Nissan Terrano: R50 crank angle and TDC sensor failure — stalling and no-start
R50 crank angle and TDC sensor failure — stalling and no-start is a common electrical fault on the Nissan Terrano on the 1995–2004 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Nissan Terrano.
- Vehicle
- Nissan Terrano
- Years
- 1995–2004
- Fuel
- diesel
- System
- Electrical
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The electronic diesels in the R50 rely on a crank angle sensor and a TDC sensor to tell the engine computer where the engine is. Both are known to fail with age and heat, and the failure is usually intermittent before it is permanent: the engine stalls without warning, restarts a few minutes later once it has cooled, and eventually will not start at all. Because it comes and goes, plenty of these trucks get sold with the fault present and undiagnosed. The parts themselves are not especially expensive, but a truck that has been stalling for months may also have had other parts thrown at it, so ask what has already been replaced.
What you would notice
- Engine cuts out without warning while driving, then restarts later
- Cranks but will not fire when hot
- Rough running or a misfire that comes and goes
- Engine warning light appearing intermittently
How to check it
Where to look. Crank angle sensor at the front of the engine near the crank pulley; TDC sensor on the engine block
Ask directly whether it has ever stalled or cut out on the seller — this fault is remembered by anyone who has had it.
Take a longer test drive than you normally would, ideally 20 minutes or more, so the engine is fully hot, and include some stop-start driving.
Watch the dash for a warning light that flickers on and off.
Stop, switch off, wait five minutes with the engine hot, and restart it.
If a workshop inspection is possible: ask for the engine control unit's stored fault codes to be read — crank angle and TDC sensor faults log codes even when the engine is running normally at the time.
What it costs to put right
$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has it ever cut out or stalled while you were driving?”
- “Have the crank angle or TDC sensors been replaced?”
- “Is there any warning light that comes on now and then?”
Now check the Nissan Terrano you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- Offroad-Express (NZ) forum — 'Crank sensor faults r50' thread
- NPORA Forums — 'QD32 Engine running problem', 96-2004 R50 section
Nissan Terrano buyer questions
Is r50 crank angle and tdc sensor failure — stalling and no-start serious on a Nissan Terrano?
We rate it major and common on the Nissan Terrano. The electronic diesels in the R50 rely on a crank angle sensor and a TDC sensor to tell the engine computer where the engine is. Both are known to fail with age and heat, and the failure is usually intermittent before it is permanent: the engine stalls without warning, restarts a few minutes later once it has cooled, and eventually will not start at all. Because it comes and goes, plenty of these trucks get sold with the fault present and undiagnosed. The parts themselves are not especially expensive, but a truck that has been stalling for months may also have had other parts thrown at it, so ask what has already been replaced.
How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Terrano?
$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Nissan Terrano years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1995–2004 Nissan Terrano. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Ask directly whether it has ever stalled or cut out on the seller — this fault is remembered by anyone who has had it. Take a longer test drive than you normally would, ideally 20 minutes or more, so the engine is fully hot, and include some stop-start driving. Watch the dash for a warning light that flickers on and off. Stop, switch off, wait five minutes with the engine hot, and restart it. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask for the engine control unit's stored fault codes to be read — crank angle and TDC sensor faults log codes even when the engine is running normally at the time. Look here: Crank angle sensor at the front of the engine near the crank pulley; TDC sensor on the engine block