P0336–P0386 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
The sensor still works, but its reading has drifted outside the window the ECU expects. That usually means a tired sensor or a problem with what it is measuring, not a broken wire.
Can you drive it? The engine light will stay on and the car may run in a reduced-power mode. Read the freeze-frame data to see the conditions the fault was logged under.
Which code is which
Same fault, different cylinder or bank — diagnosed the same way. Several set together usually means one shared cause.
| Code | Definition | Severity |
|---|---|---|
P0336 | Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance | Investigate soon |
P0386 | Crankshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Range/Performance | Investigate soon |
The definition
P0336: Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance.
P0336 is a powertrain code (the engine or gearbox), defined by the SAE standard - it means the same thing on any make of car, and any generic OBD-II reader will decode it.
What to check first
Cheapest and fastest checks first:
- Read the freeze-frame data stored with the fault - engine speed, load and temperature at the moment it logged tell you whether this happens cold, hot or under load.
- Check the connector at the part for corrosion, and that it is fully seated.
- Clear the code and see whether it returns, and under what conditions.
What actually causes this on a VAG
Here the ECU is receiving something from the crankshaft sensor, but the pattern of teeth it counts does not add up. That could be teeth apparently missing, extra pulses appearing, or the reference gap turning up in the wrong place. Unlike a plain circuit fault, this means a signal is present but wrong, so the car may crank for a long time, stumble, or run but with the light on.
Most likely causes, in order
- Debris on the sensor tip or a sensor not seated properly. These sensors contain a magnet and collect metal filings, which corrupt the pattern they read. Remove the sensor and inspect the tip, clean off any swarf, and make sure it sits fully home against its face with the correct sealing ring.
- Damaged or moved reluctor ring on the crank or flywheel. Chipped teeth, or a ring that has shifted on its mounting, produce exactly this complaint. Hard to see in place: a workshop can compare the crankshaft and camshaft signals on an oscilloscope, or inspect through the sensor hole while barring the engine over slowly.
- Poor earth, or damaged screening on the sensor wiring where it is fitted. This is a low-level signal that is fussy about electrical noise. A corroded earth point, or a damaged screen around the sensor cable on the sensors that use one, lets interference in and the ECU reads that as extra pulses. Inspect the loom and any nearby aftermarket wiring.
Worth knowing: If this appeared immediately after clutch, flywheel, gearbox or timing work, treat that work as the prime suspect before buying a sensor. A sensor knocked or not pushed fully home, a trapped or stretched wire, or a flywheel or drive plate refitted incorrectly is far more likely than a healthy sensor failing on the same day.
Reading the code is the easy part
A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.
VAGPULSE reads every module in a VW, Audi, Skoda or SEAT — not just the engine — shows the live measuring blocks behind this fault, gives you the freeze-frame conditions it was logged under, and clears it once you have fixed it. It also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: service resets, coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing with your original file saved first.
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Common questions
What does P0336 mean?
P0336 means Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance. The sensor still works, but its reading has drifted outside the window the ECU expects. That usually means a tired sensor or a problem with what it is measuring, not a broken wire.
Can I drive with P0336?
The engine light will stay on and the car may run in a reduced-power mode. Read the freeze-frame data to see the conditions the fault was logged under.