P0335 means Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit. The computer is not receiving a usable signal from the crankshaft position sensor, which it needs for spark and fuel timing. It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P0335 means
The engine computer uses the crankshaft position sensor to know engine speed and piston position, and the camshaft sensors to know which stroke each cylinder is on. On engines with variable valve timing, oil-driven cam phasers rotate the camshafts relative to the crankshaft under the control of solenoids. Timing codes come from a sensor that cannot be read, or from a measured cam angle that does not match the commanded one, so oil level and condition, sensor signals and mechanical timing all need checking.
P0335 symptoms
- Cranks but will not start
- Stalling, often when hot
- Tachometer drops to zero while running
- Misfires
Common causes of P0335
- Failed crankshaft position sensor
- Damaged wiring or an oil-soaked connector
- Damaged reluctor wheel
- Excessive air gap after other repairs
How to diagnose P0335
- Check for an RPM signal while cranking
- Inspect the sensor, connector and wiring
- Test the sensor output with a scope or meter as the service manual describes
Can you drive with P0335?
Not reliably: the engine can stall without warning. Repair it before relying on the vehicle.
P0335 tips
A crank sensor that fails when hot and works again after cooling is a classic pattern. Look for an RPM reading on the scan tool while cranking: no RPM signal on a no-start points straight at the crank sensor circuit. Check the air gap on a new sensor where the design allows.
Will P0335 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P0335 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P0340 | Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) |
| P0016 | Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A) |
| P0300 | Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected |
Guides that help
- engine stalling
- crankshaft and camshaft position sensors
- engine misfire and flashing check engine light
- car won’t start
When it is more than a sensor
If a stretched chain has already jumped time and damaged valves, or low oil pressure has worn the engine, a repair can cost more than a replacement; see engine replacement cost and compare engines by code on our engines page.
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