From the service manual:

REMOVAL

The Crankshaft Position Sensor is in the rear of the engine block near the transmission.

If vehicle is All Wheel Drive the Power Transfer Unit must be removed, (Refer to 21 - TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE/POWER TRANSFER UNIT - REMOVAL).

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise vehicle and support.
3. Remove heat shield retaining bolt.
4. Remove heat shield.
5. Unlock and disconnect the electrical connector to the crankshaft position sensor.
6. Remove the crankshaft position sensor bolt.
7. Remove the sensor.

 

Just had the same problem with the engine stuttering and traction control/check engine light come on.

I have some free time, not so much free money, so I am looking to do this myself. Can you help direct me to the Power Transfer Unit Removal instructions? First time on the forum so please forgive me I am a newbie!

 

Crankshaft Sensor replacement

Just replaced my crankshaft sensor... good luck! Make sure you take off all the plastic parts (engine cover, battery access cover, and air filter box) and disconnect the battery. I had one heck of a time locating it and could not reach it from underneath the vehicle. I was standing on a barstool on the driver's side with half of my body down inside the Jeep. I finally found it after following the wires down the back of the engine by feeling my way down. You can't see the sensor or the bolt you have to take out to replace it. The best way I can explain how to get it out is to find the sensor by touch and place a 10mm deep well socket on the bolt (it is located above the sensor)then place a 12 inch extension onto that, and then you can attach a ratchet to remove the bolt. I couldn't do it with the whole combination put together because I could only use one hand, it's a tight space. When I put it back I had to put a small piece of paper inside the socket to make the bolt stay in nice & snug because I couldn't reach in to turn the bolt with my fingers. I again had to "build out" the connections one piece at a time. Put it all back together and reset the codes. The number 2 on the diagram is the location of the crankshaft sensor (looking at the engine from the driver's side).

 

"...When I put it back I had to put a small piece of paper inside the socket to make the bolt stay in nice & snug because I couldn't reach in to turn the bolt with my fingers...."

That's why I'm always chewing gum when working this way. Spearmint works the best....

 

I know this feed is old however, can anyone tell me how to tell if the crankshaft position sensor is bad?

 

First off, you should get a code for it. On a rare occasion, it won't throw a code, but most of the time when an electronic sensor has failed, it will throw a code. (this is probably more true in NEWER model vehicles)

I've not pulled the crank sensor on a patriot, so I have no idea what it looks like. (I suspect it's not much different than any other) But i've tested them in the past by switching a multimeter to DC, putting the red lead on the signally wire of the sensor, grounding the black lead, and have someone bump the ignition. It should give you around 10 volts, give or take. If it doesn't, it's not working.

 

Many auto parts stores will read codes for free (depending where you live.)

 

On my 2012 Front Wheel Drive 2.4 Liter patriot, I worked from the top of the engine. The only thing I had to remove was the heat shield. You are working by feel, but the whole thing took less than 30 minutes.

 

Crankshaft position sensor

My 11 jeep patriot has had 2 crankshaft positioning sensors put in. It's currently on the way to the shop for probably another one. Exact same problems as before. Does anyone know why they would keep going bad?

 

Just in case anyone needs this.....