my last transmission blew to pieces and left some metal shrapnel behind the flywheel that i didnt notice when i changed the trans. now my check engine light is on for P1336, i replaced the sensor but the code still comes right back. i looked at the timing ring through the hole where the sensor goes and there are some cogs that have chips missing from them. i didnt notice any cogs completely missing but just chips out of them. could that cause the CEL?

 

The flywheel has 6 areas that the sensors see for timing. Where any of these area's damaged or was it just the teeth that the starter uses that were damaged?

 

i'm in the same boat. just swapped to 5 speed and throwing p1336. crappy part is i had the flywheel machined before the install

 

im pretty sure they werent teeth for the starter. very small, more squared. i didnt notice six cogs that were any different.

 

i'm having the same exact issue man, not to mention a lot of hesitation with acceleration. Would switching out the flywheel and the ring of teeth be the best solution?

 

if you chipped some of the teeth on the timing ring, then yes, a code may pop up, and unfortunately you may experience hesitation. the crank sensor reads those teeth, and they have to be a certain distance from the sensor, yadda yadda, im sure you know that. i doubt you chipped the actual flywheel teeth...those things look pretty beefy.

 

Mine has been chipped since I bought my car 2yrs ago.... no check engine lights
just won't start smoothly sometimes

 

I've been chasing my P1336 code for months now. All the wiring checks out, I pulled the starter and inspected the flywheel/sensor ring teeth, and they look fine. I had originally changed the sensor and replaced it with an aftermarket sensor from Autozone, so I figured maybe the sensor was NFG.

I went to Nissan, got the new sensor, replaced it, and my light was back on after driving less than half a mile. Wtf? The service guys at Nissan even said it was incredibly unlikely that teeth were missing from the sensor ring, and that they used to buy these sensors by the box. I'm beyond frustrated, don't have a garage big enough to pull the trans. Even if I did, where the hell would I find a sensor ring for a 96 Maxima?

 

I'll try to help you because I went through a similar problem when I had my 97 max. After 2 crankshaft sensors and $800 at the dealer they didn't fix my problem, they told me it was the ring gear on the flywheel.

I bought a flywheel at junkyard, replaced ring gear, re-installed trans. Same problem. There is a way to test the sensor harness if you download the shop manual. Make sure you have all the correct voltage, etc.

Then, for the un-fun part... You need to find the correct terminal on your ecu and check for continuity (multimeter) from that terminal to the signal wire on the harness. It does involve some skill, and after doing the test I found a short. I can also see why the Nissan mechanic in Hartford didn't give a damn about my problem. It's annoying to deal with wiring harness issues.

 

I had previously checked all the wiring, including back to the ECM. I just changed the Sensor back to the old one (hopefully I can return the one from the stealership) and noticed something.

I don't know if anyone else with this problem can be helped by this, but so far my code hasn't come back- it usually comes back immediately after starting. I sanded down the mounting surface for the sensor on the bellhousing. It was a bit filthy, and I thought maybe the sensor was getting a bad ground. I sanded down that metal wiring holder thing that attaches to the sensor as well. Started her up, and the code hasn't come back. Just drove it a few miles, and the code seems to have disappeared.

Even if the ground in the harness is OK, check the mating surface on the bellhousing for filth/oxidation and clean it up.

 

Also something to note, since I also had a lot of trouble with that code/sensor. When you install it, make sure its centered, and not cocked to either side. That sounds super obvious and simple, but its what caused mine to still act up even after replacing the sensor.

 

Glad you guys got your problems fixed. That's the problem we have in the northeast. Winter salt, changing seasons, causes wires and other metal to deteriorate.