How to test an Inductive Crank Sensor

In this video you'll see me test every aspect of the crank sensor circuit to conclusivly identify the cause of a non start condition

[@davidwoods607]

Don't know why I have never come across your channel, but with your method and attitude anyone can understand and learn.

[@JohnHughes0007]

Straight talking and straight to the point perfect 👌

[@jaykent6645]

Wonderful job, great to watch and very easy to follow and understand even a novice like me. Thanks so much Gary. You are the man. Kindest regards Jay

[@floriandabkowski6259]

I am impressed your work, you are doing amazing job! I wish at least half of the services have the same attitude. Well done.

[@electroporsche911]

Thanks for your emphasis , amazing

[@nemanjadzombic6101]

When you said the car needs a new ECU, I was wondering why you decided not to test power and grounds. It's totally obvious that you are good diagnostician, and I know you knew that step before definitelly make a call on ECU. But you've explained that. Thank you for another good video! Greetings from Serbia...

[@intelligentauto737]

The reason I didn’t test powers abs grounds is because the crank sensor does not rely on a voltage from the Ecu. There are no other faults with this Ecu and all other data pids are good.

[@nemanjadzombic6101]

@@intelligentauto737 Thank you. I supose there could be a problem inside the ecu that would result in it not to be able to see a signal from a crank sensor... Just a thought.

[@johnmwangi6291]

Sir the main reason for ECU change is evidence of water...and did you change the ckp or the signal was okay from the test you did... thank you sir am learning a lot from you sir

[@intelligentauto737]

@@johnmwangi6291 no it still has its original crank sensor as was tested as you seen abs found to be good “testing not guessing”

[@AbbottAutomotive]

Nice work, I'll look forward to the follow, if there is one. 👍🏻

[@chriswatts2096]

Thanks for sharing this information sir

[@simonsherwood7169]

Great stuff

[@richardjones3112]

Great video,can you show us the ecu replacement and how you code it.Thanks,keep them coming.

[@michaelevans3109]

Excellent. A quick test that may show something. Test the ecu input circuit from the sensor compare old one and new. DMM diode test both ways to ground and supply . this way you may be able to confirm your results before a new ecu for next time . or even fix the ecu. The sensor on-load wave form did look good though. Obviously no input low Z but may be OC. to the circuit board. Corrosion.!

[@PhillipBailey]

Very good demonstration. Just a couple of tips that I teach. An inductive sensor can be tested 4 ways typically. AC voltage across the sensor should measure a minimum of 500mV while cranking. Higher is better. Resistance of the coil which is usually between 200 and 2500 ohms with the actual spec being less broad. Frequeny testing measuring hertz. I don't recommend this method unless you know your meter will read the signal correctly as some meters have difficulty with the trigger setting. Lastly with a lab scope which is preferred. It will show the signal integrity ie if the waveform is inverted due to mixed up wires at the connector or an anomaly with the reluctor teeth due to physical damage. I noticed your signal was almost a perfect sine wave. Most CKP signals I have seen are alot more pointed. The variation in amplitude on your signal seems off to me since there should be multiple compression events between the sync pulse in my opinion. It's almost as if the flywheel is bent or the air gap is changing for some reason. I'd like to see what it looks like running. I've also had a missing cam signal or a cam signal that is implausible generate a CKP code at times. Hope to see part two.

[@intelligentauto737]

Thanks for the tips, it’s appreciated and I’ll factor those as part of my diagnosis in the future, the one point I will pull you on though is there are only 2 compression events per revolution of the flywheel, the crank must go through 720 deg to experience 4 compression events, the cam will go through only one revaluation though. Also if the cam sensor was at fault I’d expect to see engine speed in the data pids but as demonstrated there’s no engine speed being calculated. The first time this vehicle came to me it had same fault code and I checked cam sensor as well as crank and cam signal was present.

[@PhillipBailey]

@@intelligentauto737 You are correct about the compression events. I'm thinking of a V8 LOL. I stand corrected. Yes I noted the lack of RPM and the SYNC No in the data list. Thanks for the video...

[@paulbentley9026]

Thanks for the videos 👍 do you recommend a good break out lead kit ? Thanks.

[@geoff3172]

Another great video thankyou for posting..just wondering why you de pinned the crank sensor at the ecu when the signal was good when back probe..was it just to drag test the pins...

[@intelligentauto737]

Yes that was part of it but also to verify there was no issue with the connector itself. I’ve seen broken connectors inside Ecu plugs before

[@samsung-oq7rs]

Your videos are really fantastic.. Please keep uploading to KZbin.. One question, can you share the websites/sources that you use to keep up to date with modern vehicles. Thanks again

[@intelligentauto737]

I subscribe to Alldata, Autodata and HGS Data, I also continue to attend training courses at least 3 times a year

[@samsung-oq7rs]

@@intelligentauto737 Thank you for replying.. Are there any books that you recommend ?

[@intelligentauto737]

@@samsung-oq7rs Tom Denton has a good selection of books look him up

[@kantawalamashili526]

Very good way of tackling the issue. How can I get to communicate with you

[@simonedwards5401]

I noticed you tested the crank sensor in dc not ac does this matter good video

[@TheMinister2000]

I see You used 2 chanels for testing. Where You connected the grounds of both channels?

[@kevinpalmer7452]

Would be very interested in a follow up video

[@intelligentauto737]

Wait and see...🤔

[@gregmay8851]

powers and grounds at ecu

[@simonrawle7885]

from a novias scope user . is it possible to use an indictive crank senor for relative compression on a bigger time scale

[@intelligentauto737]

I like that you’re thinking out the box, this is the intention of these videos. Yes you’re correct this could be used as a measurement of relative compression, I’ll possibly do a video about this.

[@nemanjadzombic6101]

I thought of the same thing. But I do relative compression the ussual way. If you have appropriate amp clamp, it must be easier, as oposed to checking wether a crank sensor is inductive or hall type. And it's not always easilly accsessible.

[@intelligentauto737]

@@nemanjadzombic6101 there’s numerous ways to perform a relative compression test, this is one of them.

[@simonrawle7885]

@@nemanjadzombic6101 im more thinking of the advantage of killing 2 birds with one stone

[@tmanda323]

@@nemanjadzombic6101 da, amper kljesta i pikoskop, hehehehehh

[@gregmay8851]

ecu are expensive. and it sucks when your wrong