Recipe - Ford 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel (T444E)
Specific Fix build
Reliability tier: aggregated - verify before ordering, see /disclosure/
Camshaft position sensor replacement for THE classic 7.3 failure (mode CPS (camshaft position sensor) failure): heat-cycled CPS stalls the truck dead, kills the tach and can leave it restart-locked until it cools. The sensor is era-split: OBS trucks (1994.5-1997) take F4TZ-12K073-C, Super Duty (1999-2003) takes F7TZ-12K073-B. Carry a spare - the part is cheap and the failure strands.
Parts
- 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor 1994-1996 (OEM) - OBS-era CPS (1994.5-1997): F4TZ-12K073-C (qty 1)
- 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor 1997-2003 (OEM) - Super Duty-era CPS (1999-2003): F7TZ-12K073-B (qty 1)
Install order
- confirm the signature: cranks-no-start (or stall) with a dead tach; wiggle/cold tests point at the CPS
- pick the era-correct sensor by truck generation, not by year alone
- replace at the front cover, set the gap per procedure; keep the old one as the trail spare
Expected outcome
No more heat-related stalls; tach live at crank.
Do not
- do not chase injectors or HPOP work before ruling out the $30 sensor - it is statistically the answer
Parts budget
About $35 in parts. It depends on what the diagnosis finds; each option below is what you buy together. Prices marked "at Dave's" are Dave's Auto Center's, the same as in his store; the others are approximate prices from OEM and maker catalogs, rounded (a manufacturer's list price can run higher). Parts only, no labor.
DIY or shop: DIY: one bolt, ten minutes, easier with the truck cold.