Hello all! I'm new to this forum and I have a problem with my 2003 F-350 7.3..........at road speed; engine cuts out and a couple of times, its killed while sitting at light or parked and idling. Brother says it's probably fuel filter ( he"s a chevy tech) Truck has 58,000 miles........never have changed f-filter yet...........Any ideas....Dealer already has pocketed over 32,000 of my hard earned dollars hate to give 'em much more......BTW Been Dodge all my life , this is my second Ford...( my first was 53' F-100 when i was 15 years old) Snapped up one of the last 7.3,s in 03' cause I've got the same engine in 01' F-550 Bucket truck at work. It weighs in at just over 17,000 lbs and does everything I want it to........Really impressed with this truck Just hope I won't be sorry....so any suggestions would really help .........Thanks Guys............Mark

 

Hi Mark
From what you've discribed.....it sounds like one of the few weak points on this engine. It sounds like your Cam Position Sensor (CPS) is going bad. It is located on the front of the engine, at about the 10 o-clock position in relation to the crankshaft harmonic balancer. It's held in by one 10mm bolt. Many around here keep one in the glovebox for a spare. Do a search of this forum for CPS, and you'll get more information than you will ever need. Hope this helps. By the way.......parts are cheaper at your local IH parts house than the dealer. Also.....if you have some time before you need it.....this sensor sells for around $100 or less on Ebay. Just some things to think about.

Oh yea.....after awhile......you won't even remember how to spell Dodg.......I can't remember the last letter is. LOL

 

Hey Mark. Welcome to FTE and the 7.3 forum.

I agree with touchofgrey, and I definitely recommend keeping a spare on hand. The cam sensor may last 15,000 or 150,000 miles.....but sooner or later it will die.

When (if) you go to an International dealer for parts, tell them it's for a T444E, that's International's designation for our engine, and it saves on some confusion....some of them don't know they carry Ford parts.

 

Welcome to FTE!
I'll third the CPS. I've replaced two in the 1st 40,000 mi on my '01. If you have an extended warranty, get the dealer pay. If not, as Cookie88 said, the International dealer is the way to go. Sometimes they throw a trouble code, but more often they don't. I would definitely get one anyway because as you'll read, its not a matter of if, its a matter of when. If I'm not mistaken the FORD PART is # F7TZ-12K073-A and the
INTERNATIONAL PART # is 1825899C93.
Good luck, and since you have one of the good ones (7.3L), you'll never look back.

Austin

Why would anybody Ram it when Strokin' it is soooo much more fun!

 

Even though its probably not your problem, ford recommends changing the fuel filter every 15K miles. Do any of you guys have any opinions on this,
is the ford recommendation overkill ??

 

As far as my own experience goes..........no it isn't overkill. You would be shocked at the amount of garbage that your pumping into your tank along with the fuel. The engine runs much smoother and quieter also when the filter is changed. Just some things to think about.

If you really want a wide sweep of views......start your question as a new thread on the first page of this forum. You will get tons of good information. Hope this helps.

 

i try to replace my fuel filter every 3rd oil change (about 18k or less)

 

Before I put my big primary on, I was changing the factory fuel filter every other oil change (multiple fuel quality issues), but 15K is a good number for normal use with good fuel.

 

i agree on the cam position sensor.

if its the original fuel filter definately change it bad diesel can wreck the fuel system of a diesel and that gets expensive fast. bout once a month drain the water seperator the little yellow valve on the front of the filter assymbly and change filters about 15k, if you know for a fact that your getting good fuel it can go longer. i get fuel delivered at the yard and change my pump filters and drain seperators every time fuel gets delivered 2000 gallon tank, so i know my fuel is getting well filtered before it even gets to the truck so i run my fuel filters in my truck out further to about 30k but i dont have the stock fuel system on my truck and the 2 filters it takes ends up being $60

 

Hey guys, Thanks for all the responses! Made a few calls this morning and was suprised at what i found out .........Austin, First i called Maney Int. in St Cloud and they had the cps (on hand for $102.00) thanks for the part #..........then i called the dealer and they said it was $185! I told the service mngr that we thought it was cps after telling him the symptoms. He said they know of the problem but he also said it could be one of two other sensors that have the same symptoms when they go bad. (He named which ones but slipped my mind) He also told me that it was under warrenty yet with a $100 deductible! I told him that i didn,t have an ext. warrenty, he said its covered under the 100,000 mile engine warranty! Labor and diagnostics are covered also! So rather than scuff my knuckles i,m bringing truck in monday for $100(too bad it,s 45 miles s0 i'll have to add fuel money) What do you guys think? No brainer? I got to tell you guys, Austin,....... bbjake,......cookie,......xlt,....TofG,........and dunbar thank you for taking time to respond........this is a great site just wish i had found it sooner; before i bought the truck! I spent 100's of hours researching my tractor on Tractorbyenet.com before i bought that, and it made a huge differance during the purchase! Didn't sound like such a " Cidiot" to the dealer! Can't believe i didn't stumble across this site sooner.....................mark

 

Just put that new sensor in your glovebox along with a 10mm socket and rachet.....you'll find you'll need it someday, and be glad you did.

 

No sweat Mark. Thats why this site exists. There are a lot of guys and gals that each have a unique knowledge of these wonderful trucks. Together we can accomplish far more than alone.
As far as just stumbling on this site...better late than never!

Keep coming back,

Austin