M in KC

Happy Holidays! Well the number one daughter made it safely home from college in some fairly sketchy weather Friday with a trunk full of dirty clothes (which is to be expected) and the SES lit on our '97 SE. I pulled the codes and got the ghost knock sensor code, P0335 and P1335 (both crank position sensors). My question for those that have gone before me is, is it likely they both failed at the same time or is one a "master" and the other "slave"?

I cleared the codes for now to see if they return while she is off for winter break.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

Those 2 sensors are not a master/slave combo. They are independent sensors/functions.

But the crankshaft sensor on the flywheel (P0335) is very important to the engine's ability to run. It is the one that is responsible to generate the timing for the spark plugs to fire. If this sensor isn't working, the engine will not run.

The other sensor on the harmonic balancer (P01335) is not as critical. But the fact that the car had both codes and was drivable is intriguing. Did the car not start one day? Usually when the sensors fail, they fail solid and don't come back to life. This could be perhaps a loose connection, but I don't know where. To have a loose connection simultaneously at both sensors is rather unlikely and if it was true, the engine would probably be hard to start, dying out and just not running right.

I hope this was just sort of fluke.

CS_AR

^^ Great info Dennis.

To keep problems away, I try to clean mine every 3 years. Though the front gets a visual with every oil change. I clean the sensor ends, then clean/check the electrical connections, and lubricate with a small amount of dielectric grease.

The rear sensor will usually have a couple of metal fragments from the starter gear wear. The front may pick up some random road grime.

Side note- My youngest gets back from school tonight. This will be a car care holiday I'm sure.

M in KC

Thanks guys. The car starts, sluggishly but it been below zero here the last couple of days but it still starts. Before I pulled the codes and with the SES lit, I actually had to run one of daughter's roommates to airport, 80 mile round trip, and the car ran like a top. This car has been unbelievably reliable hence we sent to away to college. Weird symptoms/conditions I know hence the thread. I'll get some time in the next couple of days to dive into a little deeper. It looks like if nothing else I'll pull both sensors and clean any debris off them. They have never been touched for 376K+ miles. I'll bench/back probe test them as per the FSM and visual inspections of the wires, harness etc. and report back.

CS_AR

That mileage is why I swear by 4th gens. Let us know when you join the 400 club.

M in KC

You know it Craig. It's all about PRIDE right now. In Missouri we have a bi-annual vehicle safety inspection. It should take about 15-20 minutes to accomplish. The last one on the Max took an hour and 15 because every wrench slinger in the shop had to come marvel at the mileage and the overall condition of this 19 year old vehicle. I said, "come on guys I got to get back to work, and clean up your drool." LOL.

Rit

iTrader: (3)

Funny, cuz the last time I had my '98 in for NYSI inspection, the inspector - who previously owned a '98 - called in some buddies to look at it, and then wanted to know if I'd sell it. I told them that they'd have to pry it from my cold dead hands. LOL

People in the know, know that the 4-gen Maxima are the best !

M in KC

After further review and troubleshooting against the FSM for both sensors I'm going to dismiss both codes for heavily compromised sensors.

CS_AR

Looks like it to me.