Hi everyone. I need your highly valued opinions. I am going to replace the CPS on my 2000 7.3 I see they are available on ebay, some in the original Ford packaging. Would you guys recommend going this route, or is there a better aftermarket CPS? Thanks for any and all feedback!

 

is there a better aftermarket CPS? is highly debateable here. There is a blue CPS that some people have had luck with and some have not seen the difference. Here is alink to the blue CPS for one of the site sponsors: http://www.blackclouddieselperforman...de3faec5563bca
I purchased mine (the standard black one) off ebay for about $65 shipped to my door. Just make sure it is the OEM Ford/Motorcraft brand as I did see some that were a different brand, NAPA I think.

 

I just installed one 2 days ago that I got off of ebay. It came in original Ford Motorcraft packaging and only cost $50. Glad I got it when I did since I needed it a week after I got it! Works great so far but only 14 miles on it at this point. I'll be going after another one soon to have a backup (again...).

 

We found the International Blue CPS early last summer and used it all summer before posting any results or opinions. For me in my 2001 F250, the Blue CPS made a very noticeable difference in added towing capability, quieted the engine and best of all I gained 1-1.5mpg using it.

I found the the Blue CPS while trying to resolve a very minor miss issue I noticed in the truck while under light load on the highway. I had taken the truck to Ford a few times trying to find a problem and they could never locate it and the truck always tested good and of course onthe test drives the techs could not notice the issue at all. I tried changing the CPS with a stock one and it made no difference at all. Then I installed the Blue CPS from international and the problem is gone and the engine simply runs better. Of couyrse not all trucks will react the same using the Blue CPS, but for me it is one of the best mods I have done to my truck.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. The blue CPS is certainly an option, but haven't I seen post' concerning the blue CPS not working too well with Jody's DP chip? I will probably order a chip sometime in the near future - would the blue CPS cause any problems? Thanks........

 

I just ordered mine yesterday from ebay....very reputable seller....will let you know when i get it in use. $53.06 with shipping.

 

got mine on ebay for approx $55....along with the icp sensor from the same guy....he has them out there in the ford oem packaging...very quick shipping too! Anything is better than $165 from the dealer.

 

50.00 on eBay and no problems after a year and a half check feedback!

 

Bridgeman....thats is good to hear. I have done alot on ebay and this is my first PSD parts purchase.

 

Ok all, I went ahead and ordered my Ford CPS from that seller in Maryland on ebay. Hopefully it'll be fine, and I'll even save a few $$. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. Thanks for the replies and advice.........

 

That's where I got my CPS recently. Great price and super fast delivery. I'm searching for another one in his store as we speak (.....ok, as I type.....well, not exactly at the same time, but I've got another window open with ebay and his store....aw heck, you get the idea. Good seller!)

 

OK, guys, here goes.

I am going to launch a bit of research on CPS failures. If you are contemplating replacing yours, it's likely that yours is "getting intermittent". If it has "failed completely", you can still participate in this, though it may still cost you the price of a new CPS.

Since these are solid-state devices, and solder joints are "usually" pretty dependable, there's one place that is suspect to me, the connector itself, or more accurately, the integrity of each individual connection to remain extremely low-impedance (almost zero ohms). Due to the relatively-low level of the signal, and it's susceptibility to PCM-confusing "noise", connection integrity is paramount.

Remember that Ford made a production change and there are CPS's for "early" and "late"? They used standard "tinning" on the early connector pins, while "late" is gold-plated. There is no other difference except the part number. You don't want to use dissimilar metals in connectors, thus the different CPS's to match the material used in the truck's harness as it came from the factory.

Ford didn't make that change for no reason. Gold-plating is resistant to corrosion, and gold-on-gold is NASA-quality. Ford wouldn't go to the use of gold-plated pins unless they suspected a problem with maintaining the electrical integrity of those connections. I can't imagine the pressure on the engineer who told management that it was necessary to ADD cost to the product. But they did it, and that should tell us something.

My engine was occasionally "stumbling", and I have a spare in the glove box as any prudent 7.3 owner should have, but not stumbling so bad as to be much more than an occasional irritation (and embarrassment), so I haven't changed it. I just thought about it, waiting for that Round Tuit....

A couple of weeks ago, I thought it was time to familiarize myself with the procedure and location so that when the time came I could go straight to it. I even went so far as to reach up and release the connector's "lock" and pulled it apart. It was clean inside, with no grease, oil, or contaminants of any kind, but I began to wonder about the "insertion pressures" of these connections. the smallest spec of dust could interrupt the signal if the connections aren't tight. I mated and re-mated the connection a couple of times more to knock off anything microscopic that might be coming between the pins and their sockets, and crawled out from underneath with a question in my mind.

Since that day, I have not had another "stumble" of any kind.

Coincidence? Maybe. But that's not what my avionics background tells me.

So, here's the deal. We need a LOT more feedback on this to see if there's anything to what I'm seeing.

I'm asking any of you that are seeing even a hint of "stumbling" to reach up and de-mate and re-mate the CPS connector at least three times, looking to see if it's spotlessly-clean inside.

Then let us know if yours continues to stumble. We may learn something about the Powerstroke's most common sensor failure.

And sure, I may be WAAAAAY off-base, but I believe it's worth investigating, and we certainly have a large test-base group here.

Oh yea, expect to hear me "drone-on" about this until its proved one way or the other. I can cut-n-paste this until the regulars around here are sick of seeing it. Then, bear with me just a little-bit longer, OK?

Pop

 

Mine stumbled for the first time last night on the way home from Houston Intercontental Airport, 40 somthing deg's and damp. I posted earlier today about the alternator in the way and breaking my 1/4" adapter. I afraid I will break the bolt off. I am letting it soak at this time.

 

Dual alternators? Yukkk.

Makes it tougher to replace the CPS.

Are you willing to participate in the investigation of this?

Pop

 

Ok Springer...I'm in. That's a good question. My machine runs bad everytime I leave IF I don't let it warm up for about 10 minutes first. If I'm even just sitting there in the driveway, and try to rev it up too much before it warms up, it will do the same thing. I've got the CPS on the way, but before I install it, I'll try what you suggested and let you know the results - hopefully you are on to something.........