Not all parts of a car are designed to last very long. The crankshaft position sensor is designed to last for a long time but not forever because the sensor is built to provide important data for the engine control unit to manage fuel injection and ignition timing.
Therefore, when the sensor goes bad, it can lead to engine issues such as poor performance, stalling, misfires, etc. Therefore, a replacement should be made immediately. The question now is, what are the problems after replacing the crankshaft position sensor?
Problems after replacing the crankshaft position sensor are:
- Prolong crank and hard start
- Rough idling
- Engine stalling
- The engine may take too long to adapt to the new sensor
- Check engine light
- Poor engine performance
- Sensor wiring and connection issues
- Incorrect sensor synchronization
- Incorrect sensor alignment
- You may get error diagnostic codes
Problems After Replacing Crankshaft Position Sensor
The problems after replacing the crankshaft position sensor are:
1. Prolonged Crank and Hard Start
One of the major problems you will face after replacing a crankshaft position sensor is a prolonged crank and hard start. You may find it difficult to start the vehicle at once, which is normal considering the type of work you perform in the car.
Solution:
The solution to prolonged and hard start after replacing a crankshaft position sensor is a continuous trial. Keep starting the car.
It should be able to start within 3rd to 6th trials. If after trying for so long it fails to start, you may have to trace back on the work you did to ensure you did not miss anything.
2. Rough Idling
After starting the car for the first time after replacing the crankshaft position sensor, you will experience rough idling which is normal.
Solution:
As long as the replacement was properly made, the rough idle should go off afterward. All you have to do is to let the car idle for a while. You may also need to clear any code that pops up on your ECU to enable the idle to start.
You can also perform an idle air control (IAC) valve reset or cleaning. The IAC valve regulates the engine’s idle speed.
If it is clogged or misbehaving, it can lead to stalling and rough idling. Cleaning or resetting the IAC valve can help improve idling.
3. Stalling Problems
Stalling problems are usually attributed to the crankshaft position sensor problems. However, replacing the sensor doesn’t always immediately resolve these issues. The engine may still stall or idle strangely after the replacement.
Solution:
Start and allow the engine to run for a while, if the replacement is properly done, the stalling issue will go away.
4. The Engine May Take a Long to Adapt to the New Sensor
In some cases, the ECU may take some time to adapt to the new crankshaft position sensor. During this adaptation period, you may experience minor issues like hesitation or irregular idling.
Solution:
Drive the vehicle for a few miles to allow the ECU to adapt to the new sensor. In most cases, these minor issues will resolve themselves as the ECU learns the new sensor’s characteristics.
5. Check Engine Light
You may get a check engine light even after replacing the crankshaft position sensor, the check engine light may persist, indicating an ongoing problem.
Solution:
Use an OBD-II scanner to read the trouble codes. The check engine light may be triggered by additional issues unrelated to the crankshaft sensor.
Clear them to determine if the CKP sensor replacement is the problem. If the problem comes back, then you should look into it.
6. Poor Engine Performance
One common issue that may occur after replacing the CKP sensor is poor engine performance. This can manifest as reduced engine power, sluggish acceleration, or an overall lack of responsiveness from the engine.
Solution:
Check the crankshaft sensor’s alignment and air gap to ensure it’s correctly installed. Incorrect installation can lead to inaccurate readings, causing poor engine performance. Check your car’s manufacturer’s specifications to ensure the sensor is aligned properly.
7. Sensor Wiring and Connector Issues
You may face wiring and connector problems if the wiring and connectors were not properly done during the replacement. It can cause problems even after the installation is done.
If the sensor is not receiving or transmitting signals correctly due to damaged wires or poor connections, it can result in engine problems.
Solution:
All you have to do is to inspect the wiring and connectors associated with the crankshaft sensor. Look for signs of damage, corrosion, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged components, and ensure all connections are secure.
8. Incorrect Sensor Synchronization
If you fail to properly and correctly synchronize the sensor with the engine’s timing during the replacement, it will affect the readings and cause inaccurate data readings as well as engine issues such as ignition timing and fuel injection problems. These issues can lead to poor performance, misfires, and even stalling.
Solution:
The solution is to ensure the synchronization is done the correct way. If incorrect synchronization is your problem and you don’t know what to do, you can refer to the manufacturer’s specifications/manual to ensure the sensor is synchronized correctly with the engine’s timing.
9. You May Get Diagnostic Trouble Codes
You may get different error codes in the ECU after replacing a crankshaft sensor especially if you did not disconnect your battery before the replacement.
Since your car is equipped with onboard diagnostic systems that can store trouble codes when an issue is detected. Even after replacing the sensor, some error codes may remain, indicating the presence of other problems. These codes can point to related issues or pre-existing conditions.
Solution:
The solution would be to use an OBD-II scanner to retrieve and clear any stored trouble codes. Pay attention to any recurring codes, as they may indicate other problems in the system that need attention.
10. Incorrect Sensor Alignment
If during the replacement you fail to get the correct alignment, it can prevent the sensor from functioning well.
The crankshaft position sensor must be correctly aligned with the crankshaft to function properly because if you have an incorrect alignment, it can lead to inaccurate readings which can lead to other engine issues, including poor performance and misfires, etc.
Solution:
Use the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure the sensor is correctly aligned. You may need to check the air gap between the sensor and the crankshaft.
11. Incorrect Replacement Part
Not all replacement crankshaft sensors are of high quality, and even brand-new sensors can be defective or of a subpar quality. If you replace the sensor with a bad-quality one, sooner or later, it may cause more problems than you can imagine.
Solution:
The only solution here is to purchase a crankshaft position sensor from a reputable manufacturer or supplier.
Carefully inspect the new sensor for visible defects before installation. Make sure it matches the specifications of your vehicle’s make and model.
These are the different types of problems you will face after replacing the crankshaft position sensor.
Conclusion
Replacing the crankshaft position sensor should fix all the problems the bad sensor was giving you. However, you must encounter some problems after replacing the crankshaft position sensor.
Problems like a prolonged crank to hard start, rough idle and misfire, etc. These problems will rectify itself if you let the engine run for a while. You can also drive the car around to enable the engine to adapt to the new sensor.
On the other hand, if there was a mistake during the replacement or the replaced sensor is an incorrect replacement part, it will cause the car to have more problems.
Therefore, if you are having issues after replacing the sensor, verify what the problem could be and see that it is fixed to enable the engine to run better.
