DEF Head Failure

[JMonroe]

That is covered as part of the emissions system for 5 years, 50,000 miles. Depending on when your coach was originally delivered it could still be covered. This is federal law. Freightliner seems to have gotten a bad batch.

A neighbor and good friend had the same failure and was prepared to pay almost $2k to the shop that had already told him it wasn't covered after three years. I sent him a link to the DOT document. They "rechecked" and found yes, it was covered.

[Ann n Gene]

It was NOT freightliner only, it is Spartan also. Every maker seems to have this same failure that uses Cummins engines

[Captain Slow]

Had a DEF head failure today. Sitting in Windsor,WI waiting for overnight part shipment. Did not go into Limp mode. Only had to drive about 25 miles to a Diesel Service Center. Coach has 11,000 miles on chassis. Set three SPN codes 1761, 3031 & 3364. We have a Blue DEF sensor module.

[bluefin]

Why isn't there a recall on these DEF heads?

[almostready]

Mine failed and is being replaced Thursday morning by a mobile Cummins Tech. Ill let you know...

Thanks,

Warren

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by bluefin

Why isn't there a recall on these DEF heads?

I'm guessing not a large enough failure rate vs all of the ones installed. It may sound like a lot based on posts here. But people don't much come to forums to praise components; just to report problems/get help with them.

Compared to all the heads installed on every diesel vehicle (not just RV's), what's the % failure rate?

Lori-

[JMonroe]

Was the failure on a Spartan or Freightliner chassis?

[almostready]

Mine is on a Spartan K3 - 500

Thanks,

Warren

[JMonroe]

Originally Posted by almostready

Mine is on a Spartan K3 - 500

Thanks,

Warren

Sorry to hear that, we're on the same chassis. Most of these failures I'm aware of have been on the Freightliner chassis, but not all.

Remember, the DEF head is part of the emissions system and as such is covered by a mandatory warranty for 5 years or 50,000 miles.

[W5CI]

May I ask what is a DEF Head, I have a RAM 3500 with the Cummins engine with DEF. Just Wondering

[Captain Slow]

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

Had a DEF head failure today. Sitting in Windsor,WI waiting for overnight part shipment. Did not go into Limp mode. Only had to drive about 25 miles to a Diesel Service Center. Coach has 11,000 miles on chassis. Set three SPN codes 1761, 3031 & 3364. We have a Blue DEF sensor module.

There is one SPN code for the DEF temperature, one code for DEF Urea/water ratio and one for DEF level. I find it very interesting that all three fail at the same time.

This data should be an indicator of a problem upstream of these three sensors. On our rig, only the sensors were changed. Maybe there is a component upstream of these sensors that coverts analog signals to digital signals for transmission to the processor in the central control module.

Does anyone have experience with vehicle data bus that could comment on these thoughts.

[JMonroe]

Originally Posted by W5CI

May I ask what is a DEF Head, I have a RAM 3500 with the Cummins engine with DEF. Just Wondering

It sits on top of the DEF tank, where the pick up / pump would mount on a gas tank. When it stops talking to all the computers, or talking gibberish, trouble.

[FLJOE]

Originally Posted by JMonroe

Sorry to hear that, we're on the same chassis. Most of these failures I'm aware of have been on the Freightliner chassis, but not all.

Remember, the DEF head is part of the emissions system and as such is covered by a mandatory warranty for 5 years or 50,000 miles.

Your warranty information is correct. However, when you start your 3rd year a $100 deductible kicks in. So it is only a 100% warranty for the first 2 years actually.

[JMonroe]

Originally Posted by FLJOE

Your warranty information is correct. However, when you start your 3rd year a $100 deductible kicks in. So it is only a 100% warranty for the first 2 years actually.

No deductible. There is a federally mandated emissions warranty, it is separate from the Cummins warranty.