OTR Diagnostics, DEF, Derate Faults

[MapNerd]

That said, I almost always have a workaround for them when I sit down with them to explain the problem and if I don’t, it’s just because I haven’t had the time to develop one for them yet.

the lack of a workaround here or any sort of guidance on what to do is the real head scratcher for me.

It sounds like they are quite literally advising people drive their coaches until they derate and strand them in who knows where. That’s pretty dangerous advice imo.

 

[sheridany]

This can turn into a PR problem for Spartan very soon. Especially given no one really knows what is going on and why it is happening articulated by @Neal. I sure hope they have a crisis management plan because it seems headed in that direction.

 

[Neal]

While Newmar's sales aren't affected NOW it will catch up with them. I can tell you ONE sale they've lost. I'm probably not the only one that will rethink their decision for their future coach.

 

[MapNerd]

So I guess in the spare parts bin under the coach, SP owners might want to add 5-6 DEF heads

 

[ARD]

This is a very bad situation for Spartan, and Spartan-chassis owners. It is apparently time to park our coaches with a Spartan chassis. We are seriously thinking of doing so...permanently.

It is not just Spartan. A friend of mine who has a DS on a freightliner chassis was recently flat bed towed. She received a red, stop engine light without ever getting a yellow, check engine alarm first. They replaced her DEF header and she is back on the road. I feel bad for all the new 2021 owners who have been told not to travel. Absolutely, crazy.

 

[Neal]

So I guess in the spare parts bin under the coach, SP owners might want to add 5-6 DEF heads

I hear they are approximately $1k each. Not verified.

 

[MapNerd]

It is not just Spartan. A friend of mine who has a DS on a freightliner chassis was recently flat bed towed. She received a red, stop engine light without ever getting a yellow, check engine alarm first. They replaced her DEF header and she is back on the road. I feel bad for all the new 2021 owners who have been told not to travel. Absolutely, crazy.

I did not want to know this @ARD. Now I am patiently awaiting my turn in the barrel

 

[MapNerd]

I hear they are approximately $1k each. Not verified.

That’s all? I think all buy up the supply. Who needs a DEF head? $4k each. Special deal for RVF members, just $2500!

 

[ARD]

In @ARD’s case they are asking her to drive over the Rockies where you have steep grades, narrow roads and few turnouts to get off the road.

This is the part I am most nervous about. I have 2 check engine alarms right now and the first several miles of my trip are uphills and descents of 6-8% grades. Was going to leave today, but have a delivery on Friday so will leave on Monday. ??

 

[Neal]

When fueling do not shut your engine off. I actually did this my last few legs mainly to keep A/C going as it was so hot. I think with the SP/Shaw issues if I was on a SP I'd limit my engine cycles.

 

[MapNerd]

When fueling do not shut your engine off. I actually did this my last few legs mainly to keep A/C going as it was so hot. I think with the SP/Shaw issues if I was on a SP I'd limit my engine cycles.

I have never turned my engine off when fueling as I’d read somewhere that it’s not good for the engine.

 

[ARD]

When fueling do not shut your engine off. I actually did this my last few legs mainly to keep A/C going as it was so hot. I think with the SP/Shaw issues if I was on a SP I'd limit my engine cycles.

This is true for anyone experiencing the DEF faults with check engine alarm. The more you cycle the engine, the closer you come to derating. See my post #6.

 

[MapNerd]

It occurs to me that they may be learning the same lesson automakers learned with chip supplies. Companies have optimized their logistics in favor of JIT delivery, keeping very little excess supply of parts sitting on the shelves. Automakers misjudged the impact that the pandemic would have on their industry, reducing their output and canceling orders only to find that when the opposite of their expectations happened (demand for new vehicles increased because people wanted to get out) they could not simply turn the faucet supply of chips back on.

Spartan likely did not cut their supply but with the increase in sales, it seems they didn’t increase the flow either, likely for cost reasons. A problem that could have easily been fixed with a little foresight and a quarter million dollar purchase order may very well result in a class action lawsuit at some point.

 

[ARD]

You would think they would be able to come up with some kind of work around until they can get more DEF Heads

I'm curious how they are going to go into production if they don't have DEF heads.

 

[J&JD]

This is true for anyone experiencing the DEF faults with check engine alarm. The more you cycle the engine, the closer you come to derating.

@ARD , maybe you need to start cycling your engine on/off. Is Jake the diesel guy amiable to helping you? Maybe you can travel back & forth to where he performed the regen service in the hope that a stop engine light will come on. Then, perhaps, Jake can get Spartan to overnight the part to him. Sounds strange but in your circumstances I might try anything.