Parts for your 2013 Nissan Pulsar-Crank angle sensor

2013 Nissan Pulsar crank angle sensor — what it does and how to look after it

Technical sources confirm the 2013 Nissan Pulsar does use a crank angle sensor (also called a crankshaft position sensor, CKP/POS). The Nissan Factory Service Manual for the B17 Pulsar/Sentra (EC section), Nissan’s electronic parts catalogue, and common trade data platforms such as Autodata all document the CKP/POS sensor on the MR18DE 1.8-litre and MR16DDT 1.6-litre turbo engines used in this model year.

The crank angle sensor on a 2013 Nissan Pulsar is the quiet achiever that keeps spark and fuel bang on time. It reads a toothed wheel on the crank and feeds that signal to the ECU so it knows exactly where each piston is in its cycle. Without it, the engine won’t start, will stall, or will run like a dog. On the Pulsar B17 (both MR18DE and SSS MR16DDT), the sensor sits low on the engine near the gearbox bellhousing, reading crank rotation through the block. It’s a solid-state Hall/magnetic sensor, so there’s no contact or scheduled replacement interval — it’s a replace-when-faulty item.

When should owners think about replacement? Typical tell-tales include:

• Hard starting or random stalling once warm
• Misfires, rough idle, or a dead tach during cranking
• Check Engine Light with codes like P0335/P0336

Before throwing parts at it, it’s smart to check basics: battery health, earths, and the CKP connector for oil ingress or green crusties. The sensor’s O-ring can weep, if there’s oil in the plug, clean the connector and replace the O-ring with the sensor. Use a quality OEM-equivalent part — cheapies can cause intermittent no-starts that will drive anyone spare.

Replacement on the driveway is doable with the car safely supported. Disconnect the battery, unplug the sensor, remove the single retaining bolt, twist the sensor to free the O-ring, and pull it out. Lube the new O-ring lightly, seat it square, and nip the bolt up snug (don’t overdo it — the housing is alloy). Clear codes with a scan tool and check live RPM during crank, if it reads cleanly, you’re golden. A special relearn is typically not needed after sensor-only replacement on these engines, the ECU will sync itself. If the ECU has been replaced, a professional CKP pattern learn with a scan tool may be required.

As part of regular servicing, a quick visual on the harness routing, ensuring it’s not rubbing on the bellhousing or cooked by the exhaust, is cheap insurance. If the car has copped floodwater or a big oil leak, prioritise inspection sooner rather than later.

Popular questions

Where is the crank angle sensor on a 2013 Nissan Pulsar?
It’s mounted low on the engine, typically at the back near the transmission bellhousing. Access is easiest from underneath with the splash shield off. Look for a small sensor with a two- or three-pin plug going into the block.

What fault codes point to a bad crank angle sensor?
Common codes include P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor “A” Circuit) and P0336 (Range/Performance). Intermittent no-starts with a dead RPM reading in live data are also a giveaway. Always check wiring and the connector before condemning the sensor.

Does a new crank angle sensor need programming?
On the 2013 Pulsar, a straight sensor swap usually doesn’t need coding. Clear the codes and verify RPM signal on a scan tool. If the engine ECU has been replaced, a crank pattern learn with pro equipment may be required.