# P0336: Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week Engine sensors - Generic OBD-II code, applies to all gasoline cars and light trucks sold in the US since 1996. - **Typical cost:** $150-$2,000 - **Urgency:** This week - **Most likely:** Damaged tone ring or failing crank sensor - **DIY?:** Shop diagnosis recommended ## Quick answer P0336 means the engine computer is getting a crankshaft position signal, but the pattern of pulses is wrong: teeth seem missing, extra, or arriving at the wrong time. That can come from a damaged reluctor ring, a failing sensor, the wrong air gap, or electrical noise. Stalling, rough running, or a no-start are possible. ## What does P0336 mean? The crankshaft position sensor reads a toothed reluctor ring on the crankshaft, harmonic balancer or flywheel. Each tooth makes a pulse, and a deliberate gap of one or two missing teeth marks a reference point. The engine computer counts the pulses between gaps to know engine speed and piston position, which it needs to time spark, fuel injection and misfire detection. P0336 is a range/performance code for crank sensor "A", the first or only crank sensor. Unlike P0335, the signal is present, but it does not look right. The computer expects a set number of teeth between reference gaps, and sets P0336 when it counts too many or too few, sees pulses at impossible intervals, or finds the crank signal disagreeing with the camshaft signal. Electrical noise can add false pulses, and a damaged ring can drop real ones. Many vehicles set this code on the first trip it is seen. ## What are the symptoms of P0336? - Engine stalls or cuts out, sometimes at low speed or when warm - Hard starting or long cranking before the engine fires - Rough running, hesitation or random misfires - Tachometer needle jumps or drops while driving - Check engine light on ## What causes P0336? Ranked from most to least likely. Check them in this order: the cheap, common causes first. 1. **Failing crankshaft position sensor** (most common). A sensor breaking down inside can produce weak or distorted pulses that the computer miscounts, especially once the engine is hot. The car may stall warm and restart after cooling. This can happen at any mileage but is more common on older engines. A scope shows uneven pulse heights or dropouts compared with a known-good pattern. 2. **Damaged reluctor ring or slipped balancer** (common). Bent, chipped or missing teeth on the reluctor ring, or a harmonic balancer whose outer ring has slipped on its rubber, give the computer the wrong tooth count. Rings can also be damaged during clutch, flywheel or engine work. A code that returns right after a new sensor points strongly to the ring. 3. **Incorrect air gap or wrong sensor** (common). The distance between the sensor tip and the ring has to be right. A sensor that is not seated fully, has a thick or damaged O-ring, or is the wrong part number for the engine may read some teeth and miss others. This is most likely after recent repairs or with a low-quality replacement sensor. 4. **Electrical noise or wiring fault** (less common). Crank signals are small, and a chafed wire, broken shield or poor ground can let interference from ignition coils, plug wires or the alternator add false pulses. Aftermarket accessories wired near the harness can do the same. A shop checks grounds, looks for damaged insulation, and watches the signal while wiggling the harness. 5. **Timing belt or chain out of position** (rare). If the timing belt or chain has jumped a tooth or stretched badly, crank and cam signals no longer line up, and some computers report that as P0336 rather than a correlation code. This usually comes with other codes such as P0016. A shop checks timing marks before replacing sensors repeatedly. ## How do you diagnose P0336? 1. Read all codes and freeze-frame data, noting related codes such as P0335, P0016 or misfire codes. 2. Inspect the crank sensor, its O-ring, mounting and wiring, and confirm the correct part is fitted. 3. Scope the crank sensor signal while cranking and running to look for missing teeth, extra pulses or dropouts. 4. Check the harmonic balancer or flywheel for damage or a slipped outer ring. 5. If crank and cam signals disagree, verify mechanical timing marks before replacing parts. ## How do you fix P0336, and what does it cost? | Fix | Typical cost | What it involves | | --- | --- | --- | | Replace crankshaft position sensor | $150-$400 | Use a quality part matched to the engine; some sensors need a set air gap. | | Repair wiring, shielding or ground | $120-$350 | Fixes chafed wires, broken shields or loose engine grounds. | | Replace harmonic balancer or reluctor ring | $400-$2,000 | A front balancer is the lower end; a flywheel or internal crank ring is far more labor. | Full price breakdowns: [crankshaft position sensor replacement cost](/cost/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement). ## Is it safe to drive with P0336? > **Drive to a shop this week.** Drive only as needed until it is checked. A bad crank signal can stall the engine without warning, which is dangerous in traffic, so avoid highways and long trips. ## Will P0336 fail an emissions test? With P0336 stored and the check engine light on, the car fails an OBD-based emissions test. A distorted crank signal also undermines misfire detection, so the misfire monitor may report false misfires or not complete. After the repair, clear the code, finish any crank relearn your vehicle needs, and drive until monitors complete. ## After the repair: clearing P0336 Clear the code and test the engine both cold and fully warm, since many crank faults appear only when hot. Some vehicles, including many GM models, need a crankshaft position variation relearn with a scan tool after crank sensor or balancer work. If stalling and the code do not return over a week of driving, the fix worked. ## How to prevent P0336 - Use quality, correctly matched crank sensors; poor parts are a common cause of returning range codes. - Ask for the flywheel or reluctor ring to be inspected during clutch or engine work. - Replace a harmonic balancer that shows cracked rubber or a wobbling outer ring. - Keep aftermarket wiring and accessories away from the crank sensor harness. ## Codes often seen with P0336 - [P0335](/codes/p0335): Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit - [P0339](/codes/p0339): Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Intermittent - [P0340](/codes/p0340): Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) - [P0016](/codes/p0016): Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A) - [P0300](/codes/p0300): Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I drive with a P0336 code? It is risky, because a bad crank signal can make the engine stall or cut out without warning. If the car runs well, drive it straight to a shop and avoid highways. If it stalls, misfires heavily or is hard to start, have it towed rather than chance stalling in traffic. ### What is the difference between P0335 and P0336? P0335 means the crank sensor circuit is not giving a usable signal at all, while P0336 means a signal is there but its tooth pattern or timing is wrong. P0336 more often points to the reluctor ring, air gap or electrical noise, though a failing sensor can cause either code. ### How much does it cost to fix P0336? Most P0336 repairs cost $150 to $2,000 at an independent shop. A new crank sensor runs about $150 to $400 and a wiring repair $120 to $350. Replacing a harmonic balancer or a flywheel-mounted ring costs $400 to $2,000, depending on how much has to come apart. ### Can a bad harmonic balancer cause P0336? Yes, on engines where the reluctor ring is part of the harmonic balancer, a balancer whose outer ring has slipped or separated gives a distorted signal. You may see the pulley wobble or notice timing marks no longer line up. Replacing the balancer, not the sensor, fixes it. ### Why did P0336 come back after a new crank sensor? The cause was likely not the sensor. A damaged reluctor ring, a slipped balancer, the wrong air gap, a poor-quality part or electrical noise can all keep setting P0336. Ask the shop to scope the signal and inspect the ring before replacing another sensor. ### Can P0336 cause a no-start? Yes, if the computer cannot make sense of the crank signal, it may not fire the spark plugs or injectors at all. Some engines start but run roughly or stall. Watch the tachometer while cranking; a needle that stays still or jumps erratically suggests a crank signal problem. ### Do I need a relearn after fixing P0336? Some vehicles do, especially many GM models, which need a crankshaft position variation relearn with a scan tool after crank sensor, balancer or flywheel work. Without it, misfire detection may be inaccurate and codes can return. Ask whether your vehicle requires it before leaving the shop. ### Can a timing chain cause P0336? It can on some engines, if the chain has stretched or jumped and the crank and cam signals no longer line up as expected. That usually comes with timing correlation codes such as P0016 and a rattle at startup. A shop checks mechanical timing before replacing sensors. ### Can I fix P0336 myself? You can inspect the wiring and replace an easy-to-reach crank sensor with basic tools. Confirming the cause, though, usually needs a scope to see the tooth pattern, and balancer or flywheel repairs are shop jobs. Replacing sensors without testing often wastes money on this code. ### Will P0336 pass an emissions test? No, P0336 with the check engine light on fails an OBD-based emissions test in most states. A faulty crank signal can also stop the misfire monitor from running correctly. Fix the cause, perform any required relearn, and drive several days until readiness monitors complete. ## Sources - [SAE J2012: Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions](https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2012_201812/) - [EPA: On-Board Diagnostics (OBD)](https://www.epa.gov/state-and-local-transportation/vehicle-emissions-board-diagnostics-obd) ## Other engine sensors codes - [P0325 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0325) - [P0326 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0326) - [P0327 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Low (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0327) - [P0332 Knock Sensor 2 Circuit Low (Bank 2)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0332) - [P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0335) - [P0339 Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Intermittent](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0339) - [P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0340) - [P0341 Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0341) - [P0344 Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0344) - [P0345 Camshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit (Bank 2)](https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0345) ## Symptoms - [Why does my car stall while driving?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/car-stalls-while-driving) - [Why does my car crank but not start?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/car-cranks-but-wont-start) - [Why is my car idling rough?](https://diagxcar.com/symptoms/rough-idle) ## Repair costs - [Crankshaft position sensor replacement cost](https://diagxcar.com/cost/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement): $150-$500 --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/codes/p0336 Updated: 2026-11-03 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.