What does it matter what color it is? Whatever you get from the Ford dealer should be fine. Mine is the black one, so I guess the original. 215K and no issues.

 

It does matter. Sometimes. Black was the original. They got recalled. Grey was the "fixed" one but some people report problems with them. International has a blue one that will work on our motors, but I believe the timing is slightly different or something. It will work, but not as well.

 

Here is the difference: CPS Testing

 

Is that offer still available? If so, can you PM me the price to get one shipped?

 

That made NO sense to me. What does the truck do differently with the non-black CPS?

 

Well, I have tested many trucks and the original black CPS will almost always provide a smoother idle and no codes for #8. On mine I get much better mileage and a quieter idle. That is enough for me to run them over the gray ones.

 

I finally ran out of the few extra black ones I bought when I knew they were going away. Never had the recall done on my truck - didn't see the need since the black CPS I installed in 05 was doing fine. I went with the navistar p/n this time - kept the black one I pulled out. I've heard a few "horror" stories about the new CPS but none 1st hand. This is the 4th CPS for my 00. The orig + 1 dealer the rep under warranty back in 02 and then 1 in 05 + the Navistar one I just put in.

 

The blue one is actually for the T466E. It alters the timing slightly and gave some better MPG but is not good to use along with a tuner or programmer since the computer doesn't know the timing is off.


The gray cps are known to cause rougher idle, CCT faults on cylinders #8, and on occasion #3 and #5. They can also fail just like the black ones did, so it wasnt much of an improvement over the original black one.

Note: these colors are for the ford/IH parts. Auto parts stores sell the sensors and the colors vary, so just because one you get there is a certain color doesn't mean its what we're discussing her.

 

Ok, drove the 30mi to work this morning. Truck seems to have better throttle response and the idle is a bit smoother. Might just be my imagination but my old CPS was definitely on its way out based on the way its running now.
Hard to believe the CPS could make that much of a difference.

 

The CMP sensor (cps as you call it) has been changed to incorporate gold plated pins. There has also been changes in length and circuitry since 1994. To identify each CMP sensor there is a part number suffix located on the top of the sensor near the sensor wiring connector. Thhe CMP with a part number suffix of C96 is 1.152" +/- 0.006" in length and has tin pins, this sensor was used in engines with serial numbers between 000501 and 033780. A C96 sensor should NOT be installed as a replacement sensor. The sensor with a C97 suffix is tin plated and 1.152" +/- 0.006" in length. This sensor has improved circuitry over the C96 sensor. The C98 sensor is identical to the C97 sensor for the length, it is 1.142" +/- 0.004" in length. Due to the change in wiring harnesses three new sensors were made with gold pins. The C91 sensor is 1.152 +/- 0.006" in length. Which was used in engines with serial numbers from 375549 through 408253. The C92 is 1.142 +/- 0.004" in length, which was used in engine serial numbers 408253 through 623916. A sensor with a part number suffix of C93 has gold pins and a length of 1.142 +/- 0.004". This sensor has improved circuitry over the C91 and C92 sensors. The C93 sensor is being used as of engine serial number 623916. The camshaft position sensor circuitry has been updated to be less sensitive of clearance to the trigger wheel. The part number suffix for the gold plated sensor is C93 and C99 for the tin plated sensor.
So according to this, its just an urban legend that the black sensor is technically better than the new grey one. In fact the black one would be not as good based on gold pins, updated circuitry and the need for a less sensitive trigger wheel. I personally have both CPS's and I don't notice any difference what so ever, but mine is an 01 and not a 96. That could be the main factor.

 

well its my turn i believe that i am having cps issues truck died twice in two days.when i come to a stop engine idles down, i watch the tach and it drops down then stall out. starts right back up ?? i have two black one (hc93) and one gray witch i believe the # on it was (11ce) ?? so last night i put the gray one in that i got from the recall. i checked a post on a test for the three sensors seems that the black OEM is the best one. when the black one is working it seems to run better than the gray one. first ? what why would the dealer give you something that would throw codes. and second where can i get a new black one part #f7tz-12k073-a -- hc93 ??? thanks for the advice

 

The black ones are nearly impossible to get - hence why I bought one from Navistar. I put it in a couple of days ago and all seems to be ok - no codes and no stalling.

 

thanks for the response. Did you keep the part # from navistar, and is ti available at the dealer ? I would prefer to buy from clay but i did not see it on his site.

 

Got a 1876736C91 from our local Navistar Dlr. I know a couple of folks also sell them online. Paid a little more than the online prices but I got it same day. They service quite a few school buses & small delivery trucks so they had it in stock.

 

i believe that is the one i have in there now. i will have to test it out but in the mean time i would like to find a HC93 (black) it seems to run better than 73-b from just a short 20 mi drive to work this morning. looks like parts guyed has them on his site for 16.70 but no part #.