How To Test The Crankshaft Position Sensor (1993-1996 5.2L Grand Cherokee)

TEST 2: Making Sure The CKP Sensor Has Power

If the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor, on your 5.2L V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee, did not produce an ON/OFF voltage signal, then there's a good chance that it might not be receiving power.

On the 1993-1995 5.2L V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee power is in the form of 8 Volts DC.

On the 1996 5.2L V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee power is in the form of 5 Volts DC.

The wire that feeds these 8 Volts or 5 Volts to the CKP sensor on all of these models (1993-1996) is the white with black stripe (WHT/BLK) wire of the CKP sensor's 3-wire connector.

In the photo of the CKP sensor's connector above, the wire that provides these 5 or 8 Volts DC to the CKP sensor is labeled with the number 1.

If the CKP sensor is getting power (8 Volts or 5 Volts), then our next step is to make sure that it's getting Ground in TEST 3.

NOTE: Avoid probing the front of the female terminal with your multimeter test lead or you run the risk of damaging the terminal. Use a back-probe on the back of the connector or use a wire-piercing probe on the wire.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Disconnect the CKP sensor from its connector.

2. 2

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

3. 3

   Turn the key on but don't crank or start the engine.

4. 4

   Connect the red multimeter test lead (using the appropriate tool) to the WHT/BLK wire of the CKP sensor's 3-wire connector.
   
   NOTE: This test is done on the connector that has female terminals.

5. 5

   Connect the black multimeter test lead to the negative (-) battery terminal.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should read:
   
   7 to 8 Volts DC (1994-1995 5.2L V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee).
   
   4 to 5 Volts DC (1996 5.2L V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee).

Let's examine your test result:

CASE 1: The CKP sensor is getting power. This is the correct and expected test result.

Now we need to make sure that the BLK/LT BLU wire is feeding the CKP sensor with Ground. For this test go to: TEST 3: Making Sure The CKP Sensor Has Ground.

CASE 2: The CKP sensor is not getting power. Without this voltage the crankshaft position sensor will not produce a CKP voltage signal.

The most likely cause of these missing 8 or 5 Volts is an open-circuit problem in the WHT/BLK wire between the CKP sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer's connector.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to check for this missing power, your next step is to find out why it's missing and restore it.

TEST 3: Making Sure The CKP Sensor Has Ground

If you've reached this point, then the previous 2 tests have confirmed that:

• The crankshaft position sensor is not creating an ON/OFF signal (TEST 1).
• The crankshaft position sensor is getting 8 Volts or 5 Volts (TEST 2).

For our last test we're going to make sure that the CKP sensor is getting Ground on the black with light blue stripe (BLK/LT BLU) wire.

The black with light blue stripe (BLK/LT BLU) wire is labeled with the number 2 in the photo above.

To test for the presence of Ground in this wire, we're going to do a simple multimeter voltage test.

IMPORTANT: Be careful and don't short the BLK/LT BLU wire to battery power or you'll fry the fuel injection computer. The multimeter voltage test suggested below (for testing the presence of Ground) is a safe and accurate test.

NOTE: Avoid probing the front of the female terminal with your multimeter test lead or you run the risk of damaging the terminal. Use a back-probe on the back of the connector or use a wire-piercing probe on the wire.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Disconnect the CKP sensor from its connector.

2. 2

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

3. 3

   Turn the key on but don't crank or start the engine.

4. 4

   Connect the black multimeter test lead (using the appropriate tool) to the BLK/LT BLU wire of the CKP sensor's 3-wire connector.
   
   NOTE: This test is done on the connector that has female terminals.

5. 5

   Connect the red multimeter test lead to the positive (+) battery terminal.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should read 10 to 12 Volts DC if the BLK/LT BLU wire is providing Ground.

Let's take a look at what your test results mean:

CASE 1: Ground is present in the BLK/LT BLU wire. This is the correct and expected test result.

The crankshaft position (CKP) sensor is defective and needs to be replaced if you have confirmed that:

• The CKP sensor did not produce an ON/OFF voltage signal as you manually turned the engine (TEST 1).
• The CKP sensor is getting 8 Volts or 5 Volts (TEST 2).
• The CKP sensor is getting Ground (this test section).

CASE 2: Ground is NOT present in the BLK/LT BLU wire. Without Ground the crankshaft position sensor will not produce a CKP voltage signal.

The most likely cause of this missing Ground is an open-circuit problem in the BLK/LT BLU wire between the CKP sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer's connector.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to check for this missing Ground, your next step is to find out why it's missing and restore it.

Where To Buy The Crankshaft Position Sensor

Take a look at the following links and comparison shop the crankshaft position sensor for your 1993, 1994, 1995, or 1996 V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee:

1993 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee:

1994-1996 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee:

More 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee Tutorials

You can find a complete list of 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee tutorials in this index:

• Jeep 5.2L Index Of Articles.

Here's a small sample of the tutorials you'll find in the index:

• How To Do An Engine Compression Test (1993-1998 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee).
• How To Test A Blown Head Gasket (1993-1998 5.2L Grand Cherokee).
• How To Test The MAP Sensor (1993-1996 5.2L Grand Cherokee).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1996-1998 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee).