What are the common causes of P033F?

P033F: Failing ignition coil, spark plug, or spark plug wire. P033F: Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor. P033F: Wiring or connector damage in the ignition circuit. P033F: Low compression or engine mechanical wear. P033F: Incorrect ignition timing or a stretched timing chain.

P033F: Read misfire counts and freeze frame data with an OBD-II scanner. P033F: Test spark output and inspect spark plugs and coils. P033F: Check crankshaft and camshaft position sensor signals while cranking. P033F: Swap suspect ignition parts between cylinders to see if the fault moves. P033F: Compression test if the issue persists on the same cylinder.

P033F

Crankshaft/Camshaft Loss Of Synchronization

System: Ignition and misfire (P code)
Lamp: Check Engine Light
Category: Powertrain - Ignition

What it means

P033F stands for Crankshaft/Camshaft Loss Of Synchronization. P033F is a P code, so the fault sits in the engine, transmission and emissions systems. For P033F, the second digit places it in ignition and misfire. For P033F, work through the cause list below, cheapest checks first.

What to check first

For P033F, read the stored codes from every module, not just the engine, because related codes often name the same fault more precisely.

Check these first

P033F: Failing ignition coil, spark plug, or spark plug wire
P033F: Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor
P033F: Wiring or connector damage in the ignition circuit
P033F: Low compression or engine mechanical wear
P033F: Incorrect ignition timing or a stretched timing chain

What to do next

P033F belongs to the ignition and misfire system. These are the general steps for P033F, and the exact cause on your vehicle can differ.

P033F: Read misfire counts and freeze frame data with an OBD-II scanner
P033F: Test spark output and inspect spark plugs and coils
P033F: Check crankshaft and camshaft position sensor signals while cranking
P033F: Swap suspect ignition parts between cylinders to see if the fault moves
P033F: Compression test if the issue persists on the same cylinder

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Updated

Generic SAE J2012 definition. Last updated 2026-08-30.