Do you always get a "Check Engine" light when CPS goes haywire?

[tgant3]

I have a 2002 F-250 with the 7.3 PSD in it. I bought it new and it only has around 25000 miles on it. As of lately it (last several months) when I drive it, it may buck as if it were missing or it may die completely. Sometimes it starts immediately, others it may take several minutes. I took it to the Ford Dealership and they tried to pull the codes off of it. The "Check engine" light came on once when it missed twice in a row but then it went off after I turned the engine off. There were not any codes registered. So all they did was change the fuel filter. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

tgant3

[MrJohnWayne]

Sounds to me like the Camshaft Position Sensor. Very common.

[tgant3]

I am starting to believe it after reading the forums

Tim Gant

[99Smokin73Stroker]

It is the highest probability. Pulling the code first is a true way of knowing, if you can ever get it read. I would think that even if the code was stored but not tripping the CEL that Ford's scanner would read it.....not sure. My superchips tuner that I had read codes with the CEL on or off. It's cheap insurance to just go ahead and replace it anyway. It will either fix the problem, or prevent it from happening much sooner than it would have.

[BluegrassHaul]

If the truck is still under warranty ford's not going to replace it without getting the code. I had a tech in Tulsa, OK hook up the scanner and ran the truck at close to wide open until it tripped with the scan tool hooked up so he could catch it he said probably close to 90% of the time that's the only way to get the code. Maybe this will help so you don't have to eat the cost.

[tgant3]

Thanks for the replies. I talked with another Ford dealership and they want me to bring it in and let them drive it until it does it again with a scanner hooked up. That is the same ting the first dealership wanted to do. At least the first one is offering the use of another vehicle while they have it. As they should since I bought it from them. As long as it is under warranty, I guess you have to go along with them and play by their rules. But before I take it back I am gonna have the injectors serviced by a local Ford factory trained mechanic who has since left them. At least that will save me few bucks. He said he could do it for half the cost of the dealership. I will post as soon as I find something out. Thanks again for the help.

Tim Gant
Go Bama!!!

[tgant3]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the solution to my problem was exactly what you guys said. It was the CPS Or CMP as Ford calls it. It finally acted up enough that it finally set a code. I didn't turn the truck off until after they had pulled the code at the dealership. They replaced itfree of charge but I still had to pay $58.00 even though I have the extended service warranty. For the $58 I spent today the next time I will have a spare and change it myself. I had to play their games to get it fixed under warranty (I had to change the fuel filter and have the injectors serviced which probably didn't hurt anything. I am sure they needed it.) Once again thanks to all for the info and maybe this will help someone else out in the future.

Tim Gant