Crankshaft Position (CKP)/Top Dead Center (TDC) Sensor Inspection and Replacement

INSPECTION
PROCEDURE

1. The Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor is used to determine the fuel injection and ignition timing for each cylinder. The TDC sensor is used to determine the ignition timing angle when starting the engine. On 4-cylinder engines, the TDC and CKP sensors are mounted under the timing belt lower cover. V6 models are equipped with two TDC sensors, located behind the front cylinder bank camshaft cover, and one CKP sensor, mounted under the timing belt lower cover. Failure of the CKP/TDC sensor on 4-cylinder models will store trouble code P0335, P0336, P0361 or P0362 in the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system memory. On V6 models, faults in the TDC sensor circuit are indicated by codes P1361, P1362, P1366 or P1367. CKP sensor fault codes are P0335 and P0336. For more information, refer to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System - Operation and Trouble Codes.

4-Cylinder Models

2. Disconnect the sensor electrical connector and connect an ohmmeter to terminals 1 and 2. Refer to the Specifications in this chapter for the required values. This check verifies the operation of the TDC sensor. Now connect the ohmmeter to the CKP sensor terminals (terminals 3 and 4). Compare the measured result with the Specifications.

3. Check each terminal for short to ground: there should be no continuity.
4. If the results of the above checks are unsatisfactory, replace the CKP/TDC sensor.

V6 Models

5. To check the CKP sensor, disconnect its electrical connector and connect an ohmmeter to terminals 1 and 2. Compare the measured result with the Specifications.

6. To check the operation of the TDC sensors, disconnect the corresponding connector and measure the resistance between terminals 1 and 2 (TDC sensor No. 1) and terminals 3 and 4 (TDC sensor No. 2). Compare the result with the Specifications.

7. Check each terminal for short to ground.
8. If the results of the above checks are unsatisfactory, replace the faulty sensor.

REPLACEMENT
PROCEDURE

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

If the vehicle is equipped with an audio system with an anti-theft code, make sure you have the correct code to reactivate the audio system before disconnecting the battery!
2. To gain access to the TDC and CKP sensors on 4-cylinder engines, remove the timing belt cover (refer to Engine chapter).

3. On V6 models, only the CKP sensor is located under the timing belt cover. For the cover removal procedure, refer to the Engine chapter.

4. Next, to access TDC sensors No. 1 and No. 2 (V6 engines), remove the timing belt pulley and the rear timing belt cover from the front cylinder head. Refer to the Engine chapter.