankshaft position sensor input the PCM determines engine speed and crankshaft angle (position).

The notches generate pulses from high to low in the crankshaft position sensor output voltage. When a metal portion of the counterweight aligns with the crankshaft position sensor, the sensor output voltage goes low (less than 0.5 volts). When a notch aligns with the sensor, voltage goes high (5.0 volts). As a group of notches pass under the sensor, the output voltage switches from low (metal) to high (notch) then back to low.