The Altima crank sensor in your 2.5 liter engine is responsible for providing the real time position of your crankshaft. Your crankshaft position sensor is the primary unit that your Nissan computer relies on to determine crankshaft movement. Without this signal your Nissan Altima engine will not run. One of the more common issues from a Altima Crank Sensor failure include when your Nissan Altima won’t start.
Some of the most common Nissan Altima issues with your crank sensor involve a loss of signal. The crank sensor in your 2.5 liter engine is a hall effect style, meaning it works on the magnetic properties to read to teeth on your crankshaft. Based on the distance between the sensor and the teeth on the gear, this sensor creates a voltage signal.
When there’s a loss of crank angle sensor signal, your Altima won’t start. Further, when there’s an intermittent crank sensor issue in your car, you run the risk of your Nissan turning off at speed. If equipped with an automatic transmission, you’ll be left with your Altima moving without brake or steering assist.
Because this is a dangerous condition, you should not drive your vehicle until you get a chance to test your Altima crank sensor.
Today I’ll be showing you how to test this crank angle sensor in a 2008 Altima with a 2.5 liter Nissan engine in it.
When this Altima crank sensor starts going out on you, you’ll see a multitude of check engine codes. These trouble codes can range from a P0335 OBDII trouble code or your Altima check engine light turning on.
Symptoms of a bad Altima crank sensor
The crank sensor in your Nissan is mounted on your Nissan Altima oil pan. It’s mounted to face towards the gear teeth of your crankshaft signal plate. Crank angle sensor errors can exist if there’s damage to this sensor or the plate itself.
As your 2.5 liter engine runs, the crank sensor uses the fluctuation of the trigger plate to determine engine revolution. When it goes bad you’ll see any number of symptoms that can include but are not limited to :
- Engine shuts off randomly
- Altima won’t start
- Hard start condition
- Check Engine Light ON
When your Nissan Altima check engine light comes back with a crank error, you’ll need the right OBDII scan tool to check the code. To begin testing your Altima crank sensor, we’ll use a digital multimeter to measure the internal resistance of your hall effect sensor.
Testing your Nissan Altima crank sensor
Before you begin testing your crank sensor, you will need to turn the dial of your multimeter to read resistance Ω. At this setting you will measure the internal resistance of your Altima crank sensor to determine if it’s any good or not.
The first combination of pins you are checking is between PIN A and PIN B using our 
Altima crank sensor wiring diagram. The measurement of resistance here will usually vary, but you don’t want zero resistance or an ∞.
Now move onto PIN A and PIN C, which should return a similar resistance value.
The last combination of pins to check is between PIN B and PIN C. Again the resistance here should be similar to the other pairs.
If you don’t see resistance at these pins or you have a 0 value or ∞, then it’s time to remove and discard your old crank sensor. Install a replacement crank sensor and use your scan tool to erase your Nissan Altima check engine light.
Have any questions about your Nissan Altima crank angle sensor? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
I’m working on my Nissan, my ckp checks out so I started checking the wiring, I’m not sure what the voltage should be on the harness feeding the ckp sensor. I know the number 2 is ground. I have 5 bolts on number 1 and 3 with the ignition on. I assumed 3 should be a signal wire that would only give voltage connected to the ckp and the engine running. Am I mistaken? Thanks in advance
Hi Dominic, this is a hall effect type sensor and yes you are right that is the signal wire. Check for continuity from the sensor back to your ECU. that’s a good place to start!