P0385: Crankshaft Position Sensor B Circuit
Do not keep driving
Expect reduced performance rather than a no-start, since the primary sensor usually carries on. Worth prompt attention, because the redundancy that is now missing is what protects against a sudden cut-out.
What this code means
A circuit fault in the second crankshaft position sensor. A second sensor exists for redundancy and cross-checking: with two, the module can detect that one is lying rather than merely losing the signal. That makes this less catastrophic than the A-sensor equivalent — the engine usually runs on the surviving sensor — but it removes the ability to verify, so the response is typically conservative.
Likely causes
Start here
- Faulty crankshaft position sensor · moderate
- Corroded or loose connector · easy
- Open circuit in sensor wiring · moderate
Less common
- Damaged reluctor or tone ring · specialist
- Heat damage to sensor or wiring · moderate
Symptoms
Components involved
Information, not instruction
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Have anything you intend to act on checked by a trained person against the manufacturer's own procedure for your vehicle. Nothing here replaces that procedure.
Community experience
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What makes one worth reading:
- The car — make, model, year and engine. The same fault behaves differently on each.
- What you measured, not only what you replaced.
- What actually fixed it — or that nothing did, which is worth knowing too.
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