When you have a car that’s not starting, the first thing that you might do is check the battery. However, if you’ve had your car for a while and it still won’t start, there’s a good chance that the crankshaft position sensor is bad. In this article, we’ll discuss what a crankshaft position sensor is and how it can affect your car’s performance.
What is a Crankshaft Position Sensor?
A Crankshaft Position Sensor is a sensor that monitors the position of the crankshaft within the engine. If there is an issue with the position of the crankshaft, this can cause problems with the engine and may even cause it to smoke. So if you are experiencing issues with your car that you think may be related to the crankshaft position sensor, it is important to take action and have it checked out by a mechanic.
How Does the Sensor Work?
Every car has a crankshaft position sensor that measures the angle of the crankshaft and sends the information to the computer. If the angle is off, the computer can’t properly lubricate the engine or power train parts and can cause them to fail.
If your car smokes when you start it, there’s a good chance that your crankshaft position sensor is bad. The sensor sends a signal to the computer every time the engine starts up, so if it’s not working correctly, the computer will keep sending incorrect signals until something goes wrong.
If you smell smoke coming from your car when you start it, it’s probably because your sensor is bad. To test it, take it to a mechanic and have them check the angle. If it’s off, they’ll be able to replace the sensor without any trouble.
What to Do If Your Car Smokes
If you’re experiencing smoke from your car, it’s important to take a look at the engine and see if there is any indication that a bad crank sensor is causing the issue. In most cases, a bad crank sensor will cause an engine to idle high and misfire, which can lead to smoke from the car. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Check the fuel line – If the smoke is coming from the engine, it’s likely because of poor fuel flow. A clogged fuel line can cause hesitation, smoking, and poor acceleration. If you have difficulty starting the car or see black clouds coming from under the hood when you run it after filling up with gasoline, this may be a sign of a clogged line. Check the fuel lines for cracks or leaks and clean them if necessary.
2. Check for codes – If your car has been in an accident or has been sitting for a long time, it’s possible that something has caused the codes to appear on your dashboard. Bring your car in for inspection so that the problem can be diagnosed and corrected.
3. Replace the crank sensor – In some cases, a bad crank sensor will just need to be replaced outright
Conclusion
If you’re experiencing smoke and/or Bearing failure in your car, it’s important to have the engine checked out as soon as possible. A bad crankshaft position sensor could be causing these issues, so it is important to get that checked out and fixed if necessary. If you don’t have time for a full vehicle inspection, at the very least make sure the crank position sensor is replaced or corrected.