P0339 means Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent. The crankshaft position signal is dropping out or behaving erratically for short periods. 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 P0339 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.
P0339 symptoms
- Stalling or stumbling that comes and goes
- Intermittent no-start, often when hot
- Tachometer that drops out
Common causes of P0339
- Failing crank sensor
- Loose or corroded connector
- Wiring rubbing near the engine
- Damaged reluctor ring or debris on the sensor tip
How to diagnose P0339
- Watch engine rpm on a scan tool while wiggling the harness
- Inspect the connector and wiring route
- Check the sensor tip for metal debris
- Test the sensor signal with a scope if available
Can you drive with P0339?
Not reliably: an intermittent crank signal can stall the engine while driving.
P0339 tips
Intermittent crank sensor faults are often heat-related: the engine dies when hot and restarts after cooling. Recording live data during a stall is the most reliable way to catch it.
Will P0339 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 P0339 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 |
| P0336 | Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance |
| P0340 | Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor) |
Guides that help
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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