Your Selected Vehicle
Parts for your 2013 Honda Civic-Crank angle sensor
Explore 4WD & Adventure
2013 Honda Civic crank angle sensor (CKP): purpose, servicing and replacement
Based on technical references including the Honda Civic (2012–2015) factory service manual, Honda EPC/parts catalogues, Autodata, and professional databases such as ALLDATA and Mitchell1, the 2013 Honda Civic is fitted with a crank angle sensor, commonly listed as the Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor. It’s mounted near the crank pulley on the 1.8‑litre R18Z engine and similarly present on other 2013 variants, where it reads a toothed reluctor to relay crank angle and engine speed to the ECU/PCM.
The CKP sensor’s job is straightforward but critical: it tells the ECU exactly where the crank is and how fast it’s spinning. That information is used to fire the coils at the right time, sequence fuel injection, manage variable valve timing, detect misfires, and protect the engine if something’s amiss. If the signal drops out, the Civic can be hard to start, stall at idle, or refuse to run altogether.
- Common signs: long crank/no start, random stalling, rough idle, poor fuel economy, and a check engine light with codes like P0335–P0339.
There’s no scheduled replacement interval in Australia or New Zealand—these solid‑state sensors are “fit and forget” until they aren’t. As part of regular servicing, it’s smart to visually check the wiring loom under the bonnet, make sure the connector’s latch is sound, and look for oil contamination or damage from road debris behind the right‑hand splash shield. On chain‑driven R18Z engines, the air gap is fixed by design, so there’s no routine adjustment.
Replacement is a tidy job for a competent DIYer or any workshop:
- Disconnect the battery and safely raise the front right, remove the wheel and inner guard for access.
- Unplug the CKP connector, remove the retaining bolt, and twist the sensor free. Catch any drips and check the O‑ring.
- Lightly oil the new O‑ring, install, and torque the bolt to the factory spec (around 9–10 N·m—confirm in service data for the exact model).
- Refit the guard and wheel, clear fault codes, and perform an idle learn if needed.
Genuine or high‑quality OEM‑equivalent parts tend to give the best reliability. After replacement, a quick road test and scan for live RPM data confirms the CKP is reading cleanly. If symptoms persist without codes, inspect the harness near the crank pulley—heat and vibration there can cause intermittent opens that masquerade as a bad sensor.
Popular questions about the 2013 Honda Civic crank angle sensor
Does the 2013 Civic have both crank and cam sensors?
Yes. Alongside the CKP, it also uses one or more camshaft position sensors. The ECU compares the two to sync injection and ignition, and to run variable valve timing. A fault in either can trigger starting issues or timing‑related codes.
Will a failing CKP always throw a fault code?
Not always. Intermittent wiring faults or heat‑soak failures can cause brief signal drops that stall the engine without immediately logging a code. Checking live data for RPM dropouts and doing a wiggle test on the loom can help pinpoint the cause.
Is an aftermarket CKP sensor OK for a 2013 Civic?
Many owners get good results with reputable OEM‑equivalent brands. For daily drivers or if chasing a tough intermittent fault, genuine Honda parts are often the safest bet, especially in hot Aussie and Kiwi conditions where cheaper plastics and seals can age faster.
