Posted on 4/28/2025
Your engine might seem like a mechanical beast, but at its core, it runs on precise information. One of the most important sources of that information is the crankshaft speed sensor. Also called a crankshaft position sensor, this small but powerful component tells your vehicle’s computer when and how fast the engine is turning. If that sounds simple, it’s not. Without accurate data from the crankshaft speed sensor, your engine won’t run properly—if it runs at all. Here’s why this sensor plays such a critical role under the hood and what happens when it starts to fail. What Does a Crankshaft Speed Sensor Do The crankshaft is the central rotating shaft in your engine. It converts the up-and-down motion of the pistons into the rotational force that moves your car forward. The crankshaft speed sensor keeps track of that rotation by measuring the position and speed (RPM) of the crankshaft in real-time. This information is sent directly to t ... read more