Community Forums

KeysStar · 08-28-2019, 07:09 AM

Anybody experience a high def concentration message accompanied with check engine light? Any solution or reset?

Dutch Star Don · 08-28-2019, 04:14 PM

Typically, these lights come on and then go off in a few miles. So many sensors, which equals many opportunities for glitches and errant lights. I wouldn't be concerned unless it stays on.

FlaRider · 08-29-2019, 04:38 AM

I have a 2018 DSDP, started to get it ready for a trip and when I started it I got check engine light. Codes showed a DEF issue (code 3031, 1761). Called Spartan and they told me that they are having issues with the DEF head sensors, I was informed that if the check engine light turns red it will cause a engine shut down. I ended up driving it to a local Cummins shop to be checked, about 5 miles down the road the check engine light turned off. Besides a bad DEF header, the coach batteries were going bad (just over 1 year old) and the low voltage could mess with a bad DEF header sensor. The DEF header part is on back order from Spartan supply and they hope to get them in next week. I was planning on leaving Florida this weekend and head to Newmar then to Spartan, I’m hoping the new batteries will keep the DEF header happy until I can get to Spartan for them to replace it. I pick up the coach today and I’m hoping the check engine light stays off.

deaton · 08-29-2019, 06:21 PM

My DEF head suddenly died last week (Tuesday) while driving home from FMCA Rally in Minot, ND. We were in Chanute, Kansas at the time.

I got a yellow warning light as we came into town. I drove to a fuel station and topped off the tank. I then pulled the codes. There were four codes:

SPN 1569
SPN 3364
SPN 5842
SPN 5246

I called Cummins and they said they were “not their codes” so I called Spartan and they confirmed that all four were DEF related. I decided to go to the closest facility to have it checked out, but when I restarted the engine, I was immediately derated to the dreaded five MPH.

In my opinion, this is a huge safety issue as we were in the street in traffic at the time. I managed to turn onto a side street and called Cummins in Joplin, MO. They confirmed they had space and hookups. So I called CoachNet and they sent out a truck and we were towed 100 miles to Joplin, arriving at 11:00 PM.

The next morning I checked in with Mike, the service manager and he came out to my coach and rechecked all the codes. He confirmed it was a total DEF head failure. The sensors were shot.

Then the really bad news, nobody seems to have this part. On the day we arrived, this one rather small Cummins facility had three school buses and three other RV’s in their yard waiting for the same part.

I called Spartan, and they confirmed they are out of stock and have a lengthy waiting list of customers waiting for this part. They could not give me any timeframe for when a replacement might be available. They said it could be the middle of September.

The DEF system, including the head, is made by Shaw Development of Bonita Springs, FL. It appears these are used across the industry by many different coach builders. The failures don’t appear to be brand specific.

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The DEF head is the round plate on top of the tank. It monitors for quantity, quality and provides heat to keep the DEF from freezing.

After spending almost a week at Camp Cummins with no change in the outlook for a replacement DEF head, the DW and I decided to take the toad and return home, 685 miles, to Texas. The coach remains in Joplin and we will need to drive back to retrieve it once it’s fixed.

One key lesson here is if you get a DEF warning, particularly multiple codes, don’t shut down, head to the closest repair faculty and get it checked out.

JMonroe · 09-20-2019, 07:32 PM

I assum3thus was covered under warranty?

deaton · 09-20-2019, 09:58 PM

UPDATE

Warranty -

Yes, it was fully covered by Spartan, but my warranty is only three years. If It had happened in Sept of next year, I’d be out of Warranty.

New Spartan chassis’s now have five year warranty. Spartan also gives free Coach Net service with a new coach. I think that’s for three years. They did a great job.

Part finally arrived after almost three weeks and we picked the coach up in Joplin last Sat. There ere still two other coaches there waiting for new DEF heads.

tqqest · 09-20-2019, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeysStar

Anybody experience a high def concentration message accompanied with check engine light? Any solution or reset?

KeyStar,

Did you ever hear anything more about your issue? I haven't had the "High DEF Concentration" error message. I do get a "Low DEF Concentration" error every time I drive more than 150 to 200 miles straight. The next morning the error is always gone.

Called Spartan and they said they've never heard of that error before and had no ideas. See a dealer and see what they can find was their suggestion. I am just hoping that it isn't a bed DEF head that every is having problems with.

JMonroe · 09-21-2019, 07:13 AM

I assumed it would have been covered as part of the emissions system for which the feds mandate coverage for 5 years / 50,000 miles?

Captain Slow · 09-21-2019, 09:00 PM

My DEF head suddenly died last week (Tuesday) while driving home from FMCA Rally in Minot, ND. We were in Chanute, Kansas at the time.

I got a yellow warning light as we came into town. I drove to a fuel station and topped off the tank. I then pulled the codes. There were four codes:

SPN 1569
SPN 3364
SPN 5842
SPN 5246

__________________________________________________ _____________

What piece of equipment did you use to pull these codes?

deaton · 09-22-2019, 07:13 AM

I don’t have one of those plug in code readers. I do plan to get one.

That said, you can get the codes by going to the diagnostic menu on the dashboard display and scrolling down the list of whatever may be out there.

I see you have a 2018 DSDP 4069. Since you have the new electronic dash, you may look them up some other way, but there still must be a “diagnostics” option.

What the plug-in dongle does to improve the process is that it sends the codes directly to an app on your IOS or Android device which translates the numbers into English and saves you the need to look them up manually or call them into Cummins/Freightliner/Spartan, etc.

FlaRider · 09-23-2019, 04:32 AM

I was at Spartan a few weeks ago and they now have a good supply of the DEF head. You should have no problem getting it replaced.

Captain Slow · 09-23-2019, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaton

I don’t have one of those plug in code readers. I do plan to get one.

That said, you can get the codes by going to the diagnostic menu on the dashboard display and scrolling down the list of whatever may be out there.

I see you have a 2018 DSDP 4069. Since you have the new electronic dash, you may look them up some other way, but there still must be a “diagnostics” option.

What the plug-in dongle does to improve the process is that it sends the codes directly to an app on your IOS or Android device which translates the numbers into English and saves you the need to look them up manually or call them into Cummins/Freightliner/Spartan, etc.

Thanks! I need to learn more about my digital dash.