Testing The Crankshaft Position Sensor -P0320 (1996-2002 2.4L Caravan, Grand Caravan, Voyager, Grand Voyager)

This tutorial will help you test the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor on the 1996-2002 2.4L Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth mini-vans.

The crankshaft position sensor test I'm gonna' show you is done with a multimeter. With its test result you'll be able to conclude if the crankshaft position sensor is good or bad.

You can find this tutorial in Spanish here: Probando El Sensor De La Posición Del Cigüeñal (1996-2002 2.4L Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth Mini-Van) (at: autotecnico-online.com).

APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following mini-vans equipped with the 2.4L engine:

• 2.4L Chrysler Voyager: 2001, 2002.
• 2.4L Dodge Caravan: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.
• 2.4L Dodge Grand Caravan: 1996, 1997.
• 2.4L Plymouth Grand Voyager: 1996, 1997.
• 2.4L Plymouth Voyager: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.

WIRING DIAGRAMS:

• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1996-1997 2.4L Dodge And Plymouth Minivan).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1998-1999 2.4L Dodge And Plymouth Minivan).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (2000 2.4L Dodge And Plymouth Minivan).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (2001-2002 2.4L Chrysler And Dodge Minivan).

IGNITION SYSTEM TESTS:

• How To Test The CMP Sensor -P0340 (1996-2000 2.4L Dodge And Plymouth Minivan).
• How To Test The CMP Sensor -P0340 (2001-2002 2.4L Chrysler And Dodge Minivan).
• How To Test The Ignition Coil (1996-2007 2.4L Caravan, Grand Caravan, Voyager, Grand Voyager).

OTHER CKP SENSOR TEST TUTORIALS:

• How To Test The CKP Sensor -P0320, P0335, P0339 (2003-2007 2.4L Chrysler And Dodge Minivan).

Symptoms Of A Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor

When the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor fails in your mini-van, the engine is not going to start. It will 'crank but not start'.

The fuel injection computer is designed to set a crankshaft position sensor diagnostic trouble code (DTC) when the sensor fails. If the computer does set one, you'll see the following trouble code:

• P0320: No Crank Reference Signal At PCM.

The two most important symptoms to look for, when the CKP sensor fails, are: no spark from all of the spark plug wires and no fuel injector pulses from all of the fuel injector connectors (as tested by a Noid light).

If you have spark, even if it's just from one spark plug wire, the crankshaft position sensor is not bad.

Tools You'll Need To Test CKP Sensor

You don't need any expensive tools to test the crankshaft position sensor on your 2.4L equipped mini-van. As a matter of fact, you don't even need a scan tool to test it.

Tools you'll need to test the crankshaft position sensor on your mini-van:

• Multimeter.
  • You can use a digital multimeter or an analog multimeter although the digital one is the preferred one.
  • If you don't have a multimeter or need to upgrade yours, check out my recommendation here: Buying A Digital Multimeter For Automotive Diagnostic Testing (at: easyautodiagnostics.com).
• Jack
• Jack stands
• 1/2 inch ratchet wrench and the necessary sockets to turn the crank pulley.

As you can see, the tools you'll need won't break the bank and more than likely you already own most of them.

Where To Buy The CKP Sensor And Save

The crankshaft position sensor is not an expensive component. The following links will help you comparison shop for the crankshaft position sensor and hopefully save you a few bucks on its purchase:

Not sure if the above crank position sensor fit your particular Dodge (Chrysler/Plymouth) mini-van? Don't worry, once you get to the site, they'll make sure it fits by asking you the specifics of your vehicle. If the above don't fit, they'll find the right one for you.

How The CKP Sensor Works

The crankshaft position sensor, on your mini-van, is a Hall Effect sensor with 3 wires coming out of its electrical connector.

Since the crankshaft position sensor is a Hall Effect type sensor, it produces an ON/OFF DC voltage signal that can be easily observed with:

• A multimeter.
• An oscilloscope.
• Or an LED Light.

This also means that there is no crankshaft position sensor resistance test to see if the sensor is bad or not. Only the 2-wire reluctor type crankshaft position sensor can be resistance tested.

As you turn the key and crank the engine, each one of the three wires that connect to the crankshaft position sensor have a specific job to do:

1. One delivers power in the form of 8 Volts from the PCM.
   • I've labeled this wire with the number 3 in the photo above.
2. Another delivers Ground. This Ground is provided inside the PCM, too.
   • I've labeled this wire with the number 2.
3. The last remaining wire, delivers the ON/OFF signal, that the CKP sensor creates, to the PCM.
   • I've labeled this wire with the number 1.
4. The PCM uses the crank signal to activate the Auto Shut Down (ASD) Relay.
5. The Auto Shut Down (ASD) Relay activates:
   • The fuel pump relay and thus the fuel pump.
   • The fuel injectors.
   • The ignition coil pack and thus spark to each engine cylinder.
6. Therefore, the crankshaft position sensor (and its signal) is critical for the engine to start.

The most important thing to know, is that if the crankshaft position sensor goes bad, your Chrysler (or Dodge or Plymouth) mini-van will crank but not start due to a lack of spark and fuel injection.

TEST 1: Testing The CKP Signal With A Multimeter

As mentioned before, the CKP sensor produces an ON/OFF voltage as the engine turns.

ON is when the signal is 5 Volts and OFF is when its 0 Volts.

When the CKP sensor fails, it'll stop producing this ON/OFF voltage signal and stay stuck producing one voltage value as the engine turns.

To check the CKP sensor's ON/OFF voltage signal, we're going to connect a multimeter to its signal wire. Then we'll rotate the engine by hand and see if the ON/OFF voltage is present.

If you don't have a multimeter, or thinking about upgrading, here's the one I personally use and recommend: Tekpower TP8268 AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter (via Amazon).

NOTE: The crankshaft position sensor must remain connected to its electrical connector to read the CKP signal. To access the CKP signal, inside the wire, you'll need to use a back probe on the connector or a wire piercing probe on the wire. You can see an example of this tool here: Wire Piercing Probe.

Alright, these are the test steps:

1. 1

   Raise the front of the mini-van and place it on jack stands.
   
   CAUTION: Set the parking brake and/or place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels to keep the vehicle from rolling back.

2. 2

   Disconnect the ignition coil pack from its electrical connector. This is important! Do not proceed with the test without first unplugging the ignition coil pack.

3. 3

   Locate the CKP sensor's connector.
   
   Remove some of the plastic wire loom protector and/or the black electrical tape that shields the three wires of the CKP sensor. Remove enough of this electrical tape insulation to gain comfortable access to the three wires it protects.

4. 4

   Reconnect the crankshaft position sensor to its electrical connector now if you unplugged it in the previous test step.
   
   NOTE: The crankshaft position sensor must be connected to its electrical connector for this test to work.

5. 5

   Place the multimeter in Volts DC mode.

6. 6

   Connect the red multimeter test lead to the wire identified with the number 1 in the photo above, of the three wire connector.
   
   The number 1 is the signal wire that transmits the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor signal to the PCM.

7. 7

   Connect the black multimeter test lead to a good Ground point on the engine or directly on the battery negative (-) terminal.

8. 8

   When everything is set up, turn the crankshaft pulley by hand in a clock-wise direction while you keep your eyes on the multimeter.
   
   IMPORTANT: Do not use the starter motor to crank the engine, since this will defeat the accuracy of this test.

9. 9

   The multimeter should register an ON/OFF voltage of 5 Volts DC as you manually turn the engine by hand.
   
   ON is when the multimeter displays 5 Volts DC and OFF is 0.5 Volts DC.
   
   The key to seeing this voltage change is to turn the crankshaft pulley slowly and steadily.

Alright, let's analyze your test results:

CASE 1: The ON/OFF voltage signal is present. This is the correct and expected test result and it lets you know that the crankshaft position sensor is OK.

Now if your car does not start, you can conclude that the crankshaft position sensor is not the component behind the problem.

CASE 2: The ON/OFF voltage signal IS NOT present. This test result confirms that the engine is not starting because the crankshaft position sensor is not producing a CKP signal.

The next step is to check that the crankshaft position sensor is getting power. Go to: TEST 2: Making Sure The CKP Sensor Is Getting Power.