DEF issue

[kevin cave]

I have kind of a DEF nightmare. my first trip in my brand new 2016 2500 not a hundred miles into it the def light came on and went into limp mode. long story made short, after being turned away from a dealer I added def fluid and everything was good. Recently while traveling the def light and limp mode came back. this time adding fluid didn't make it go away. went to the dealer and they told me it was an update issue? anyway a week later I got it back. on Saturday another drive and the def light comes on. turned around and headed home. light went out, then came back on for a while and then went off and has remained off. I have never put old fluid in it, I use the truck stop def or peak fluid and check the dates. now it is out of warranty..any thoughts on this? I would appreciate any feedback..

 

[MADDOG]

My 2017 went into limp mode and totally shut off three times in the Spring of last year. My DEF level was more than 3/4 full all three times. The truck was new.

The code pulled indicated the system was not performing a complete regen cycle even though at the time of each failure I had been running for a solid 2 - 4 hours at freeway speeds in warm ambient temps. Plenty of opportunity for a regen cycle and at that sustained speed it shouldn't need one in the first place.

The dealer(s) did nothing but reset the codes. No updates were available and no other repairs were completed.

It was a mystery to me what was happening and the dealer(s) appeared to be clueless as well.

After the third time I was left stranded, waiting for the truck to start again, I decided I was not going to let this happen again so I deleted the DPF system entirely.

I know you can't do that in Cali so my only recomendation is to monitor the operation and if it throws a code or fails to regen and goes into limp mode, get it fixed and open a case with Ram regarding the multiple failures of the system.

Good luck.

 

[huntergreen]

I have kind of a DEF nightmare. my first trip in my brand new 2016 2500 not a hundred miles into it the def light came on and went into limp mode. long story made short, after being turned away from a dealer I added def fluid and everything was good. Recently while traveling the def light and limp mode came back. this time adding fluid didn't make it go away. went to the dealer and they told me it was an update issue? anyway a week later I got it back. on Saturday another drive and the def light comes on. turned around and headed home. light went out, then came back on for a while and then went off and has remained off. I have never put old fluid in it, I use the truck stop def or peak fluid and check the dates. now it is out of warranty..any thoughts on this? I would appreciate any feedback..

Shouldn't there be some recourse if you had it into the dealer for this issue under warranty and you continued having this issue even though you are now past warranty.

 

[grizzstang]

Like MADDOG said your best option is a complete DPF delete and tune but that option is not available to you in Cali.

Second best option is to trade it in on a gaser (6.4), assuming you don't need a diesel for towing etc.

You are out of warranty and the envirocrap on the diesels is very expensive and will fail from now until you sell it. I personally would not buy a diesel unless I factored in a DPF delete after the warranty was done. It seems designed to fail and it does, often. I wouldn't hold out hope the dealer will help since they refused to do anything while you were still under warranty. I bet they will find the problem now that it is on your dime though.

 

[Firebird]

Good advice grizzstang. I no longer tow heavy myself, but I prefer the 2500 over the 1500, and that is why I bought my first gasser heavy duty. Just really didn't want to deal with diesel emissions any longer, and so far, this 6.4 has exceeded my expectations in every way possible.

 

[kevin cave]

Shouldn't there be some recourse if you had it into the dealer for this issue under warranty and you continued having this issue even though you are now past warranty.

I opened a case a long time ago with dodge. They would not help with anything. I had the dealer I bought it from offer to fill the tank for me. they keep blaming it on the def fluid and software updates... even though it tested good.

 

[kevin cave]

im trading it in. I do tow, but not real heavy stuff. maybe with a gas motor I would at least get to complete a trip..thanks for the help..

 

[averageguy]

Maybe keep the truck and move?