Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Crankshaft Position Sensor

[rekabeka]

I have a 2000 Ram, quad cab, Cummins with NV5600. Mileage is 153,000 miles. I am ready to replace the "Crankshaft Position Sensor" for the forth time!. Is this normal for this part to fail 4 times at this mileage? Code is P0336 on the "Smarty". Do I have another problem that I'm not seeing and should be investigating? All replacement parts have been Cummins. Thanks

 

[CESpitz]

Check the wire from the sensor I had one go bad turned out to be the wire not the sensor

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I am having the same issue. I'm going to check my wiring and check ground connections too. I also read on another board of someone having the same problem and it turned out to be their ECM, hoping that's not the case.

 

[JR]

When you pull it apart how does everything look? Tone ring, mounting surface, etc? Have you tested the plug? Are you using Cummins sensors? I'm still on the original crank sensor, knock on wood.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

JR the old sensors always looked fine when pulled, and the tone ring wasn't loose.

The first sensor I used was Cummins, second I'm not sure (ordered it online) and the one in there now is Auto Zone. I know, best stick with Cummins.

Last time I replaced the sensor I remember now I tested the wiring and it was fine, and with it idling I flexed the cable all over the place and wiggled on it and it didn't have any affect on it.

Today after posting I went and cleaned a couple grounds and found one ground cable from the driver side battery disconnected so I bolted it back down to the frame. So far after 3 short trips no problems, but I'll report back in a couple days if it's cleared or not. It was acting up about 90% of the time, and when it does it's within the first 2-3 minutes of driving. And it always goes away and the tach starts working again after 4-5 minutes of driving, and never acts up again even driving for hours until you shut down and fire up sometime later. Another oddity is just before the tach drops out the combustion chatter becomes very loud for 1-2 seconds.

 

[rekabeka]

I have a 2000 Ram, quad cab, Cummins with NV5600. Mileage is 153,000 miles. I am ready to replace the "Crankshaft Position Sensor" for the forth time!. Is this normal for this part to fail 4 times at this mileage? Code is P0336 on the "Smarty". Do I have another problem that I'm not seeing and should be investigating? All replacement parts have been Cummins. Thanks

Thanks for all the ideas and input. I replaced the sensor (cleared all codes) and this time I used some di-electric grease on the plug (both sides). I'm thinking that, since no other problem seems to exist, maybe corrosion is something that should be considered especially where the sensor lives. I know there is an ECM in the equation somewhere but I'm not ready to go there just yet! Thanks again TDR guys (and gals). DM

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hope the fix lasts rekabeka. Unfortunately for me doing the grounds didn't solve my issue, after running like a top for a day it was right back to its old routine. Today I went ahead and switched out the sensor for a Cummins one. Will see how it goes, if it fails again the next move is having the ECM rebuilt.

 

[rekabeka]

Crank Position Sensor

Hope the fix lasts rekabeka. Unfortunately for me doing the grounds didn't solve my issue, after running like a top for a day it was right back to its old routine. Today I went ahead and switched out the sensor for a Cummins one. Will see how it goes, if it fails again the next move is having the ECM rebuilt.

Thanks Vaughn! Let me know how you make out on that ECM rebuild (if necessary)? I've heard all kinds of horror stories about rebuilt ECM's. Probably the TDR is the best source for ECM rebuilders and warranties. I've always used Cummins replacement parts but that didn't seem to matter. Dave Mitchell

 

[JR]

Do you know of a reputable ECM distributor Vaughn?
I've not been down this road yet but always on the lookout just in case.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just as a side note, a few years back after some long and elaborate underhood temp testing, I found that a half dozen or so layers of aluminum foil folded as an insulating blanket between the ECM and the engine block dropped the operating and engine shut down heat soak temps quite significantly. Heat and voltage spikes are the worse enemies of computerized devices...

I did the same thing between the VP44 and engine block, with the same results...

 

[hicks3665]

1994 dodge cummings Turbo Diesel 3500 How To Replace The Crankshaft Sensor

We have a 94 Cummings 3500 we are trying to figure out how much space is between the crankshaft and the harmonic balancer. The alternator tested good but will not charge an the tack doesn't work. Really nothing in the cab is working and he has to change gears manually in order to get the truck to go. an than only 35 maybe 40 mph at best. We would love some advice on what to do to try to fix these problems. Thank You hicks3665

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hicks you might post this in the 12-valve section, but I assume you mean how much space between the harmonic balancer and the tach pickup? It is about the thickness of a business card. But if it still doesn't work you'll need to do some testing with a voltmeter, make sure there's 5V on the supply wire (not sure which it is). When I had a similar issue on my '96 it ended up being the PCM, cost around $500 to solve the issue