The Civic Crank position sensor is a crucial part of your vehicle that relays engine speed directly to your ECU. This real time data is then used by the ECU to control ignition timing and operate your vehicle at peak efficiency.
Over time however your crank position sensor may become worn or damaged, which would cause issues with your Civic’s driveability. Problems with your crank position sensor can cause damage to your engine and severely downgrade performance.
Today we’ll be showing you how to service a Honda Civic crank position sensor, in a 1996 Honda Civic EX. This vehicle comes with a D16Y8 SOHC VTEC engine, although there’s not going to be much difference in a SOHC found in a 1996-2000 Honda Civic.
For any Civic CX, DX, LX or EX the D16Y7 non VTEC motor, will be pretty much the same process as this how to service a Honda Civic crank position sensor guide. The part number for this crank position sensor is 37500-P2F-A01 and it’s usually around 40 dollars for offshore, upwards of 90 for genuine.
Get your Civic on a flat enough surface and raise the vehicle up via jack and jackstands if you do not have access to an automotive lift. If your Civic still has the factory stereo, you should find your radio code before disconnecting the negative terminal on your battery.
Remove the front driver side wheel and make sure the vehicle is secure.
Remove the lower splash guard that is meant to protect your front timing cover by undoing the plastic push clips. Once you have this guard removed, grab your jack and a 2×4 or similar piece of wood.
Put the jack and wood under the engine oil pan, making sure to evenly distribute load. Jack it up until you have just enough tension, but do not raise the motor. Simply raise the wood until it touches the bottom of your oil pan and supports it.
Disconnect your cruise control unit by unplugging the connector and undoing the 3 10mm bolts that hold to it your vehicle. Take off the front ground strap that runs from your valve cover to your front radiator support, but only from the valve cover side.
Put your cruise control unit to the side and get to work on the driver side engine mount. Unbolt the 14mm bolts that run through the engine mount, and don’t forget the deep 14mm for the nut on the stud.
Undo this mount and remove it from the engine bay, and then the lower air conditioning mount that’s bolted to the frame. Unbolt the 19mm nut and then the two 14mm bolts that point upwards, and this mount can slide out.
Head back on top of you engine, and you must remember to unbolt this 10mm from the air conditioning pressure hose. Failure to do so may kink or cause a leak in your air conditioning line when you lower your motor.
Slowly and gently lower your motor about an inch so that you can gain enough room to operate. You will be removing bolts from the front of your D16 and close to the frame, so try to leave yourself some space.
Unclip the oil dipstick funnel and remove the dipstick and funnel as a whole. With the dipstick removed you should be able to access all the 10mm bolts you need to remove for the lower timing cover.
You’ve arrived at one of the more challenges aspects of this How To Service a Honda Civic Crank Position Sensor guide, and that’s the crank pulley. If you own a Moroso Honda balancer wrench, part number 61805 this part is easy. If you don’t it’s okay you still have air tools.
If you don’t have either, you can try a chain wrench or rent an electronic impact wrench and hope for the best.
Once you have your crank pulley removed, locate your crank keyway ( woodruff key ) and keep it somewhere safe. Next, take off the six 10mm bolts that hold the lower timing cover onto the front of your motor. Then gently pry down and away to pull off the front engine cover.
Circled above is your crank position sensor, which is held onto your Honda Civic SOHC D series engine by one 10mm bolt. Undo this bolt and follow the wiring harness up to a clip that holds it safely away from the heat of your D16.
Unplug the faulty crank position sensor, and now you know how to service a Honda Civic crank position sensor. Simply reverse your steps to restore your engine to where it needs to be.
If you have any questions or comments about our writeup, please leave them below.
I change out my crank sensor but the engine light still reads bad sensor. Do I need to re-teach it some how?
Hi Jay, thanks for commenting!
If you have already changed your crank sensor, did you clear the code properly using a scanner? If so does your scanner read real time values? If so check the real time values to see if you get a engine speed reading. if not check the wiring from your Honda civic crank sensor to your ECU!
best of luck!
Do I clear the code b4 I work on it or after replacing sensor?. And how do I test the one that’s on it to make sure it’s not something else or wiring issue?
Clear the code after you install the new Civic crankshaft position sensor. And if you replace it correctly, you won’t have to wonder whether or not the one you have is bad. Best of luck to you!
I have replaced my Crankshaft position sensor four times and I’m still getting a code for the crankshaft position sensor what could it be
Hey Ryan, have you tried to test the wiring harness back to the ECU?