P0339–P0389 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent
The fault comes and goes, which points at a connection that only breaks under vibration, heat or load.
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 |
|---|---|---|
P0339 | Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent | Investigate soon |
P0389 | Crankshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Intermittent | Investigate soon |
The definition
P0339: Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent.
P0339 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
The signal from the crankshaft sensor is dropping out momentarily rather than being permanently missing. This is the code behind the classic "it cut out at a roundabout, restarted after a wait, and has been fine ever since". Because it is intermittent, the car will often behave perfectly at the garage, which makes it frustrating to diagnose from a cold start on a ramp.
Most likely causes, in order
- Sensor failing when hot. The most common reason. The sensor's internals break down once fully heat-soaked and recover as it cools, which is exactly why the car restarts after a wait. If the freeze-frame data recorded a hot engine each time, that fits.
- Chafed loom or a marginal connector. Vibration plus heat means a partly broken strand or a loose terminal can make and break contact as the engine rocks. Wiggle the loom and connector with the engine idling and watch whether the engine speed reading glitches.
- Damaged reluctor ring or a loose sensor mounting. Less common, but a sensor that is not clamped tight can move fractionally under vibration and lose its air gap. Check the mounting bolt is present and tight and that the sensor sits square.
Worth knowing: Do not clear this fault before someone has looked at the freeze-frame data stored with it. That snapshot records the engine temperature and speed at the exact moment the signal dropped out, and on an intermittent fault it is often the only real evidence there is. Consistently hot readings point at a heat-failing sensor; dropouts across a range of temperatures point at wiring.
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 P0339 mean?
P0339 means Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent. The fault comes and goes, which points at a connection that only breaks under vibration, heat or load.
Can I drive with P0339?
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.