P0336 means Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance. A crankshaft position signal is present but erratic or does not match the expected pattern, often from a damaged reluctor or intermittent wiring. 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 P0336 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.
P0336 symptoms
- Stalling or a no-start
- Misfires or a stumble
- Tachometer jumping
Common causes of P0336
- Damaged or loose reluctor (tone) ring
- Metal debris on a magnetic sensor
- Intermittent wiring or connector problems
- Incorrect or failing sensor
How to diagnose P0336
- Inspect the sensor tip for debris and damage
- Check the connector and wiring for chafing
- Scope the sensor signal to look for missing or distorted teeth
- Check for crank relearn requirements after replacement
Can you drive with P0336?
Not reliably: the engine can stall without warning. Repair before relying on the vehicle.
P0336 tips
After replacing a crank sensor or working on the reluctor, many vehicles need a crankshaft position variation relearn with a scan tool, or misfire detection will not work correctly. Use an exact-fit sensor; a sensor that sits too far from the reluctor can cause this code.
Will P0336 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 P0336 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 |
|---|---|
| P0335 | Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit |
| P0340 | Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) |
| P0300 | Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected |
Guides that help
- engine stalling
- crankshaft and camshaft position sensors
- engine misfire and flashing check engine light
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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