Replacing a crankshaft position sensor can cost around $200–$400—although the cost can be much higher for luxury vehicles or cars with a difficult-to-access crankshaft sensor.
What affects the cost of a crankshaft position sensor replacement?
There are several factors that can affect the labor and parts costs for a crankshaft position sensor replacement:
Labor
It usually takes about two hours to replace a crankshaft position sensor, but this can vary widely depending on the car you drive. Here are a few things that may impact that labor cost:
- Where you live: Automotive labor rates can range widely depending on your location. For instance, hourly labor rates in Mississippi average about $110 an hour, but in California, the average hourly rate is around $174.
- Crankshaft position sensor location: In some cars, the crankshaft position is easy to access, making this an easy repair. But if the crankshaft position sensor on your vehicle is located inside the engine block, a mechanic may have to disassemble a number of components to access the sensor.
- Corrosion: If there is corrosion around the sensor, it can be much more time-consuming to remove, which could add to your hourly labor costs.
In cars with particularly difficult-to-remove crankshaft position sensors, you could pay as much as $800 for a replacement.
Parts
On average, a replacement crankshaft position sensor costs around $75 to $125.
Crankshaft position sensors are usually original equipment (OEM) parts, which typically cost more than aftermarket parts manufactured by a third party. But if you drive a car with especially expensive or hard-to-source parts, you may pay even more for your replacement sensor.
If any additional components are needed—like new gaskets—you could pay as much as an additional $100 for parts.
What are the symptoms of a bad crankshaft position sensor?
If your crankshaft position sensor is going bad, you may notice some of these issues:
- Check engine light: There are a lot of mechanical problems that can cause your check engine light to come on, including a faulty crankshaft position sensor. Have your car scanned by a mechanic—if you see trouble codes P0335 or P0336, the problem is your crankshaft position sensor.
- Car won’t start: If the crankshaft position sensor isn’t working, your car’s computer won’t know when to ignite the spark plugs or send fuel to the engine. Your engine may work sporadically at first, but eventually, it won’t start at all.
- Stalling: Even if your car does start, a faulty crankshaft position sensor can cause the engine to shut down entirely while you’re driving.
- Vibrations and misfires: If the crankshaft position sensor is going out, your engine won’t be able to regulate the timing of the spark plugs and the fuel injectors, which can cause your car to shudder, shake, and misfire while you’re driving.
- Increased fuel consumption: Because your engine won’t be running at peak efficiency, a bad crankshaft position sensor can cause you to burn fuel more quickly than usual.
What does a crankshaft position sensor do?
A crankshaft position sensor—sometimes called a crank sensor or CKP sensor—sends information about the crankshaft’s rotation to the car’s central computer. The computer then uses that information to regulate the timing of the spark plugs and fuel injectors to ensure that the internal combustion system is synchronized. It also helps monitor misfires and may regulate other components, like your variable valve timing (VVT) system.
What will happen if I don’t replace my crankshaft position sensor?
If your crankshaft position sensor is going bad, it’s not a problem you should ignore. Even if it doesn’t seem serious at first, you’ll struggle with reduced engine performance and poor fuel efficiency.
More concerning, your car might stall while you’re driving, which could potentially lead to an accident. And eventually, it will no longer start, which could leave you stranded.
Can I replace a crankshaft position sensor myself?
Properly diagnosing a faulty crankshaft position sensor can be tricky, so unless you have access to an OBD-II scanner, you should take your car to a mechanic to determine what the issue is. And even once you’re sure that’s the problem, it’s usually better to let a certified technician handle this repair unless you’re very comfortable working with automotive electrical systems.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Chris Burkhardt is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience across various storytelling mediums. With Jerry, Chris hopes to help anyone with a question about their vehicle easily find the answers they are looking for. Whether you need to know how much insurance costs for a classic car, how to replace a broken light or tell if you need an oil change, Chris wants to help you find solutions the best he can. Prior to joining Jerry, Chris was a digital content producer and writer for NBC and a freelance editor for NerdWallet. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, if Chris is not working on content, he’s sure to be found cheering on his Ducks!
