Robert Mc
Member
On July 3rd, 2024 while coming back from a short drive in my 2018 RAM 2500, with the 6.7 Cummins that has 180K miles on the clock, I got a message in the EVIC saying "Service DEF System - See Dealer". I used my onboard JUICE CTS system to check for the code and it was P0207F. I got home fine and went to work researching the issue. My finding indicated it was either bad DEF or a bad DEF injector. I when the cheapest route possible and drained all of the DEF from the tank and replaced it with 2.5 gallons from a brand new jug of PEAK Platinum DEF. I drove around for a while and the message went away. I tried to clear the code with the JUICE but I wasn't able. Unfortunately I had loaned my Launch X431 to a friend and haven't gotten it back.
The next day I was going to make a 360 mile round trip to deliver a vehicle to a client and was towing my car hauler and when I was about 25 miles away I got the same message and about twenty seconds later the "Limp Mode" warning came up. The message read "150 miles until truck enters limp mode" or something to that effect. I dropped off the client's car and started the 180 mile trip back to the house but with only 125 miles remaining before limp mode. I should have researched other people's experiencing with lim mode so I would have known what to expect but I was focused on getting home. I figured since I replaced the DEF and the only possibility was an and injector, I headed for a NAPA that was 40 miles away but on the direct route home. I paid $275.00 for the new injector, went out to the side of the road, and replaced it. Too bad it was 115* outside and the asphalt was 160*. Luckily I had a moving blanket so I didn't burn myself on the asphalt. The DEF injector is right on top of the SCR Catalyst and it was very hot. I managed to get it removed and the new one installed without burning myself a third time. The old injector was in excellent shape so I knew that wasn't going to be the problem.
So with new DEF in the tank and a new, albeit, unnecessary, injector I continued home. There was a diesel repair place on the direct route home and I was hoping they'd have a scan tool so they could reset the ECU. I stopped and they didn't have the scan tool because they changed business models and only serviced big rigs. I continued toward home knowing there was an independent diesel service shop in a town about 40 miles from my house. (I was over 80 miles from home) This was also about 43 miles from my location and the EVIC message said I had 41 miles remaining before limp mode. I called my brother and told him to meet me at the shop so he could pick up me, my dog, and my trailer.
Again, I should have researched other people's experiences so I would know what to expect but I didn't. I finally made the last turn toward the shop and watched as the EVIC said I had one mile to go and the GPS said I had two miles to go. The EVIC reached ZERO and the truck kept going, I was shocked, yet relieved. Another message popped up that read "Upon restart or long idle truck will be limited to 5 mph". So the truck doesn't just stop, which I was sort of expecting, but I might have known it wouldn't do if I had done my research. I dropped off the truck at the shop and my brother took me, the dog, and my trailer back home. The shop was closed on the 4th, open on the 5th, closed for the weekend, and open again on Monday. I explained what I had done already to give them an idea what might needed to be done. On Monday they called and said the reflashed the ECU with all of the latest updates from FCA and the truck was running great. They had driven it 30 miles or so and wanted to do the same on Tuesday. All in they put about 70 miles on the truck and the message was gone and the problem resolved. It all turned out to be the bad DEF I got at a truck stop bulk pump. I will never use that again.
I talked to a friend of mine with a 2020 RAM 2500 and when he got the same limp mode message he cleared it with a cheap Bosch handheld OBDII scanner that pairs with his phone. I had previously tried to do a transmission relearn with my X431 but I couldn't get past the paywall. The device said I needed an FCA account that costs $50.00 per year so I wasn't sure if I could do the DEF reset myself anyway. Maybe only SOME functions need to get past the paywall. So lessons learned. The P0207F message is almost always bad DEF, clean your injectors, and if you have an OBDII scan tool try to reset it yourself first. With the new injector and the service at the shop I was only out $600.00 and my old injector is still good so I'm keeping it.
The next day I was going to make a 360 mile round trip to deliver a vehicle to a client and was towing my car hauler and when I was about 25 miles away I got the same message and about twenty seconds later the "Limp Mode" warning came up. The message read "150 miles until truck enters limp mode" or something to that effect. I dropped off the client's car and started the 180 mile trip back to the house but with only 125 miles remaining before limp mode. I should have researched other people's experiencing with lim mode so I would have known what to expect but I was focused on getting home. I figured since I replaced the DEF and the only possibility was an and injector, I headed for a NAPA that was 40 miles away but on the direct route home. I paid $275.00 for the new injector, went out to the side of the road, and replaced it. Too bad it was 115* outside and the asphalt was 160*. Luckily I had a moving blanket so I didn't burn myself on the asphalt. The DEF injector is right on top of the SCR Catalyst and it was very hot. I managed to get it removed and the new one installed without burning myself a third time. The old injector was in excellent shape so I knew that wasn't going to be the problem.
So with new DEF in the tank and a new, albeit, unnecessary, injector I continued home. There was a diesel repair place on the direct route home and I was hoping they'd have a scan tool so they could reset the ECU. I stopped and they didn't have the scan tool because they changed business models and only serviced big rigs. I continued toward home knowing there was an independent diesel service shop in a town about 40 miles from my house. (I was over 80 miles from home) This was also about 43 miles from my location and the EVIC message said I had 41 miles remaining before limp mode. I called my brother and told him to meet me at the shop so he could pick up me, my dog, and my trailer.
Again, I should have researched other people's experiences so I would know what to expect but I didn't. I finally made the last turn toward the shop and watched as the EVIC said I had one mile to go and the GPS said I had two miles to go. The EVIC reached ZERO and the truck kept going, I was shocked, yet relieved. Another message popped up that read "Upon restart or long idle truck will be limited to 5 mph". So the truck doesn't just stop, which I was sort of expecting, but I might have known it wouldn't do if I had done my research. I dropped off the truck at the shop and my brother took me, the dog, and my trailer back home. The shop was closed on the 4th, open on the 5th, closed for the weekend, and open again on Monday. I explained what I had done already to give them an idea what might needed to be done. On Monday they called and said the reflashed the ECU with all of the latest updates from FCA and the truck was running great. They had driven it 30 miles or so and wanted to do the same on Tuesday. All in they put about 70 miles on the truck and the message was gone and the problem resolved. It all turned out to be the bad DEF I got at a truck stop bulk pump. I will never use that again.
I talked to a friend of mine with a 2020 RAM 2500 and when he got the same limp mode message he cleared it with a cheap Bosch handheld OBDII scanner that pairs with his phone. I had previously tried to do a transmission relearn with my X431 but I couldn't get past the paywall. The device said I needed an FCA account that costs $50.00 per year so I wasn't sure if I could do the DEF reset myself anyway. Maybe only SOME functions need to get past the paywall. So lessons learned. The P0207F message is almost always bad DEF, clean your injectors, and if you have an OBDII scan tool try to reset it yourself first. With the new injector and the service at the shop I was only out $600.00 and my old injector is still good so I'm keeping it.
