Two goals down at the break City dug deep to keep their unbeaten run going - they last lost 12 games ago.
They finally saved it six minutes from the end thanks to Lee Peacock who had been sent on for the final quarter as the third forward.
With his first touch he seized a lob from Brian Tinnion knocked down by Scott Murray to whip in a low drive.
TinnionÂ’s left foot spraying accurate passes to both flanks had kept City's hopes alive in a quality game, which Crewe always threatened to control with their brisk open passing.
Midfielder David Brammer ran the first half despite one thundering challenge from home skipper Tom Doherty, which saw him needing treatment.
City had their chances, with Tinnion hitting a post and being narrowly off target with a header, but were to be stunned by two goals inside four minutes on the half hour.
With his second corner Kenny Lunt made their first goal pulling the ball back for Steve Foster to power in a header although in manager Dario Gradi's view Dean Ashton got the final touch.
The pressure stayed on City and as Steve Phillips parried a stinging shot from David Vaughan, Rob Hulse closed in to plunder his 19th goal this season.
Gradi said: “We might have gone in three up, but then lost our way for a time in the second half so that overall I must be pleased with a point.” In the first half his defence kept City's top scorer Scott Murray bottled up, but he shook off his anonymity after the break with some sparkling runs.
The first produced his seasonÂ’s 15th goal after 48 minutes, when Tinnion played the ball inside full-back Paul Tierney.
Suddenly it was game on with the home side now making the running without quite getting shots on target.
Then manager Danny WIlson gambled on a double change and saw Peacock, who had 35 stitches in a bad ear injury a week ago, pull back a precious point which keeps his side still three points ahead of Crewe