Check engine 1 & low DEF warning

[J&JD]

Headed from the Bay Area to Oregon this morning and this popped up on the dash. DEF tank is full with 4 green bars showing. Freightliner said it could be no big deal or maybe not & to just have it checked out. Not fun to drive with this on but so far 200 miles with no derate. Anyone else have this show up?

 

[Sealyn]

Looks like you need a DEF header replacement. I've had 2 on my 2017 4369F. Never had a derate on either one.

 

[GlampDaddy]

Personal experience says there's a stress level waiting to be measured with that damned amber light staring at you. Constantly watching for an escape route for when the light turns red does bad things for the human at the wheel. My only advise is to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Wishing you the best!

 

[SherryB]

Mine did that about a year ago...showed about 3/4 tank at the time, but I pulled over and added a box and a half of DEF and it went out. I've never added that much DEF at one time and was never confident with the gauge after that so I took it in to Freightliner...they checked it and replaced the DEF head. I only use the boxed DEF so always have some in the rig.

 

[J&JD]

Our view tonight. Threw all the codes for a DEF derate and will be towad 130 miles tomorrow to the nearest Freightliner dealership. We are not happy campers and have no idea how long the coach will be laid up waiting for parts. ???

 

[sheridany]

That really stinks. Let me know if I can be of any help helping you get home if you have to leave it.

 

[J&JD]

That really stinks. Let me know if I can be of any help helping you get home if you have to leave it.

So many thanks! We have the jeep to get us home?

 

[Old-RV'er]

For ALL-Cummins has released a software patch which fixes this issue, well wrong term. It overwrites the DEF head, and makes engine operate without def. At least that is what I understand it to do. I do not know the details, all outlets are to update system with new patch. Once parts in, repatch and replace the faulty parts. Check with cummins and Freightliner/Sparten for the complete story, check websites might be quicker. Good Luck.

 

[J&JD]

For ALL-Cummins has released a software patch which fixes this issue, well wrong term. It overwrites the DEF head, and makes engine operate without def. At least that is what I understand it to do. I do not know the details, all outlets are to update system with new patch. Once parts in, repatch and replace the faulty parts. Check with cummins and Freightliner/Sparten for the complete story, check websites might be quicker. Good Luck.

Only partially true according to a tech we had come to the coach to try to clear the codes (unsuccessfully). He said Cummins has released the bypass codes only for the latest model engines (2021) and they would be slowly releasing them for later model engines in the coming weeks, hopefully. True info? Who knows for sure.

 

[Old-RV'er]

Yes, that is the information I think I read. But something is better than nothing. Nothing is having RV sit at repair place for months while parts are sitting on a ship in CA harbor awaiting all the bottlenecks to iron out and for them to be unloaded. So we have choice, wait unitl patch is approved down to our year, or wait possibly 6 months for the bottleneck to clear, clearly, the shorter wait time is better.

 

[JRS]

That does suck. Best of luck in getting back on the road!

 

[Neal]

@J&JD where are you? Did this get fixed? Did you continue on your south east adventure?

 

[J&JD]

@Neal,Thanks for asking. We were actually headed for Bend/Sisters Oregon, made it to Eureka Ca where we totally derated after Freightliner told us all would be fine to continue even though we had engine warning signs. After sitting over night waiting to be towed 140 miles to a Freightliner dealer in Redding Ca. the coach sat for two weeks before a qualified tech even looked at it. Just today we were told that we had the dreaded bad DEF head/sensors (which we knew all along), Part has been ordered…..not available ! As far as we are concerned, Freightliner has been seriously lacking in customer care/satisfaction. Don’t know when our coach will again be useable. ????????

 

[JRS]

WOW! Thought there was a recent software fix to override the derating? Good luck

 

[Sealyn]

The temporary software fix is only available for DEF tank level, DEF tank temperature, DEF quality. Freightliner cannot install the software for any other check engine codes.

 

[MapNerd]

The temporary software fix is only available for DEF tank level, DEF tank temperature, DEF quality. Freightliner cannot install the software for any other check engine codes.

Sounds pretty worthless to me then. I incorrectly assumed the whole point of the patch was going to be to eliminate derates for motorhomes.

No idea what good this patch would do for the DEF head issues.

 

[J&JD]

Update on DEF head:
Received word today from Redding Freightliner Parts that they were able to locate a complete tank/header assembly in Tennessee, overnighted the part and now have it in hand. Kudos to the parts guys who couldn’t find the head only but found and ordered the complete assembly. Now, we shall see how long it takes service to find a tech to repair the coach since it took two weeks just to get fault codes read…..

 

[GlampDaddy]

Update on DEF head:
Received word today from Redding Freightliner Parts that they were able to locate a complete tank/header assembly in Tennessee, overnighted the part and now have it in hand. Kudos to the parts guys who couldn’t find the head only but found and ordered the complete assembly. Now, we shall see how long it takes service to find a tech to repair the coach since it took two weeks just to get fault codes read…..

Glad to hear things are looking up!

 

[ARD]

@J&JD That's good news. I can't believe how long they waited to order the part. So sorry. Hopefully, they will have you up and running soon, so y'all can get in lots of good, fun trouble. ?

 

[MapNerd]

OMG I assumed this had been resolved already and I’d just missed the update. You guys have been parked this entire time?! Did you fly home or just camp and wait? That would be a long time to wait at a service center. Maybe someone needs to start a DSS rental service.