[northwoods]

Hey guys, My brother just bought a 99' Superduty with 7.3 and it cranks over fine but won't start. He does not have access to the internet so I am trying to help him out by coming to this forum. The former owner said he got the notice for the CPS recall but hadn't had it updated and he thought maybe that is why it wouldn't start.
Do you think my brother should just tow it into a Ford dealership and let them deal with the sensor first? Or is there anything else that he might be able to look for himself. Can a person test the CPS themselves to find out if it is bad?

Thanks, TC

 

[cjcocn]

Hey guys, My brother just bought a 99' Superduty with 7.3 and it cranks over fine but won't start. He does not have access to the internet so I am trying to help him out by coming to this forum. The former owner said he got the notice for the CPS recall but hadn't had it updated and he thought maybe that is why it wouldn't start.
Do you think my brother should just tow it into a Ford dealership and let them deal with the sensor first? Or is there anything else that he might be able to look for himself. Can a person test the CPS themselves to find out if it is bad?

Thanks, TC

Unless he is getting a free tow it is much cheaper and easier to just change the CPS himself. If you do a web search and include "guzzle" and "powerstroke" you will find his site. He has a write up on changing the CPS - it is actually very easy to do.

HTH

 

[northwoods]

Unless he is getting a free tow it is much cheaper and easier to just change the CPS himself. If you do a web search and include "guzzle" and "powerstroke" you will find his site. He has a write up on changing the CPS - it is actually very easy to do.

HTH

I was just looking at that exact web page as your were replying, and also was thinking the same thing about him changing it out himself rather than towing it in.
Only question I have is will they give him a new CPS in exchange for his old? I tried to call both the Ford dealers in town to ask but no one is in the service dept. at either at the moment.
Thanks, TC

 

[cjcocn]

I was just looking at that exact web page as your were replying, and also was thinking the same thing about him changing it out himself rather than towing it in.
Only question I have is will they give him a new CPS in exchange for his old? I tried to call both the Ford dealers in town to ask but no one is in the service dept. at either at the moment.
Thanks, TC

Some have reported being able to take their old one in and trading it for a new one after changing out the old one themselves (that gives them a spare to keep in the truck). I have only read a few of those accounts, however, so it likely depends on the specific dealer.

I think the new CPSs are about $25, which is probably cheaper than a tow (especially if the truck still won't start and you have to tow it again!).

 

[PStroke72]

I would check the batteries first.
7.3 will crank fine but won't start if the batteries are low or on its way out.
Try jumping the truck and see if it really does not start.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ran440]

You should also check to make sure you are getting fuel. Take the fuel filter cap off and see if it is full. If not turn the key to the on position ( not start ) and see if it fills.
Also check to make sure the high pressure oil pump reservoir level is within 1" of the cap.
Truck will not start without oil in the reservoir. Check crank case oil level while your at it.
Is the tech moving while you are cranking? If not you may have a blown fuse that feeds power to the PCM which will keep the engine from starting. Check fuses.
Randy

 

[northwoods]

Just got off the phone with the dealership, man in service dept. said no they won't exchange the recalled sensor, he wanted the truck towed in so they could replace it. He also said that a bad CPS would not cause the truck to crank but not start. Is that true? After a little whining on my part, and explaining to him that it would cost more in time and $ to tow it in than to simply buy it and put it in he said he would check with another person in there recall dept. to see if I could get a refund for an old style CPS if I had a receipt for a new one and he is going to get back to me.

We did put new batteries in the truck right off so the batteries are good. Also checked to see if it was getting fuel and it was. I am wondering about the HPOP resevoir... I'll check to see if it is full to within 1" of top, but I am wondering why wouldn't it be? Wouldn't it get pumped full of oil just from cranking? Thanks, TC

 

[cjcocn]

Just got off the phone with the dealership, man in service dept. said no they won't exchange the recalled sensor, he wanted the truck towed in so they could replace it. He also said that a bad CPS would not cause the truck to crank but not start. Is that true? After a little whining on my part, and explaining to him that it would cost more in time and $ to tow it in than to simply buy it and put it in he said he would check with another person in there recall dept. to see if I could get a refund for an old style CPS if I had a receipt for a new one and he is going to get back to me.

We did put new batteries in the truck right off so the batteries are good. Also checked to see if it was getting fuel and it was. I am wondering about the HPOP resevoir... I'll check to see if it is full to within 1" of top, but I am wondering why wouldn't it be? Wouldn't it get pumped full of oil just from cranking? Thanks, TC

He either doesn't know what he's talking about or is lying to you.

About the HPOP, I can't explain it technically, but it certainly could be low and is definitely worth checking out.

 

[northwoods]

Now I just got off the phone with the man from the Ford service dept. once again he says no, the only way a person can be reimbursed for the sensor recall is to bring the truck in and have the them change the old style one out, or to have had the work done previous to the recall and be able to provide a receipt for that work. Also explained that if vehicle was towed in, and sensor replacement fixed problem, than Ford would pay for towing, but only if that was the problem causing it not to run.

I guess it looks like bro will need to go out and get a sensor and take the 5 minutes needed to replace it, and forget about the recall.

Anyone ever notice that some dealerships can be more helpful than others?

Will have him check the oil level in the HPOP reservoir first thing though before touching the CPS, if oil is good than on to the sensor.

 

[Ran440]

When a CPS starts to go bad they will cause the engine to stall, but will start back up and run fine. It will do this over and over until it eventually not restart.

There is a check valve that holds the oil in the reservoir while the engine is shut off. If the valve fails the oil drains out. Which means no oil to operate injectors at start up.

If you really want to change out the CPS ask them if you can remove it yourself, take it to them ( the dealer ) get it replaced and put it in yourself. Cry like a baby. They'll do it just to get rid of you.:icon_wink:

Randy

 

[Jafa]

Check to see if any of the fuses under the dash are blown, if a 30 amp fuse bottom right is blown, find your fuel filter housing and unplug the wire going into the back of it and replace the fuse and try starting it.

If it does, replace the fuel heater element under the fuel filter. The cost is around $115 only from a Dealer.

 

[northwoods]

When a CPS starts to go bad they will cause the engine to stall, but will start back up and run fine. It will do this over and over until it eventually not restart.

There is a check valve that holds the oil in the reservoir while the engine is shut off. If the valve fails the oil drains out. Which means no oil to operate injectors at start up.

If you really want to change out the CPS ask them if you can remove it yourself, take it to them ( the dealer ) get it replaced and put it in yourself. Cry like a baby. They'll do it just to get rid of you.:icon_wink:

Randy

The way you describe the CPS failure is exactly how the truck behaved, and now it is to the point of no starting. I am betting it is the sensor, hoping to.

I did figure out how to get Ford to pay for a new sensor though... buy updated sensor and replace, if that fixes problem than drive to dealership put old one back on so they can change it for free. Or how about if replacing the sensor does take care of problem, than put old one back on and let them tow it in and change it themselves for free. Sounds like a mighty stupid thing to do, but basically that is what they want to do rather than just giving bro a new sensor in exchange for the old one. Well, I don't know if it's worth worrying about to much since its only $20.
Regards, TC

 

[Ran440]

They are just giving you a hard time. I had to replace mine out of warranty, out of pocket. When they finally had the recall I went to the dealer and told them I already replaced it and they reimbursed me the full amount of the part. Every dealer is different. Mine knew me well. Too well.
Sounds like you do need a CPS. It's a piece of cake to DIY.
Good Luck,
Randy

 

[HenryM]

Dayum, if you were close by I would lend you the spare from my glove compartment and the tools I keep there to change it. :SM127:

i went thru 5 of those turkeys before the recal and none since. I guaaaraanttteeee you that in some or a lot of cases mine would not start when the cps went south.

I forget what year or if it is all of the 99's, but if you are cranking and the tach shows no indication of rpm's, that is a dead ringer for the bad cps.

Throwing a new (make sure it is the upgraded one) cps at it would seem logical to me as I do those kind of crqap shoots sometimes.

good luck

 

[Kanman]

When a CPS starts to go bad they will cause the engine to stall, but will start back up and run fine. It will do this over and over until it eventually not restart.

That is a blanket statement and isn't remotely true for all trucks. When the CPS died in my truck, the truck was dead. It would not restart one single time.

Northwoods, crank the truck over while watching the tach. Does the tach move? If it does move your problem probably isnt the CPS. If there is no tach movement it is highly likely the CPS is bad. Takes less time to put in a cps than it did to type this...

Next step is to check your Glow Plug Relay, its simple to do and you can find that info all over this board. Have you tried plugging in the block heater to the truck? If it starts fairly easily after the truck has been plugged in for a few hours your Glow plug relay or glow plugs may be bad.

I would definitely double check battery voltage. Does your Wait to Start Light come on?

 

[HenryM]

Northwoods

what was the verdict?