Crankshaft Position Sensor: Description and Operation

The crankshaft position sensor is the most important sensor on the engine. It is located in the left hand side of the torque convertor housing. The signal it produces informs the ECM:
- that the engine is turning
- how fast the engine is turning
- at which stage the engine is, in the combustion cycle.
As there is no default strategy, failure of the crankshaft sensor will result in the engine failing to start. The fault is indicated by illumination of the malfunction indicator light (MIL).