This is the sensor with the crank-mounted tone wheel. Every eighteen months or so, I get the "Engine Speed Sensor Erratic" code (PID190 in J1850 Truck speak, Code 115 in Cummins speak, dunno what code in Dodge Ram speak). The engine derates when this code comes up and it limps along. I replace the sensor and everything is well for about eighteen months and then the code comes back.

When the sensor has set codes, its output still looks good on a scope, a nice square wave. The sensor misbehaves too infrequently for the glitch to show up on a scope. There were 107 occurrences of the code in about 40 hours of driving, so on an average, it happens about every twenty minutes.

There are never any marks on the tip of the sensor, so it is not rubbing on the tone wheel.

Anyone else having this problem?

 

I have seen this and heard of it in a couple of instances, but those were all related to the tone wheel coming loose on the crankshaft. I believe they all showed evidence of the wheel contacting the sensor. Not sure if you could have that condition without seeing the signs of contact.

 

I had this issue with NAPA sensors before with a 99 truck but for what ever reason the one I got from dodge has not gone bad for a few years now .I have even had new VP 44 through a code and run like crap with a new pump change when before the old pump fried it ran perfect. changed the cps and wala my .02

 

The replacement sensors have always been from Cummins, #4921601. The last one cost me $65.39 Cdn.

 

May want to check your crank shaft end play, hope its not but there is a chance that it has damaged thrust washers.