I have a 1995 F-250 with the 7.3 powerstroke diesel. The truck has started to have a occasional "hiccup" like the engine cuts out for an instant and then catches again. This used to be an occasional thing, but now it happens almost daily. The other day as I drove home from work the engine died suddenly. I rolled the truck to the side of the road and it started right up when I cranked it. I also noticed that on start-up my tach sometimes doesn't register for a second or two and then catches. From what I've read in the forum this seems like a cam position sensor problem. Am I correct in this? Also how hard is this to fix? Is there a thread that walks you through the replacement procedure? I really appreciate the help I've received here, you guys are lifesavers! Thanks again for the help!

 

Sounds like the CPS. For install intructions check here: http://www.puredieselpower.com/Tech/CPS.pdf

 

the CPS is located on the front of the motor kinda on the underside. it's slightly to the passenger side and you can easily see it underneath

should be able to just unplug it, and use a 13mm socket with a long extension to pull it

 

Thanks for the quick reply to Plowhand and Brown Falcon. You guys are great! I ordered the CPS and it should be here in about a week. Hopefully that will solve the problem. It's soooo hard to find help or parts here in Hawaii, it's like living in a third world country. The only alternative is the stealership, and we know how that goes (LOL!). Thanks again for your help guys; this site is really a blessing! I wish you all well!

 

there is a recall on the cps, and the dealership will change it for free...

 

I had the same problem on my 95 PSD. I actually went to the local Ford dealer for laughs and actually they had the part in stock and $10 cheaper than Napa.

 

'95 are not on recall.

 

X2 only 97 had a recall. And i thought the CPS was 10mm??

 

Yeah, same thing they told me. 97's had the recall, earlier models didn't... What made mine worse was that the bolt head was completely stripped smooth. Had to get a shop to remove it for me.
And that was the first week I owned the truck!!! Had me a little freaked out for a little while

 

Yes, I do believe it is a 10mm... Sorry, too much stuff going on lately.

 

Hey again guys! Here is the situation. I got the new cps in and did the replacement. Had a heck of a time getting the old one out. I guess after 70k miles the thing got pretty stuck on there. Anyway, the new one popped right in and the truck started right up. I let it idle for about 5 minutes and took it for a drive up the street {about half a mile}. The truck ran great. When I was pulling into my driveway however, the truck did one of those "hiccups". I turned around and ran it up the street again and about halfway up it "hiccuped" twice. I pulled over and it died. On cranking the truck fired right up and I drove it home where it died again right at my driveway. It started right up again and I parked it. I checked the new sensor and everything looks tight, including the harness and connector. When the truck is running the tach reads so I felt that the sensor was working. In reading through several threads here it seems that defective "new" sensors are not unheard of. Could this be the problem here? Should I try another sensor or could this be a different problem? Sorry for the long post, but this sure is frustrating. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!

 

i would get it scanned for codes

 

Thanks for the quick comeback! Any suggestions on a code scanner? The parts stores here don't have any so I guess I need to find one online. Thanks again!

 

Hey everyone- just an update on the situation with my truck. I called the dealership for an appointment to have the truck looked at. Said that they could not take it for two weeks as they were full up on diesels ( wonder what that says?) . They also said that I should expect my truck to be there at least a couple of days. Anyway, already starting to feel the pain in my wallet, I decided to go to the local dealership parts department and take my chances with another cps. I got a genuine Motorcraft one ($36.00) and changed it out in about 15 minutes. I noticed that the genuine part has a much tighter fit in the block than the Standard brand part I had originally purchased. Remember I said in an earlier post that I had a hard time getting the old (genuine) cps out and that the new one popped right in? This was sort of the reverse. Anyway the truck started right up and I have been running it around for about a week now without a hitch. I'm not sure if that looser fit was responsible or it was just a bad sensor but I just thought I would let you know. Thanks again to everyone for all their help!

 

Glad that you got it running, I know a couple of people that have had problems with new parts store CPS. I think it could be a gap issue between it and the crank. I always use Ford or IH.