CPS Alignments, 2000+

[dasfinc]

In my ranger I am running a 1998 GT-40P 5.0 motor with a 2000 ECU.

The ONLY thing that I had to change for the 2000 ECU was the CPS Sensor had to be a 2 wire one, not a 3 wire, so I bought a brand new one from autozone, and simply popped the sensor off, ran the wiring accordingly *Found diagrams, ran it/soldered it correctly as the 00 Harness would have been* and drove it. I found that the truck had a bad mis under partial load between maybe 2 and 4K RPM, We adjusted (see rotated) the sensor by 'ear' *Just listening to the motor and reving to see if it was breaking up* and now it drives fine with no CEL for it. I am fairly confident this is not the 'correct' way to do this, and I know this affects fuel timing, and not ignition.

I know with the 3 wire sensor, you can 'align' it with a voltmeter, so I have 3 problems...

A) Is the CPS Spindle the EXACT SAME for the 96-99s as it is for the 00 and 01's (The sensor attaches the same way, but is the physical gear driven spindle the same?)

B) If it is the EXACT SAME, is the alignment tool *CPS Alignment tool, I've seen it mentioned a few times* the same for 96-99 as it is for 00-01's?

C) If it is all the exact same, why did my truck have a mis-fire with the factory 96-99 Alignment when switching to the 00-01 2 wire sensor. When I FIRST did the swap, I was using a 96 ECU with the 3 wire CPS, and it ran fine *Albeit EXTREMELY rich because it was set for return fuel system so it was 'dumping' gas, but it didn't have any misfires*

Is it possible because the 96 ECU was defaulting to 'limp' mode because of the fuel system and thats why I never felt a miss before?

Thank you in advance for any help guys, Truck pulls like a freight train minus its gearing/traction issues (4.10 posi with OEM 14 inch 'bubble' 4 cylinder tires)
________
Kawasaki KH100

 

[Mac]

Dan,
The alignment tools are different, would sure thing the spindles are the same. As far as the tool, I was just able to borrow one on Saturday and bring it back Monday morning. You switched the sensor same time as the CPU? The 2000 CPU looking for the missing O2 sensors, the four of them? You mention the next track outing, where you run?
Dave - E-Mail sent

 

[dasfinc]

Dan,
The alignment tools are different, would sure thing the spindles are the same. As far as the tool, I was just able to borrow one on Saturday and bring it back Monday morning. You switched the sensor same time as the CPU? The 2000 CPU looking for the missing O2 sensors, the four of them? You mention the next track outing, where you run?
Dave - E-Mail sent

Not sure what you mean by 'would sure thing the spindles are the same.' you mean they SHOULD be the same? The ECU only whined about my trans pressure (tune) and fuel level sender (ecu was out of an eddi Bauer with the computer console thingy)
I replaced the O2s with brand new ones when I had my exhaust done, same par numbers IIRC for all explorers with v8s. I run at Byron and got your email, if you wanna come run with me' sometime I'd love the company! I'll email you my # and when I'm going next
________
Suzuki AN650

 

[Mac]

Sorry but I thought on one of your earlier posts you said you were running with out cats. Let me know if you can't find the positioning tool, got one I could mail and pick up in Byron. Know a couple of friends that run down there.
Dave

 

[V8 Level II]

A) Is the CPS Spindle the EXACT SAME for the 96-99s as it is for the 00 and 01's (The sensor attaches the same way, but is the physical gear driven spindle the same?)

The Synchronizer drive is different for the early 3-wire CMP sensor compared to the later 2-wire CMP sensor. If nothing else, the vane size is completely different so the alignment tool probably won't fit. Even if you could somehow use the correct late factory timing tool, the Synchronizer timing would still be wrong.

B) If it is the EXACT SAME, is the alignment tool *CPS Alignment tool, I've seen it mentioned a few times* the same for 96-99 as it is for 00-01's?

Early and late Ex 5.0 tools are different.

Ford part numbers:
303-562 – 96~98 5.0L Explorer (3-wire HE)
303-630 – 99~01 5.0L Explorer (2-wire VRS)

OTC part numbers (OTC makes the Ford sensors):
6469 – 96~98 5.0L Explorer (3-wire HE)
6470 – 99~01 5.0L Explorer (2-wire VRS)

C) If it is all the exact same, why did my truck have a mis-fire with the factory 96-99 Alignment when switching to the 00-01 2 wire sensor.

Probably a mistimed Synchronizer and/or incompatibilty of the Hall Effect Synchronizer vane with the Variable Reluctance CMP.

 

[dasfinc]

Sorry but I thought on one of your earlier posts you said you were running with out cats. Let me know if you can't find the positioning tool, got one I could mail and pick up in Byron. Know a couple of friends that run down there.
Dave

That would be freaking AMAZING! I'm sure I could order it from the link you sent me, but if you would be game for saving me $35, I'd be stoked! Would you happen to have the link on how to align the engine when replacing the spindle? *Can't find the article now, especially for 99-01's*

I am catless, but My sniper tune is setup to ignore emissions, so I'd imagine my ECU is 'blind' to the rear 2 cats.

The Synchronizer drive is different for the early 3-wire CMP sensor compared to the later 2-wire CMP sensor. If nothing else, the vane size is completely different so the alignment tool probably won't fit. Even if you could somehow use the correct late factory timing tool, the Synchronizer timing would still be wrong.

Any way to confirm this 100% before I pull one from my local yard? Same question from mac for you, how do you re-install the spindle with the correct alignment? I can't find the article again

Early and late Ex 5.0 tools are different.

Ford part numbers:
303-562 ? 96~98 5.0L Explorer (3-wire HE)
303-630 ? 99~01 5.0L Explorer (2-wire VRS)

OTC part numbers (OTC makes the Ford sensors):
6469 ? 96~98 5.0L Explorer (3-wire HE)
6470 ? 99~01 5.0L Explorer (2-wire VRS)

Rock on!
________
juggalo

 

[V8 Level II]

Any way to confirm this 100% before I pull one from my local yard? Same question from mac for you, how do you re-install the spindle with the correct alignment? I can't find the article again

You need the Synchronizer, the CMP Sensor and the alignment tool, all for the same year range - either 96~98 or 99~01 for all pieces. The actual alignment is not super critical like you would need to do for distributor timing but it can't be totally off either.

The basic function of the CMP is to tell the PCM what stroke the engine is on so it can sync the fuel timing to the intake valve events. The CKP (crank position sensor) can't tell the PCM where the camshaft is in its rotation because it goes through 2 revolutions in the same time that the cam makes 1 rev.

I just made a few reference lines on the lower intake with a black marker when I swapped mine out but I was not crossing over from one type of sensor/Synchronizer to the other like you would be. Best to use the tool if at all possible.