P0320: Engine speed input (ignition or distributor): circuit fault
The ECU is not getting a proper engine speed signal. It is usually the crankshaft sensor, its wiring or the pickup inside the distributor.
| Code | P0320 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P03xx, Ignition and misfires |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | Better not |
What P0320 means
The ECU needs to know at every moment how fast the engine is turning and where it is in its cycle, so it can time injection and spark. That signal comes from the crankshaft sensor or, on older cars, a pickup inside the distributor. Here the signal is missing, dropping out or arriving with errors.
Most common causes
- Engine speed sensor connector loose, corroded or oily
- Sensor wiring chafed or broken
- Faulty crankshaft sensor, often failing once hot
- Toothed reluctor wheel dirty, damaged or covered in metal swarf
- Faulty distributor pickup, on cars that have one
- Faulty engine ECU, which is rare
Symptoms
- Engine cuts out while driving, sometimes once warm
- Engine cranks but will not start
- Jerking and misfires
- Rev counter jumps about or drops to zero
- Engine warning light on
Can you drive with P0320?
Better not Best not to drive, or only if you really must: the engine can cut out suddenly and with it you lose power steering and some brake assistance. If you have to move it, keep to quiet roads.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
While cranking, the reader should show engine speed of a few hundred rpm; if it reads zero, the signal is missing. Note whether the car mostly cuts out when hot, as that is typical of a sensor on its way out.
How to read and clear P0320 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0320 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P031C The ignition control signal C gives a higher signal than normal
- P031D The ignition control signal D has a broken or disconnected wire
- P031E The ignition control signal D gives a lower signal than normal
- P031F The ignition control signal D gives a higher signal than normal
- P0321 Ignition or distributor engine speed signal out of range
- P0322 No ignition or distributor engine speed signal
- P0323 The crankshaft position or engine speed sensor circuit fails intermittently
- P0324 There is a fault in the engine knock control system
- P0300 Random or multiple cylinder misfire
- P0301 Misfire detected in cylinder 1
- P0302 Misfire detected in cylinder 2
- P0303 Misfire detected in cylinder 3
What does code P0320 mean?
The ECU needs to know at every moment how fast the engine is turning and where it is in its cycle, so it can time injection and spark. That signal comes from the crankshaft sensor or, on older cars, a pickup inside the distributor. Here the signal is missing, dropping out or arriving with errors.
Can you drive with P0320?
Best not to drive, or only if you really must: the engine can cut out suddenly and with it you lose power steering and some brake assistance. If you have to move it, keep to quiet roads.
How do you clear P0320?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0320 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
