Kenny Lunt virtually ended Reading's fading play-off hopes with a superb free-kick that all but ensured Crewe's First Division status for another season.
Lunt curled home a precision free-kick from the edge of the Reading box after Steve Sidwell had needlessly conceded a foul six minutes before half time.
That strike cancelled out a Dave Kitson header, which had put the Royals in front with their first attack of the game on ten minutes.
The former Cambridge striker, looking a real bargain since his £150,000 move at Christmas, nodded home a John Salako cross as Crewe's defence stood frozen appealing for offside.
With Reading needing to win virtually every game to remain in the play-off picture, that early effort should have opened the floodgates, but instead it was the visitors who reacted strongest.
Lunt had a shot superbly saved by Reading keeper Jamie Ashdown, who later made a series of fine saves as the visitors pressed.
And it was Lunt who levelled for Alex on 39 minutes when he punished Sidwell for bundling into the back of him with a precise free-kick beyond the reach of Jamie Ashdown.
Reading improved in the second half and pushed forward at will in search of a first win in three games that would have reignited their search for a top-six finish.
Salako saw a deflected header from a Sidwell cross well saved by Ben Williams, who also kept out another Kitson header from Salako's cross.
Reading had legitimate penalty appeals waved away on the hour when James Harper ran from midway inside his own half to the heart of the Crewe box and appeared to be clipped, another bitter blow for the midfielder who had just seen a header ruled out for a foul.
The introduction of lively substitute Dean Morgan and top scorer Nicky Forster gave Reading a further boost later on and Morgan produced a superb save from Williams with virtually his first touch, though a curious offside decision would have ruled out a spectacular goal.
But as Reading pushed for the win they so badly needed gaps appeared in their defence and Lunt should have punished them with a shot that Ashdown scooped away, just out of the reach of three waiting Crewe strikers.
And the keeper came to Reading's rescue again six minutes from time when he saved well from Steve Jones, but even a point leaves the Royals needing nine points from their final three games to have any hope of a play-off place.