I bought a F250 about 6 months ago with about 160k miles on it and everything has been fine. Today went to hook up my trailer for work, as my truck idled it died. Went to restart but got nothing. Engine turned over nicely and good speed but nothing as far as combustion.

Now the truck has a little over 174k miles on it and I have given it 3 oil/filter changes and just changed the fuel filter hoping that would fix problem.

If left alone the truck will start after 15minutes but will only run for a little over three minutes with out acceleration and just under 2 minutes if I give it some gas.
:help:

The 7.3L powerstrokes are notorious for CPS(camshaft position sensor) failures. Does the tach quit working when the engine cuts off and won't restart? Does the tach come up when cranking when it won't restart? If the tach is dead then I would replace the CPS first off and see if that's it.

Yes the tach is dead after engine dies and won't move while trying to restart. But I don't think cranking speed is more than 1000rpm, so the tach shouldn't move or jump. Or am I mistaken?

The tach should move from what I've been told. If you have a dead tach then you have a bad CPS, not an uncommon problem on the 7.3L powerstroke.

I was able to locate the part only online(parts store did not carry, didn't try Ford dealer). The cheapest so far is $97.88 w/o delivery. Before I order is there any other thoughts on the subject or conformation? Also is there any way to test w/o obdII tool. Perhaps voltage check?

A friend of mine unhooked his and it ran w/a light on, but his did the same thing as yours is doing, mabe try that?

A friend of mine unhooked his and it ran w/a light on, but his did the same thing as yours is doing, mabe try that?
I don't believe they can run with it unplugged since the CPS is the only cam or crank reference signal for the ECM to figure injection parameters off of.

INTERNATIONAL is supposed to have them for less than FORD or any of the others, there is also one that international has that is supposed to advance the timing and get better economy.

ditto to the crankshaft position sensor!;)

what year truck, only the early models will the tach climb while cranking over with a bad cps.

what year truck, only the early models will the tach climb while cranking over with a bad cps.

:o: Sorry, thought I mentioned it. 2000

Went to different diesel web site and picked up this info. Just thought I would pass it on. Its a trouble shooting guide to the CMP. Will let you know what I find.

http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/9497faq/maint/ecsd/cmp.php3

yes, i post over there alot, but this place seems to have a better sense of humor, thats why i am here too.

I went ahead and replaced the cam sensor. :) The truck is now running and stays running.:ro) Thank you all for your help. I have already recomended this site to someone. I ended up paying 100 at a I.H. parts dealer. Not bad considering my local Ford store (Censored ) wanted $190.

I'm thinking of picking up spare from e-bay. How often do these things go out? Is it a milage # or time or both?

Thanks again for all your help
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
P.S. Stay warm

I had a friend loose one within a 100 miles of buying his 7.3 from a dealer new from a dealer. So ti is hard telling when they are going to go out and they can be purchased cheap off ebay and kept in the glove box for road side repair.

A cps and the tools to change is the emergency roadside kit for every 7.3L powerstroke out there.