Nissan Repair: distributor, crank angle sensor, crankshaft

Question
can you tell me more about a crank angle sensor? Is it the same thing as the distributor? or it's a part of the distributor
thanx

Answer
Rick,

Depending on your model of Nissan it could be on the timing cover, down by the crank, or it could be the distributor itself.  You see, the computer needs to know where the crankshaft is related to firing the plugs and pulsing the injectors.  Older Nissan's used the distributor for this function and somewhere in there they switched to using the timing cover with sensors bolted to it.  And, some are in transition where they use a sensor to sense when the cap is in a certain position to pulse the injectors.  But, they still use the distributor to fire the spark plugs.