Crank Signal Dropout at High RPM? Here’s What Fixed It for Us.
If you’ve ever experienced your LS-powered drift car cutting out at high RPM, especially with a Holley Terminator X system, you’re not alone. We recently ran into this exact issue and wanted to share what we learned — so hopefully it saves someone else a ton of time and frustration.
The Problem: Crank Signal Loss Around 6,000 RPM
We’re running an LS3 with a Holley Terminator X, and everything seemed perfect — until we started pushing it hard on track. Once the RPMs climbed past 6,000, the ECU would intermittently lose the crank signal. No crank signal means no spark, no fuel — and no fun.
We checked everything:
✅ Sensor alignment
✅ Harness routing
✅ Grounding
✅ Shielding
Still, the issue kept coming back.
The Culprit: The Crank Sensor Itself
Turns out, the problem wasn’t in the wiring or tune — it was the crank sensor. We were running an OEM-style AC Delco sensor (the same one that comes with many GM crate engines). But Holley ECUs can be picky about the signal they get. While the AC Delco sensor may work fine with a factory GM PCM, the Holley system doesn’t always interpret the signal properly at high RPM.
The Fix: NTK EH0304 Crank Sensor
After some digging and testing, we swapped in an NTK EH0304 crankshaft position sensor — and the issue was completely resolved. No more signal dropout, even under full throttle and high load. It just works.
Why the NTK Works Better:
- It produces a cleaner, more consistent signal
- The output voltage and waveform seem to be better suited to Holley’s crank trigger input logic
- It’s proven itself in other high-RPM builds and now ours too
Final Thoughts
When dealing with standalone ECUs, not all sensors are created equal. Even OEM parts that “should” work can throw off the system when you’re pushing your setup hard. If you’re running a Holley Terminator on an LS and are seeing crank signal errors, especially above 6K RPM, try swapping to the NTK EH0304 sensor. It just might be the fix you’re looking for.
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