Ford E 350 Camshaft Positioning Sensor Recall ans Failures

[ExFedEx]

Ford E 350 Camshaft Positioning Sensor Recall and Failures

Hey everyone, I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA about the 7.3 Powerstroke engine. If anyone has had similar issues and repeated failures with the CPS, I'd strongly suggest you file a complaint also. The website is Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)). The following is my complaint:

1998 Ford E 350 Powerstroke 7.3 Diesel. The Camshaft Positioning Sensor (CPS) failure is a serious problem that Ford will have to deal with. I have had three instances of the unit failing on me since this first one on Dec 13th, 2007. In the first case, I was taking my son to school. The van was sputtering the whole way and I eventually had to have it towed to a repair shop after a complete engine failure. Ford had just issued the recall on Dec 6th, 2007, and they honored the repair. The second CPS incident happened on Feb 23rd, 2010. The vehicle would not start; I had it towed to a repair shop after getting a parking ticket. I cannot find proof that Ford honored the repair. The 3rd CPS incident happened on Sunday Feb 27th, 2011, one year after the 2nd incident. I was in Flagstaff, AZ during a snowstorm, and the vehicle was failing on me on Route 66. It stalled twice on the main highway as the snowplows whipped around me. I got back to where I was staying, and waited until Monday morning when I had it towed to a repair shop and had the CPS unit replaced. This engine is unsafe and unreliable. The CPS unit can fail at anytime, anywhere, and maybe at any speed, though my issues were at low speed or at startup. Ford will NOT honor this latest incident because they say after my first replacement in Dec 2007 that my “case was closed”.

I hope you all will file complaints. This is a serious issue with the PSD. As much as I love my van, it may be time to say bye bye to it.

I also spoke with Natasha from Ford in Michigan at 1-800-392-3673. I fully explained the problem, and told her that if you think Toyota has problems... she then told me to file a complaint with the NHTSA, so I did. Please feel free to join in on the party.

 

[BillChaffey]

I have a 1999 F250 Super Duty. The sensor was replaced about 100,000 miles ago. Have had no problems since. Also a 2002 E 350. Ford sent me a letter to have it replaced at any Ford Dealer, only now I can't find the letter. It has about 250,000 miles and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[jaminjim]

I have a 1999 F250 Super Duty. The sensor was replaced about 100,000 miles ago. Have had no problems since. Also a 202 E 350. Ford sent me a letter to have it replaced at any Ford Dealer, only now I can't find the letter. It has about 250,000 miles and I couldn't be happier with it.

Now that is one old F350. Less than 140 miles a year. Don't drive it much do you?

 

[Brisco]

Re: Ford E 350 Camshaft Positioning Sensor Recall and Failures

I also spoke with Natasha from Ford in Michigan at 1-800-392-3673. I fully explained the problem, and told her that if you think Toyota has problems... she then told me to file a complaint with the NHTSA, so I did. Please feel free to join in on the party.

And you've come to the conclusion that the problem you're having with the CPS sensor on your 13 year old van is somewhat in the same category as Toyota's gas pedal sticking problem that has killed several people over the years???

Can't recall any news story that covered the tragic death of a van driver because his CPS sensor failed on his 13 year old 7.3 diesel engine.

My opinion.......time for a new van. And no, I won't be joining the party. Thanks for the invite though.....................

 

[guido4475]

Re: Ford E 350 Camshaft Positioning Sensor Recall and Failures

I have had my old sensor replaced under recall, not that there was anyting wrong with the one replaced.All is fine here.So why dont you just carry an extra with you, if you are having such bad luck?It is just a 10mm bolt, a plug, and a screw driver to pop it out of the hole.5 mins and it is done.Does this sensor make the vehicle unsafe?Not hardly.The 7.3 is one of International's best engines ever,highly sought after by many high-performace diesel mechanics.The only problem with these engines is how heavy they are.But the amount of horsepower and torque you can get out of these is unbelieveable.I'm putting out 375 hp right now, with a few changes.And fuel mileage has went up 1-1.5 mpg as well.

 

[ExFedEx]

I love this from Guzzler at www.guzzle7pt3.com/cps.php: "The CPS (Camshaft Position Sensor) is one of the weakest links on the Ford 7.3 Powerstroke engines. The sensor has a high failure rate and common symptoms include having the engine die while driving as if you turned the key off just to have the driver pull over and restart without any problems; periodic 'hiccupping' of the engine; complete failure of the CPS can kill the engine and will not let it restart." That just about sums it up. It is unsafe. And BTW I do carry tools with me.

I agree, the 7.3 PSD is one of the best engines out there. I have 593,500+ on my original engine, and really wouldn't know what to do with anything else. But the fact that it can shut down at anytime, anywhere, is making me nervous. I went 9 years with no CPS issue, and now it's been replaced 3 times in 3 years and 2 months. This is what a recall is? In fact, it's a recall on a recall, because Ford has come out with two different replacement parts, one to replace the other, and there is still failure out there. It isn't necessarily about "any news story that covered the tragic death of a van driver because his CPS sensor failed on his 13 year old 7.3 diesel engine" but about what has NOT happened yet, and it may not be the driver who gets injured, but may be the vehicle in front of you getting rear ended, or the person walking on the side of the road that gets mowed over because your steering and brakes are gone, or down an embankment because your engine is shut off. There are plenty of examples from other PSD owners here online (Powerstroke.org, Dieselstop.com) with the issues that they have had when their CPS has failed. Luckily no one has been hurt as far as we know of.

OK, back to topic - so which replacement part is the "new improved" one? The gray sensor part #F7TZ-12K073-B, or the black sensor (which is what just failed on me this last time) part #DT-466E?

 

[Brisco]

It isn't necessarily about "any news story that covered the tragic death of a van driver because his CPS sensor failed on his 13 year old 7.3 diesel engine" but about what has NOT happened yet, and it may not be the driver who gets injured, but may be the vehicle in front of you getting rear ended, or the person walking on the side of the road that gets mowed over because your steering and brakes are gone, or down an embankment because your engine is shut off.

Well.......when this starts happening with vehicles that are running with engines that have not been produced since 2003, and deaths are occuring on a regular basis due to this, then it may turn into a "Toyota Type" of problem. Comparing Toyotas problem with this little "annoyance" as was mentioned in the original post was ridiculous. Overzealous, IMO.

Again, about time for new van, isn't it??? And when you hear about a person dying over this little hiccup, send me an invite to the party. I may look into actually showing up instead of RSVPing.

 

[greg334]

Well I understand what you are saying but really it is not Ford's problem any more.

See maybe some missed the news that at one time about almost all the Cummins engines made from I think 1996 to 1998 had something that did a lot of damage to the engine, the Killer Dowel Pin a.k.a. KDP. Cummins admitted to it being a serious design flaw but did absolutely nothing about it and the NTSB didn't care enough to investigate the high number of complaints with the really high cost related to the repairs or sudden engine stoppage so the KDP still lives on in many many engines on the road today.