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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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Difficult starts

I have new Batteries and altenator, charge holds well and I have off loaded the altenator as mentioned in an earlier thread. It acts like the batteries are losing charge and starts slow and with great effort. It stopped running in the middle of traffic, I shut off ignition and restarted on 2nd try...PCM?
Any input would be helpful. Thanks, CB
1999 F250 SD 7.3L Auto
 
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 10:53 PM
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Shutting off in traffic...makes me think CPS. When you say it starts slow, do you mean it cranks over slow or just doesn't seem to want to fire? Also, when cranking it, does the tach move at all? A non-moving tach when cranking is a sign of a bad CPS.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 08:07 AM
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What jtharvey said.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 11:16 AM
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It cranks slowly and tac moves. What is CPS? New to this so I don't know all the lingo!
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by brandstruck
It cranks slowly and tac moves. What is CPS? New to this so I don't know all the lingo!
Camshaft Position Sensor. Do a search for this on here and you'll find several links to companies that sell them cheap. Don't buy them locally as it will cost you $$.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 02:02 PM
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CPS = Camshaft Position Sensor. This has been the culprit for many of our goofy problems with our trucks. From what I hear, Ford has a new one out that only costs like $40. The older ones cost over $100. So don't pay over $100 for it!!
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 05:18 PM
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I just bought a new grey in coler CPS at my local ford delar for $29 cheaper than auctions on ebay when you add shipping
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 06:36 PM
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With the tach moving on a 99 the cps is good.

with it cranking slowly what is the cranking voltage?
Check the voltage at the battery during cranking you must have > 10.5vdc.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 10:25 PM
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Had to be towed,was checking connections after failure to start and broke the positive bolt off the back of altenator. Should have come home after work! Thing failed to start, acted as if battery was dead, click then nothing, voltage gauge stayed up in op range. Had it towed to a local fix it shop and will look at tomorrow. Soon as it is on the road, for sale! Some other sucker can have this one! I am not a machanic and hate working on the thing. My first diesel,lesson learned!
 
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by brandstruck
Had to be towed,was checking connections after failure to start and broke the positive bolt off the back of altenator. Should have come home after work! Thing failed to start, acted as if battery was dead, click then nothing, voltage gauge stayed up in op range. Had it towed to a local fix it shop and will look at tomorrow. Soon as it is on the road, for sale! Some other sucker can have this one! I am not a machanic and hate working on the thing. My first diesel,lesson learned!
Wow, it sounds like you need to buy a new vehicle with a warranty. To blame your problems on the diesel engine is dumb, how about the fact that you're driving an 8 or 9 year old truck. Things can and will break, and if you are going to drive an older vehicle be prepared to have to fix stuff or find a shop that can. This is true for any car or truck, gas or diesel. My advice, hang out here for awhile, keep up on the maintenance and enjoy your truck, or buy a Toyota, I here they never need to be fixed.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 03:49 AM
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i bet a new starter would fix your problem as far as the hard starts go..
 
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 04:03 AM
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i'll give you 100$ for it since its a diesel and they suck so bad......
 
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 04:50 PM
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Guy at the shop says prob starter, tach moving means cps is ok. You guys are right, blaming deisel is wrong, but seems like everything is big money to fix. Mechanic says fixing it is still cheaper the payment on new truck. All points are well taken.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by brandstruck
Guy at the shop says prob starter, tach moving means cps is ok. You guys are right, blaming deisel is wrong, but seems like everything is big money to fix. Mechanic says fixing it is still cheaper the payment on new truck. All points are well taken.
What does the starter have to do with the truck shutting off in traffic? Trust me I know about stuff breaking down, it sucks, but the best thing you can do is educate yourself about your truck. This way you can either fix it yourself or know what the mechanic is talking about so you don't get hosed. Good luck. Btw, when my cps went out it was an intermittent problem.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 05:54 PM
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So many issues I completely forgot about it shuting off in traffic, bigger probs than starter. I take x-rays for a living and hate working on things. You are correct about learning things so I don't get hosed, that is why I read all these postings. I would agree, anything electronic, can have intermitant probs.
 

Last edited by brandstruck; Jun 7, 2007 at 06:01 PM.
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