CAT · engine
SPN 637 FMI 8 — Crankshaft position sensor abnormal signal
Hard start, stall, no-start. Severity is rated serious with a amber lamp, shown on some service tools as SPN 637 FMI 8.
Written and reviewed by Christopher Scott Sneed, 30+ year diesel technician, founder of TruckCommanderPro.com.
What this code means
SPN 637 identifies the parameter the control module is monitoring — crankshaft position sensor abnormal signal. FMI 8 is the failure mode the module logged against it. Both numbers matter: the same SPN with a different FMI is a different repair.
Symptoms you will see
Hard start, stall, no-start.
Common causes
- Failed crank sensor
- Metal debris on the sensor tip
- Damaged tone wheel
What to test first
- Scope the crank signal while cranking
- Pull the sensor and inspect the tip for debris
- Verify the tone wheel condition
Work the list in order and record the readings. Confirm the fault with live data before any part is ordered — a code names a circuit, never a failed component.
Is the truck safe to drive?
Short distance only
Common mistakes on this code
- Replacing the sensor named in the SPN before checking its wiring, connector and ground.
- Clearing the code and handing the truck back without reproducing the operating condition that set it.
- Reading one code out of a set instead of finding which fault occurred first.
When to get professional diagnosis
Get a shop involved when the fault comes with a red lamp or a shutdown timer, when the checks above all pass and the code returns, or when the repair needs an aftertreatment service tool, a forced regen, or engine internals. Nothing on this page is a substitute for OEM service literature or a qualified technician on the truck.
How Truck Commander helps
Enter this code in Truck Commander Pro AI diagnostic support with the engine and the symptoms and you get the test sequence in order, per-truck history so repeat faults are visible, and a printable work order. Aftertreatment codes are covered in depth in the Aftertreatment Mastermind training. It is all in Truck Commander at $14.99 a month.
Related fault codes
- SPN 91 FMI 3 — Throttle position sensor high
- SPN 94 FMI 1 — Fuel pressure low
- SPN 94 FMI 3 — Fuel delivery pressure sensor circuit voltage above normal
- SPN 100 FMI 1 — Low engine oil pressure
- SPN 100 FMI 3 — Engine oil pressure sensor circuit voltage above normal
- SPN 102 FMI 4 — Boost pressure sensor circuit voltage below normal