Replaced CPS, left me stranded again!

[garlicbreath]

I have a 97 F350 that started acting up 2 weeks ago.

First it dropped to an idle, check engine light came on, OD light started flashin and the pedal was dead.
Turned it off and back on everything was fine.

Did this 2 more times until July 4th it left me stranded on the highway.

I replaced the CPS with a napa part, they were the only place open on july 4th with one in stock, and it got worse. Wouldn't even start.

On the advice of a few others on here, I checked the wires coming out of the shifter in the column for chafing, they were ok, and the next day bought a genuine ford CPS.

With the ford part it started right up, and I put about 80 miles on it yesterday without a hickup.

Today, I didn't get 4 miles away and it did it again. It would only idle. So since it was downhill back to the house, I idled it back.

As soon as I got it home and powercycled it twice, it started up fine, no CEL.

I have a 600 mile trip planned next weekend to PA for the WEROC 4wheeling competition and need this thing running!!

One thing odd I noticed is when It stopped today, I pulled over to pull the batteries, (it worked time before last) and even with both batteries pulled, something was clicking under each valve cover.

It had that distinct relay click sound, not so much the hot exhaust ticking sound. Plus I was only 4 miles away, the truck wasn't hot.

Could that be something or was it just heat related parts?

Last time it left me stranded, it threw 3 codes, p0122, po603, and p0344

The shop is closed so I don't know codes it threw today.

[bigjon]

sounds like your tranny

[gbear]

According to the code list I have
P0122 is a trottle position sensor problem
p0603 is loss of power (probably when you disconnected the batteries)
p0344 is a cam position sensor circuit problem (make sure the connections are good to the sensor)

Maybe this will be of some help

Jim