1997 f-250 7.3 285,000 miles 5 speed,
Have a problem that will only show up when it wants to. I can crank it in the morning and it runs fine, smooth idle and all, back out of the spot , runs good. Sometimes it will do it as we are driving out of the driveway. It will hesitate and spit/sputter. it will then go right back to running fine. Sometimes it will be running down the highway at speed and do it. It can do it at idle, off idle, running through the gears or at 55/60 and go right back to running fine, like nothing happened. Never throws a code or manages to keep it in the memory so I can retrieve it. I have a BOSCH 1050 scanner but it won't let you get live data off of a 1997.I guess I could try leaving it connected while driving and see if it captures any weird stuff. Cam Sensor is new, only mod is the napa filter and straight pipe.
Truck runs great 95% of the time just does this intermittently.

Any ideas other than throwing parts/sensors.

If anyone is in Augusta Ga, I would love to hook it up to a live scanner and check to see if I could duplicate the issue.

Thanks in advance
Did some searches first but found nothing similiar once I read through the post.

 

Here's a bump, but does sound like a loose UVCH connector.

 

The hesitation or sputter I am getting is a complete shutdown. Being the truck is a 5 speed it is not just a simple miss that is occurring. When in first gear it is as though you reach up and turn the key off and then right back on. The truck lurches and tries to jump and buck like a bronco for a second and then it all goes back to a nice smooth idle. Same symptom/issue when it happens at speed going down the highway.

I will be going back and checking the UVCH and ensure the connections are tight and secure.

All of the lights on the dash stay normal when it happens... ie.... no CEL to indicate a code.

 

I would check the nut on the IPR and the pig tail for bare places. I would also put a new ford cps in . If that does not fix put the old cps in the glove box for a spare . Also I would check fuel pressure.

 

Mine did the same thing. Threw CPS, IPR, fuel pump and a couple of other goodies at it. Nothing that probably shouldn't have been done anyway, all were original to the truck and there was fuel in the valley. Each new part made it run great for a month or so, then it'd start doing it again. Finally bit the bullet and did what I was dreading - replaced the under valve cover harnesses on both sides. Ended up being my problem all along.

UVCH replacement is a pain to do (labor wise), but it was the fix for my '97. Hope yours ends up being a loose harness connection, but if you're running the original harness, they could be due for replacement.