First of all let me mention that I'm yet another new guy to the powerstroke world, just got mine about 2 weeks ago. The truck seems to run good but on 2 occasions on the interstate the engine almost cut off for a very brief period of time and then came back to life. I was happily going along at about 2500 rpm and then it sounded like it was going to quit and dropped to about 2000 momentarily before it jumped back to 2500. I asked a diesel mechanic and he said it was probably just water in the fuel because the truck had been sitting for a while. I changed the fuel filter, and filled it up and didn't have anymore problems until it did it again yesterday. Should I be worried or is this just a common fuel problem?
-Cope
97 F-350 PSD ZF 5 Speed 4x4

 

HmmmN! Sounds like the infamous *In my best T.V. announcer voice* CAM POSITION SENSOR(CPS) failure.

Did you drain your filter bowl to see if water was present?

 

If you weren't using cruise control, I would say that it is your peddle assembly. My truck went through 3 of them. Seems the gas peddle has some issues if it is a diesel since powerstroke is drive by wire, meaning no throttle cable, it is a throttle sensor. 3 bad sensors which cause truck to idle even if peddle to the floor. It happened to me when driving and I noticed that it was more likely to happen if the weather was cool and wet out. Hope this helps. If it is a Cam Position Sensor your engine will actually stop running usually.

 

>If you weren't using cruise control, I would say that it is
>your peddle assembly. My truck went through 3 of them. Seems
>the gas peddle has some issues if it is a diesel since
>powerstroke is drive by wire, meaning no throttle cable, it
>is a throttle sensor. 3 bad sensors which cause truck to
>idle even if peddle to the floor. It happened to me when
>driving and I noticed that it was more likely to happen if
>the weather was cool and wet out. Hope this helps.

Good point ColtM4! I have never heard of that before with a PSD. I learn something all the time here. Cool.

>If it is
>a Cam Position Sensor your engine will actually stop running
>usually.

Usually being the key word, but not always. My Dad's 97 just one day became really hard to start. A week later it started to flutter while going down the road. He called an International dealer, and they said "Just put a CPS in it, and we'll go from there" It worked. 96K miles on her, and it's still as strong as ever.
My 99.5 dually had a different CPS symptom. It just flat died, and got to have a ride on the hook.

*fingers crossed* No problems yet with the '02.

Now all this begs the question; Do PowerStrokes just have a Cam sensor, or do they also have a crank sensor? My Caterpillars have both, and when the CPS faults for any reason, it reverts to the crank sensor, and logs a code in the ECM. This way, the engine never stalls.
I may have just answered my own question, since PSD's stutter and die when the CPS faults, but I was just curious.

Anybody know for sure?

 

Leave it to CAT to make a better mousetrap. PSD's don't have a crank sensor, but should...

 

Early this morning I went and picked up a new CPS for my truck, I hope this fixes it, if not I guess I'll try the throttle sensor. Now for the new questions. Where is the throttle sensor located? Do I have to replace the entire pedal assembly? Can I get the parts from International or do I have to go through Ford? Thanks for the help so far.
-Cope
97 F-350 PSD ZF 5 Speed 4x4

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Sep-02 AT 02:36 PM (EST)]The throttle sensor on my 02 is the peddle assembly itself, just look at the peddle and you'll see a sensor with wires coming from it (at least on mine anyway) Hope this helps. Oh yes and it is a Ford part so it will be expensive.