Crankshaft Position Sensor: Description and Operation

PURPOSE
The Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor utilizes a hall effect sensor to provide crankshaft position, base timing and engine speed information to the Ignition Control Module (ICM). The ICM supplies this information to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) as the Profile Ignition Pickup (PIP) signal. The PCM uses this information for fuel injector timing and calculating ignition timing advance and dwell.

CONSTRUCTION
The CKP sensor is located on the front timing cover, above the dampener and is comprised of a hall effect switch and a 3 bladed shutter plate attached to the dampener.

OPERATION
Each blade on the shutter plate corresponds to a separate position on the crankshaft. As the shutter plate passes through the hall effect switch the output of the sensor alternates from 0.0 to 12.0 volts in a square wave pattern. This output is sent to the ICM where it is converted to the PIP signal.