Failure mode - Ford 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel (T444E)

CPS (camshaft position sensor) failure

Reliability tier: verified - verify before ordering, see /disclosure/

Symptoms

engine dies while driving / no-start, often hot; restarts after cooling
tach does not move while cranking (the signature tell)
intermittent stumble then recovery; no warning
repeat failures with aftermarket sensors are common

Compare with the other causes of the same sign on this engine: hard start, long crank or no-start (7 causes) · stalls or dies while driving · misfire, rough idle, hesitation or surging (4 causes)

Root cause

The camshaft position sensor on the front cover fails with heat cycles and age - THE classic 7.3 no-start. Multiple Ford recalls/replacements over the years moved through sensor revisions. The tach is driven off the CPS, so a dead tach while cranking = dead CPS before you touch anything else.

Diagnosis

crank and watch the tach: no movement = CPS (the roadside diagnostic)
check for RPM signal with a scan tool; DTC P0340-family when it sets
replace with an OEM-quality sensor - cheap aftermarket CPS units are notorious for repeat failure and rough running

Fixes

replace the CPS (OEM/OEM-quality only; carry a spare in the glovebox - community standard practice) ()

cps-sensor - more than one option: 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor 1994-1996 (OEM), 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor 1997-2003 (OEM)

Prevalence

very-common

Parts for this repair run about $35: see them next to the other repairs on this engine in repair costs.