Car Talk / How Much to Fix Crank Or Camshaft Sensor

How Much Does It Cost to Fix Crank Or Camshaft Position Sensor

Written ByJohn Goreham
9/11/2024
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One of the most commonly discussed engine issues in our Car Talk Community is faulty engine sensors. In this article, we will explain what a crankshaft and camshaft sensor is, why it is important, and what a typical repair might cost you.

Internal combustion engines are lovely miracles of engineering. Rotating and reciprocal motion combined with a fuel air mixture that fires thousands of times per minute results in hot gasses expanding and pushing on a piston that eventually turns your wheels. Inside the engine, the crankshaft and camshaft are spinning to help to coordinate all of this action. Your engine’s computer uses two very important sensors to keep track of what is happening at precisely what moment in time. These sensors are called the crankshaft sensor (a.k.a. crank sensor) and the camshaft sensor (a.k.a. cam sensor).

When these sensors go bad, the engine can't operate properly. If they're not working, the engine will not operate, and you will get a check engine light. This is a repair that usually won’t break the bank on mainstream cars, but is a little more expensive on luxury and high-priced vehicles.

What is a crankshaft sensor and where is it located?

A crankshaft controls the movement of the pistons in the engine and transfers energy. Think of a crankshaft sensor as a counter that sends a signal. It is a sensor that uses an electrical signal to detect the location of the crankshaft in its rotation. This information is used to determine the engine’s revolutions per minute (RPMs). The sensor produces a pulsed electrical signal to your engine’s computer. This information is employed by the car’s computer to time the fuel delivery to the engine via the intake system and your ignition timing.

The crankshaft has two main parts, and the sensor isn’t usually mounted directly to the crankshaft, but instead, it mounts to either part of the engine or the transmission. Its transducers are mounted on a stationary part of the engine and another on a part that is attached to the crankshaft and rotates. Your mechanic will know where it is based on your car’s make and model.

What is a camshaft sensor and where is it located?

A camshaft, or camshafts plural in a car with multiple camshafts, controls the operation of the car’s valves. A camshaft position sensor monitors the location of the camshaft to help the engine’s computer control the entire combustion process. Working in conjunction with other sensors, your car’s powertrain control module interprets the signals from the cam sensor to regulate the fuel delivery and combustion. The camshaft sensor will be mounted to either the engine or its valve cover.

Symptoms of a bad crankshaft sensor

A crankshaft sensor can go bad and fail all at once, in which case your car may crank but not start, or it may not start at all. You will typically see a check engine light illuminated when this happens. However, crankshaft sensors can also start to go bad and cause the car to run poorly, or intermittently.

Here are some signs of a possible crankshaft sensor problem:

Car cranks but won’t start
Car runs in dry but not wet weather conditions
The tachometer displays an erratic RPM
The car stops and will not restart
A check engine light will appear (CEL)

Symptoms of a bad camshaft sensor

A bad camshaft position sensor can cause your car to run poorly in a variety of ways. Although they can fail all at once, they often give you warnings starting with a check engine light (CEL).

Here are some of the symptoms that may arise if you have a bad camshaft position sensor:

Check engine light appears
Car runs poorly, with jerks and surges
Car will not start
Engine stalls
Poor fuel economy (sudden)
Poor acceleration
Shifting issues

Cost to replace a crankshaft sensor

An experienced mechanic can usually diagnose a crankshaft sensor problem in a short amount of time. Typically an hour or so. The replacement itself is not difficult. However, corrosion around the sensor can prolong the repair process sometimes. A mechanic will know how to replace and properly adjust the gap of the sensor’s two parts.

In a mainstream vehicle, a crankshaft replacement will be the sum of the parts and the labor, typically two hours or so. Expect to pay between $200 and $400 to have a crankshaft sensor replaced. However, if you have a luxury or expensive vehicle, or one in which accessing the sensor is more difficult, the cost can climb higher or even double. New parts are typically used, and often the parts are original equipment parts, not aftermarket parts.

Read more on the topic of Aftermarket Parts here.

Cost to replace a camshaft sensor

A camshaft position sensor replacement is not an expensive job, if diagnosed properly. Some vehicles may have a lower cost, but expect a cost of between $200 and $400 for mainstream cars to replace the camshaft position sensor. The luxury model markup will apply to this like most repairs, so if you bought a luxury or high-pricedspecialty car, the cost could easily double.

Do camshaft and crankshaft sensors require maintenance?

Both cam and crank sensors are built to last the life of the vehicle without any maintenance or adjustment under normal circumstances. The only time these sensors would be touched unless they fail is if you have major engine repairs performed.

Where to have a crankshaft or camshaft sensor issue diagnosed and repaired

Diagnosing and replacing a bad camshaft or crankshaft sensor is well within the capabilities of any experienced mechanic. Any local shop you trust can handle this job. Would we advise you to take the car to a repair chain for an engine issue of this type? Hmm. Only if you know they have an experienced mechanic you trust on staff.

Any dealership’s service department can handle this work. However, you will end up paying more. Dealerships have higher landed costs and higher labor costs than smaller independent shops, so the cost to the consumer is typically 20% to 35% higher for any given work performed. If your car is under warranty, by all means, use the dealer for this job.

Read more on How to Find a Good Mechanic here.

Is replacing a camshaft or crankshaft sensor a DIY project?

Unlike routine maintenance, diagnosing and replacing a cam or crank sensor is not a DIY project for most vehicle owners. If you own an OBD2 scan tool and are comfortable using a multimeter, you could try this job, but the time it will take you may be more costly than the project will save you.

Read more on the topic of Owning a Car here.

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