Do not drive with an intermittent P0335. Risk of sudden stall. P0335 means the ECM is not receiving a valid signal from the crankshaft position sensor (CKP), which it needs to calculate engine speed and piston position for fuel injection and ignition timing.
What P0335 means
The crankshaft position sensor reads a toothed reluctor wheel mounted on the crankshaft — typically a 36-1 or 58-tooth design with one or more missing teeth used as a reference point. Each time a tooth passes the sensor, a pulse is generated. The ECM counts these pulses to determine exact crankshaft position and rotational speed. Toyota's 1GR-FE V6 uses a 34-tooth sensor plate generating 34 NE pulses per revolution. P0335 is stored when no crankshaft signal is received during cranking, when the signal disappears during running, or when the pulse count is outside the expected range despite the camshaft (VVT) sensor showing normal operation. Because injection timing and spark advance depend entirely on CKP data, a hard fault here causes a no-start condition.
Symptoms
- Engine cranks but will not start — the most common presentation of a hard CKP failure
- Engine starts but stalls immediately or runs for only a few seconds
- Intermittent stalling while driving, often without warning, in cases of a failing sensor
- Check engine light with no drivability symptoms if the signal is only dropping out briefly at specific RPMs
- Tachometer reads zero or fluctuates erratically while cranking
Common causes
- Failed crankshaft position sensor — the sensing element has failed internally, the magnet has cracked, or the coil is open/shorted
- Damaged wiring or corroded connector between the CKP sensor and the ECM — chafed insulation against heat shields is a common failure point
- Damaged reluctor wheel — a cracked, bent, or missing tooth on the crank trigger plate causes missing pulses
- Excessive air gap between the sensor tip and the reluctor wheel — caused by a loose mounting bolt or a sensor that has slipped
- ECM failure — rare, but the NE+ input circuit on the ECM can fail, especially if the sensor shorted to power at some point
Severity & driving advice
Severity: High — A hard CKP failure causes a no-start. An intermittent failure can cause sudden stalling at highway speed — a safety hazard.
Can I drive? Do not drive with an intermittent P0335. Risk of sudden stall.
Diagnostic approach
- Check for companion camshaft sensor codes and compare signal patterns — P0335 factory data confirms: if the VVT/camshaft sensor (P0340 family) is also not detected, the fault may be power or ground common to both sensors rather than the CKP alone. If the camshaft signal is normal but the CKP is absent, the fault is specific to the CKP circuit. Connect a scan tool and crank the engine — note whether engine speed (RPM) registers on the data screen; a reading of zero while cranking strongly confirms no CKP signal is reaching the ECM.
- Inspect the sensor, its connector, and wiring — Locate the CKP sensor (usually near the bottom of the engine block at the crank position — front, rear, or side depending on layout). Inspect the connector for green corrosion, backed-out pins, or heat damage to the insulation. Trace the wiring harness looking for rub-through points against the block or exhaust.
- Measure sensor resistance and signal voltage — For a magnetic (inductive) CKP, disconnect the connector and measure coil resistance between the signal terminals — compare to specification (commonly 1,000–2,500 Ω; open or zero resistance indicates a failed sensor). For a Hall-effect sensor, verify 5V reference and a clean ground at the connector, then check for a switching signal during cranking with a voltmeter or lab scope.
- Inspect the reluctor wheel condition — If the sensor and wiring check out, the issue may be a damaged tone wheel. Remove the sensor and, if accessible, visually inspect the reluctor ring through the sensor bore using a torch and mirror. A bent, cracked, or missing tooth causes the exact pulse count error the Toyota factory data describes — the ECM expects 34 pulses per revolution on the 4.0L V6 and will detect a range check fault if the count falls outside specification.
Make & model notes
Toyota: The 1GR-FE V6 (FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Tacoma, GX460) uses a 34-tooth NE signal plate on the crankshaft. P0335 on these engines occasionally results from a timing chain that has jumped a tooth, which causes a mismatch between the NE and VVT signals rather than an actual sensor failure. Always verify valve timing if a new sensor does not resolve the fault.
General Motors: LS-family V8 engines (5.3L, 6.0L) use a 58X reluctor wheel; the CKP sensor is located at the rear of the block near the oil pan. Corrosion at the two-pin connector from road spray is the most common wiring failure point on high-mileage GMT800/GMT900 trucks.
Chrysler / Dodge: 3.6L Pentastar V6 (Grand Cherokee, Charger, Ram 1500) CKP sensors are mounted on the engine block near the transmission bellhousing. Connector damage from oil contamination is a known issue; inspect the connector seal before condemning the sensor itself.
FAQ
Can I drive with P0335?
If the engine is running normally and the code is intermittent, short low-speed trips may be possible, but the risk of a sudden stall — including at highway speed — makes it genuinely dangerous. Diagnose and repair before relying on the vehicle.
Will the car start with a faulty crankshaft position sensor?
On most modern vehicles, a hard CKP failure causes a complete no-start because the ECM cannot calculate injection timing or spark advance without the crankshaft reference signal. Some vehicles have a limp-home strategy using only the camshaft sensor, but this is rare and power is severely restricted.
How do I know if it is the sensor or the reluctor wheel?
If the sensor's resistance checks out and the wiring is intact, inspect the reluctor wheel for physical damage. A scope trace of the CKP signal is the most definitive test — a damaged tooth shows up as a distorted or missing pulse in an otherwise regular signal pattern. A failed sensor typically shows no signal at all or a flat line.
P0335 came on after a timing job — what should I check?
A timing chain or belt job that misaligns the crankshaft position relative to the camshaft can cause P0335. The ECM cross-checks the CKP pulses against the cam signal; if the relationship is out of specification, the ECM may interpret this as a CKP fault. Recheck the timing marks against the service manual before replacing the sensor.