electrical problem?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
electrical problem?
i have a 1996 f 350 dually with the 7.3. bullydog four position flip chip full set of gauges 3 inch round downtube. took a trip this weekend to northern michigan and on the way up my tach would jump a couple of hundred rpms without me pressing the accelerator pedal or the cruise making it go faster.at one point the cruise stopped working. while up north the next day the abs light came on although the truck still seemed to operate fine. today on the way home the cruise would shut itself off but come right back to working when i reset it. is this the sign of an alternator, battery or something bigger? checked all the fuses in the truck and they were all fine.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Jumpy tach like that? I've been wrong so many times lately here on this site I'm feeling a little foolish, but I'll go out on a limb here and say it's either your CPS or your torque converter is slipping for some reason.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 798
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
Jumpy tach like that? I've been wrong so many times lately here on this site I'm feeling a little foolish, but I'll go out on a limb here and say it's either your CPS or your torque converter is slipping for some reason.
I think I'd buy a CPS, and put it in my glovebox.......along with the appropriate 10mm tools.
Last edited by touchofgrey; Sep 5, 2005 at 11:23 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg , Fl.
I don't see how the CPS could do the things spark' describes ...and it certainly wouldn't affect the cruise . I know a faulty speed sensor will affect the cruise but not the tach...Seeing as these trucks are "drive by wire" it may be in the throtle position sensor .
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
If the CPS doesn't cure it, you might want to look at the rear axle speed sensor and its connection. Those same symptoms happened on my buddy's '97. It was just a loose connection on the rear speed sensor. Either way I would still pick up a CPS, because sooner or later you'll need it.
Hope that helps,
Austin
Hope that helps,
Austin
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Monterey Park, California
If it doesn't do that with the cruise control off, but does with it on, there is definitely something wrong with your cruse control.
I recently had my CPS go bad cruising at 75mph in the freeway left lane. First thing I noticed it would miss. Then seconds later it would hesitate with the engine cutting off then on. Then all of a sudden within a few seconds later, the engine just quit, and had to coast to a safe area off the freeway. Luckily when it started missing, I immediately pulled to the right lane, so when it did conk out I was able to coast it down a off ramp. A tow truck driver put a tow hook and pulled me into a shopping mall where I did the CPS exchange. I did have my Predator tuner with me to see the trouble code. It's scary to loose your power brakes and have to stop a 8000lb machine.
I recently had my CPS go bad cruising at 75mph in the freeway left lane. First thing I noticed it would miss. Then seconds later it would hesitate with the engine cutting off then on. Then all of a sudden within a few seconds later, the engine just quit, and had to coast to a safe area off the freeway. Luckily when it started missing, I immediately pulled to the right lane, so when it did conk out I was able to coast it down a off ramp. A tow truck driver put a tow hook and pulled me into a shopping mall where I did the CPS exchange. I did have my Predator tuner with me to see the trouble code. It's scary to loose your power brakes and have to stop a 8000lb machine.
Last edited by Hello; Sep 6, 2005 at 01:16 PM.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
on sunday mornig when i first started the truck the abs light came on and stayed on when i was not in cruise control mode. once i shut the truck off it the light went off and it has not been back on since?
i have had a cps sensor go out before and it is not giving me any of the signs that it is the cps.
the tach only jumps no increase in engine rpm.
i have had a cps sensor go out before and it is not giving me any of the signs that it is the cps.
the tach only jumps no increase in engine rpm.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by sparke454
on sunday mornig when i first started the truck the abs light came on and stayed on when i was not in cruise control mode. once i shut the truck off it the light went off and it has not been back on since?
i have had a cps sensor go out before and it is not giving me any of the signs that it is the cps.
the tach only jumps no increase in engine rpm.
i have had a cps sensor go out before and it is not giving me any of the signs that it is the cps.
the tach only jumps no increase in engine rpm.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Monterey Park, California
I know a bad alternator resulting in low voltage would cause everything on your dash to go eratic once the battery is finally run down. But I doubt it is that. It will be hard to track down unless it's an obvious failure on some electrical part. Try scanning for codes. If none, then I wouldn't worry it until something actually fails and can be pinpointed.
Last edited by Hello; Sep 6, 2005 at 04:10 PM.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,653
Likes: 6
From: Cabot, Arkansas
I think I would start with the VSS in the rear diff, there are a lot of calculations based on what that speed sensor is saying, and at around $12 it is by far the least expensive of the sensors that could cause the problem.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
If you haven't already checked, I would start looking at the connections to the PCM & the back of the dash, make sure that they are tight and not corroding. Sounds to me like the problem is within the dash/instument cluster. If the engine is running smooth the entire time these events occur, I'd say your sensors are probably fine. Most of the time the ABS light trips on from the VSS malfunction, but is usually accompanied by an eratic speedometer as well. From what I gather, the cps is usually accompanied by the engine stalling or dying. Knowing the problem with the CPS, I changed mine out before having problems and keep in in the truck as a spare now.