Sudden power loss-check engine light came on

[gergstuff]

I was driving to work this morning and everything was going fine. When I was 500 yards from the parking lot at work the truck suddenly lost power and the check engine light came on. I was able to get it into the parking lot but it went very slowly no power at all.

I turned it off and restarted and it seemed to be fine-cehck engine light went off.

1995 F-350

I had just changed the fuel filter after draining the water out of the seperator the other day and the battery light had inexplicably come on but it went off as it should this morning.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Craig

[Phillipjon]

Maybe the CPS?

[madpogue]

If you don't disconnect the batteries, the code(s) should remain stored. You need a scanner/device that can communicate with our trucks - Snap-On MT2500 or Modus, AutoEnginuity software, or AeroForce ScanGauge.

[gergstuff]

I hate to show my naivete but what is a CPS?

[Patrick Feeley]

Camshaft Position Sensor (CPS). It's what tells the engine control module (Powertrain Control Module or PCM) where the engine is in its cycle. Some vehicles will have a crankshaft sensor, but these don't. Sometimes Ford will call the CPS a CMP (CM for Camshaft) and a crank sensor a CKT (CK for crankshaft). Cheers!

[gergstuff]

Okay i was away on vacation. I bought a scanner but it found no codes which I was a little surprised about.

I am thinking it may not be the right kind of scanner?

It is for OBDII/EOBD compliant vehicles. It was a cheapie (relatively speaking) from Harbor Freight.

Should this work with a 1995?

It powers up and shows some data but again is finding no trouble codes?

Thoughts?

Craig

[Patrick Feeley]

Generally speaking, most code readers from local auto parts places (and Harbor Freight) will not work on our trucks. They need to be able to read Ford "enhanced" parameter sets. Many folks use AutoEnginuity (you need a laptop for this option). Cheers!

[gergstuff]

crap!

That figures..

Thank you!

Craig

[Fordman247365]

I dont believe, I may be wrong, that the cps throws a CEL, sudden loss of power and CEL is something HPO related I think, That CEL will tell you the exact problem if you can get it read

[AddictedOffroad]

Originally Posted by Fordman247365

I dont believe, I may be wrong, that the cps throws a CEL, sudden loss of power and CEL is something HPO related I think, That CEL will tell you the exact problem if you can get it read

Yes, it will throw a code from time to time. Its how I solved my early morning "Bucking" issue. But, I had to scan it with the light on. Mine was intermittent, but I was finally able to scan it with it on and it was a CPS code.

To the OP: When my CPS failed it did exactly what you described. Major loss of power. I could barely hold 45mph with the pedal on the floor until I could pull over. Then it died. I tried to start it a couple times with no luck. Then the 3rd time it fired right up and drove fine until the light came back on the next day and I could scan it.