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P0339: Crankshaft position sensor A circuit intermittent

The crankshaft sensor signal keeps dropping out. Almost always a poor contact at the connector or a damaged wire, sometimes the sensor.

Code P0339 at a glance
CodeP0339
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP03xx, Ignition and misfires
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?With care

What P0339 means

The crankshaft sensor reads a toothed wheel that turns with the engine and tells the ECU how fast it is spinning and where the pistons are. It is one of the most important signals: without it the engine cannot time fuel or spark. Intermittent means the signal comes and goes, and many crankshaft sensors start failing like this when they get hot, and end up failing completely. Which sensor is "A" is up to each manufacturer; many cars only have one.

Most common causes

  • Poor contact or corrosion at the connector
  • Chafed wire that breaks contact with vibration
  • Sensor that fails when hot
  • Sensor dirty or loose in its mounting
  • Toothed wheel with localised damage

Symptoms

  • Engine cuts out suddenly and then restarts
  • Hard to start when the engine is hot
  • Occasional jerking
  • Rev counter briefly drops to zero

Can you drive with P0339?

With care You can drive carefully, but these drop-outs tend to get worse and the engine could cut out somewhere awkward. Get it checked soon.

How to check it

Note when it happens: if the engine only cuts out when hot and restarts after cooling down, tell the garage, as that is typical of a sensor failing with heat.

How to read and clear P0339 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 P0339 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

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 the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0339 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Volkswagen, Volvo. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0339 mean?

The crankshaft sensor reads a toothed wheel that turns with the engine and tells the ECU how fast it is spinning and where the pistons are. It is one of the most important signals: without it the engine cannot time fuel or spark. Intermittent means the signal comes and goes, and many crankshaft sensors start failing like this when they get hot, and end up failing completely. Which sensor is "A" is up to each manufacturer; many cars only have one.

Can you drive with P0339?

You can drive carefully, but these drop-outs tend to get worse and the engine could cut out somewhere awkward. Get it checked soon.

How do you clear P0339?

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, P0339 comes back.