Has your car been acting a little funny? Maybe it’s hard to start, or it feels bumpy when you ride in it. These could be signs your car is trying to tell you something. A little part in your car, called a crankshaft sensor, can cause these kinds of problems if it’s not working right. Let’s learn what this part does and what happens when it’s broken.
What’s a Crankshaft Position Sensor Anyway?
Think of the crankshaft position sensor (let’s call it the “engine helper part”) like your car engine’s special helper. Inside your engine, there’s a bar that spins around when the car is on. This is the crankshaft.
The engine helper part watches this spinning bar. It sees how fast it spins and where it is. This news is super, super important!
This helper part tells the car’s brain (the computer) all about the spinning bar. The car’s brain uses this news to help the engine run well. It helps the engine know when to get gas and when to make a little spark to go. If the helper part gets mixed up, the whole engine can get mixed up too!
Symptoms of a Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor: Listen to Your Car!
When the engine helper part is not doing its job, your car will show you some signs. If you see these signs, it can help you know what’s wrong. Try to understand the problem, and fix it on the way.
Check Engine Light Pops On
One of the first signs you might see is the Check Engine Light. This is a little light on your car’s front panel that looks like an engine. When it turns on, it means the car’s brain found a problem. A bad engine helper part is one reason this light might turn on.
[If your check engine light is on, maybe you want to know more about (What a Car’s Special Computer Reader Does)]
Trouble Starting Your Car
Is your car taking a long time to start? Or does it just make noise but not turn on? A broken engine helper part can make it hard for your engine to start. This part helps the engine know when to make a spark and add gas. If it’s not sending the right messages, the engine won’t know how to start.
Engine Suddenly Stops (Stalling)
Picture this: you’re driving, and your engine just stops working. That can be scary! If the engine helper part stops working when you’re driving, it can stop telling the engine’s brain what to do. Then, the brain might just turn the engine off.
Shaky Engine and Misfires (Rough Idling and Misfires)
Does your car shake when you’re stopped, like at a traffic light? This is called rough idling. You might also feel the engine go “putt-putt” or “cough” when you try to go faster. This is called an engine misfire.
Misfires happen when the engine’s parts don’t work together at the right time. A bad engine helper part can mix up this timing. This can make the car shake and feel like the engine is hiccuping.
Using More Gas (Reduced Fuel Economy)
Do you have to put gas in your car more often? A bad engine helper part can mean you use more gas. If the engine isn’t working its best because it’s getting bad news from the helper part, it might use more gas than it needs.
Early Symptoms of a Crankshaft Sensor Going Out: Catching it Early!
Sometimes, your car will give you little hints before the problem gets really big. If you see these early signs, it can help you fix things sooner.
The Check Engine Light Flickers or Stays On
That check engine light turning on is often the very first clue. It might turn on and off at first. Then it might stay on all the time.
Starting Becomes a Gamble, or It Stops Sometimes
You might find it’s hard to start the engine, or it stops when you’re driving just some of the time. It might not happen every day at first, but it’s a sign that your engine is not getting its instructions right.
Engine Doesn’t Sound or Feel Smooth
Listen to your engine. If you hear it making rough sounds or misfiring (like coughing) more than it used to, even if it’s just a little bit, it’s a good idea to check it out. The car might just feel “not right.”
More Shakes and a Bumpy Ride
If you feel more shaking or the ride feels bumpy, this can be an early sign. If your smooth car ride starts to feel like a jiggly ride, the engine helper part might be starting to have problems.
Gas Doesn’t Last as Long
If you see you are using more gas and it’s happening more often, the helper part might be the reason.
How to Tell if Your Crankshaft Sensor is Faulty?
To know if the engine helper part is the problem, look for the signs we talked about.
- Is your car hard to start?
- Is the check engine light on?
- Does it stop by itself, shake when it’s not moving, or use too much gas?
If you say “yes” to these, the engine helper part could be the problem. The best way to know for sure is to ask a car doctor (a mechanic) to look at it. They have special tools to check.
How to Test a Crankshaft Position Sensor?
Checking an engine helper part can be a bit hard if you don’t have special tools. Car doctors often use a special computer to read messages from the car’s brain. These messages can tell if there’s a problem with the engine helper part.
They might also use other tools to check the helper part’s tiny electric signals. For most people, it’s best to let a car doctor do this test. They know what to look for and how to do it safely.
What Causes Damage to Your Crankshaft Sensor?
Like any toy or part, the engine helper part can get old or break. Knowing what can hurt it can help you know why it stopped working.
What causes a crankshaft sensor to go bad?
Here are a couple of simple reasons why these helper parts stop working:
1. Too Much Heat and Shaking
The place where the engine helper part lives in the car can get very hot. Over a long time, this heat, plus all the shaking from the engine running, can make the helper part get weak or its tiny wires break.
2. Oil or Other Car Liquids Leaking Onto It
Sometimes, oil or other liquids in the car can leak out. If these liquids get on the engine helper part or its wires, they can break it. The stuff in these liquids can be bad for the helper part.
Answering Your Questions About Crankshaft Sensors
Let’s answer some common questions about this important engine helper part.
What are the symptoms of a bad crankshaft sensor again?
Just to remember, the main signs are:
- Check Engine Light is on
- Car is hard to start
- Engine stops by itself
- Car shakes when it’s stopped (rough idling)
- Engine coughs or sputters (misfires)
- Uses more gas
- Car shakes more when you drive
How to diagnose a bad crankshaft position sensor?
The best way is to see the signs we listed. If your car is doing many of these things, it’s good to go to a car doctor. They can use a special computer to read messages from your car’s brain. These messages often tell them if the helper part is broken.
Can a faulty crankshaft sensor cause engine failure?
A broken engine helper part might not make your engine break right away. But if you don’t fix it for a long time, it could cause bigger engine problems. For example, if the engine is always coughing or running badly, it can make other engine parts tired. If the helper part breaks all the way, the engine might not start at all. That feels like the engine has failed.
Will my car run with a faulty crank sensor?
Sometimes, a car might still run if the engine helper part is just starting to break, but it usually won’t run well. You’ll likely have problems like a shaky engine, the engine stopping, or not going fast easily. If the helper part breaks completely, your car might not start, or it will stop and not start again. It’s not safe or good for your car to drive it for a long time with a broken helper part.
What Should You Do?
If you think your car has a broken engine helper part (the crankshaft sensor), it’s a good idea to let a car doctor check it. They can tell you for sure if that’s the problem and can put in a new one if it needs it. Fixing it can make your car run better, be safer, and even save you money on gas!
Don’t ignore your car’s little warnings. Listening to it can help keep you safe and your car happy!
