Our 2023-2024 Southern Migration Trip

[Jim]

You can literally solve the problem for around $5 and a half hour of minor wrenching. And really for a short term fix a couple locking hose clamps of the variety you use when changing an Oasis pump (I believe @Neal can direct you to the proper Amazon item) would do the trick in a pinch (no pun intended). Clamp off both hoses (since its hard to tell which os supply and which is return), fill the tank with fresh DEF (heat is the enemy of DEF so if its been overheated assume its bad), and since the ECM will no longer get the over-heat signal, the code will clear after five or six ignition cycles.

Yep, I had been told that before, and I looked up above the def tank, but I was never sure what or where the hoses were. I'll go by Freightliner and if they haven't already started the job, I'll pick up my rig and figure it out on my own.

We've been in this hotel now for 4 days waiting on them to get it done. Supposed to leave tomorrow or start losing money on bookings. So screw it, don't have much to lose at this point.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

A friend and also my mechanic said he could remove all the def junk on my coach for 25 hundred,and it would run much better and last longer. I said I didn't want to take a chance of getting in trouble.

That sounds like it could be the best $2500 you could spend on one of these rigs! Trouble, what trouble?

Jim, sorry to hear about your travel woes, having to stay in a hotel with a cost of anything over $0 while owning a coach with a cost of over $0 would be a tough pill for me to swallow. Hopefully you're able to get it out of there before they start tackling the hour long job they're comfortable billing a day for.

 

[Jim]

What was the reason you took it there? Are they an OASIS branded FL location (meaning RV service center)? I hope it's not a misdiagnosis and you called 800-FTL-HELP for their guidance.

Yes, I called them. Gave them the code, it didn't pan out to be a definitive answer.

 

[Jim]

Ocala Freightliner thinks it is the DEF header and said that there is a nationwide shortage and for me to expect a 120 day wait until they can replace mine.

I found a dozen of them on my first Duck Duck Go search, so I guess they get their parts somewhere different than the rest of the Internet world. Anyhow, I don't believe it is a DEF head, but I'm going to get one and see what happens. The worst I can see happening is I have a spare laying around.

In the meantime, the Key West trip has been canceled and I'm working on the problem in hopes of continuing the rest of the journey in a couple of weeks.

 

[Neal]

@Jim do you have the DEF head simulator? If not, consider emailing [email protected] and getting one. See if you can get to an OASIS branded FL service center or whatever FL Gaffney may advise.

 

[Neemer]

Damn

 

[Jim]

Damn

lol, well put!

 

[Rich W.]

lol, well put!

Looking forward to hearing how this works out. Glad you rescued your coach from those guys. Do you have something to clear the code(s) when you're done or are you just going to use the ignition cycles method?

 

[Jim]

@Jim do you have the DEF head simulator? If not, consider emailing [email protected] and getting one. See if you can get to an OASIS branded FL service center or whatever FL Gaffney may advise.

Yes, the Ocala Freightliner shop had an "Oasis" sticker on the door, but I didn't see it until I was leaving, and by that time there was so much bad blood between everyone that it was too late. Besides, if their approach to fixing the Oasis is anything like their previous methods of operation, I will need to:

• Chat with an blunt person who makes it clear they don't make appointments, so bring my rig down and get in line,
• Wait 2-days and pay a $500 minimum charge to have the system looked at,
• Spend 3 days in a motel while Freightliner orders parts that aren't available,
• Argue with the same blunt person about why they are charging me an additional $75.00 for shop supplies when no work was done,
• Drive away 4 days later, $550 lighter in the wallet and no closer to a solution than I was when I "got in line".

I will say however, that the Holliday Inn Express we stayed at was the nicest hotel of its caliber that I have ever visited. Well worth the $130 a night we get to toss onto the Freightliner ordeal. The staff was friendly, the room was spotless, the breakfast bar was great and the Internet worked very well. Top notch operation and I would highly recommend it should you ever have to deal with Ocala Freightliner for anything.


As for the DEF simulator, I have emailed Keith. Thank you!

 

[Jim]

Looking forward to hearing how this works out. Glad you rescued your coach from those guys. Do you have something to clear the code(s) when you're done or are you just going to use the ignition cycles method?

I have a Diesel Laptops scan tool.