Vehicles that have an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system controlling the engine typically use either a Hall Effect sensor or a reluctor sensor as part of the ignition system. These sensors do have the same job, however, the way they function is very different. In this video from Haltech, you’ll learn the differences between the two and what it takes for them to function properly.

A crank trigger ignition that resides on the front of an engine uses a Hall Effect sensor to send signals to the EFI system’s ECU. The sensor creates a digital signal when a magnet or ferrous metal passes in front of it. There are several things to keep in mind when it comes to selecting a Hall Effect sensor — like the tooth material, the gap between the teeth, the tooth height, and other items. These sensors are sensitive to heat, however, they are very accurate.

The reluctor sensor uses a simple design that works with a reluctor wheel on a crankshaft. Since a reluctor sensor doesn’t have sensitive electronics inside, heat won’t affect how it functions. These sensors do require a tighter gap between the wheel and its face — this means you have to build a very precise mount for it. The sensor also creates a significant amount of electronic noise that requires specific electronics inside the ECU for it to work properly.

You’ll want to watch this entire video to learn more details about each of these sensors. Haltech provides some great information about how to wire each sensor and what distance is required between the sensor and trigger tooth. Check out the Haltech YouTube page right here for more informative tech tips and content.