Community Forums

dwaugh10 · 09-11-2021, 09:45 PM

A good read for information

https://www.rvtravel.com/def-sensor-...und-rvt-1017b/

SargeW · 09-11-2021, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

A good read for information

https://www.rvtravel.com/def-sensor-...und-rvt-1017b/

Excellent info, thanks!

R.Wold · 09-12-2021, 08:14 AM

A very good read indeed!

SargeW · 09-12-2021, 10:26 AM

I knew that wouldn't take long. I tried to order the parts needed and now both the computer board and the cable are out of stock and back ordered.

R.Wold · 09-12-2021, 10:59 AM

Someone recently posted stats on NHTSA complaints about faulty DEF sensors. The results (if accurate) showed a surprisingly low number of reports filed. That may or may not be correct, but this instant back-order situation speaks volumes about the actual need and demand for a solution.

dwaugh10 · 09-12-2021, 11:10 AM

If there are part supply issues, here is an alternative

https://defsim.myervin.com/using-an-...-def-simulator

R.Wold · 09-12-2021, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

If there are part supply issues, here is an alternative

https://defsim.myervin.com/using-an-...-def-simulator

Makes me wonder if someone bought a quantity of the Arduino boards to build these devices and sell them......?

thegats1 · 09-13-2021, 05:45 AM

Yes, it sounds like parts are flying off shelves. The author / developer of the procedure has posted some alternative suppliers. I ordered the board and extender successfully (unless the supplier is slow to tell me they are out of stock). The cable is on back order 3 to 4 weeks. I'm not in a rush though. Would love to hear from actual users that relied on this and whether it worked for them. Clearly the developers have nothing to gain from this. They are helping us all out, but hoping to hear from an "average joe" like me that built it and had to use it. Instructions are very well written. Appreciate this very much. Once I have it built, I will just store it and hope I never have to use it.

RodneyLadd · 09-16-2021, 06:11 AM

Great reference ...Thank you

thegats1 · 09-17-2021, 04:59 AM

I was checking on one of the parts to finally see it is on back order. I found this posted on their site. Very interesting....

R.Wold · 09-17-2021, 10:31 AM

I received this yesterday so apparently the back order was short lived.

As to legality, (and Copperhill’s disclaimer above) I would just say that not extending the emissions warranty (manufacturers) and/or not ordering a recall (govt agencies) on a system with well known and thoroughly documented inadequacies and failures is criminal and anything the consumer can do to alleviate the situation is fair game and perfectly warranted

aa9zz · 09-17-2021, 11:13 AM

I was at a Cummins shop yesterday for my annual oil change and check up. They told me they had permission just this week to program to bypass the sensors until parts are available.

The issue is if you have trouble on the road and have to have a tow to get the programming.

I asked for them to check my sensor system. They said they could find no issues but most problems have been with units that are not driven much and sit too long. I don’t know if that is true, that’s just what they told me.

Maybe I need to drive it to work a few times a week.

thegats1 · 09-17-2021, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.Wold

I received this yesterday so apparently the back order was short lived.

As to legality, (and Copperhill’s disclaimer above) I would just say that not extending the emissions warranty (manufacturers) and/or not ordering a recall (govt agencies) on a system with well known and thoroughly documented inadequacies and failures is criminal and anything the consumer can do to alleviate the situation is fair game and perfectly warranted

100% agree

NMBluept · 09-18-2021, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa9zz

I was at a Cummins shop yesterday for my annual oil change and check up. They told me they had permission just this week to program to bypass the sensors until parts are available.

The issue is if you have trouble on the road and have to have a tow to get the programming.

I asked for them to check my sensor system. They said they could find no issues but most problems have been with units that are not driven much and sit too long. I don’t know if that is true, that’s just what they told me.

Maybe I need to drive it to work a few times a week.

That's good news from Cummins! In my opinion, Cummins is pretty clueless about failure causes of the Freightliner DEF Header. I just went through an on the road failure and because the Cummins shop was closer I went there. My motor home is driven 12-14 k miles per year so there goes that myth. Cummins tried to tell me Tiffin would provide the part and pay labor - another Cummins myth.
I've ordered the parts to build the simulator, total cost is right at $100. That's a small price to pay as an alternate to waiting several days in a repair shop parking lot or if you're lucky a campground for a part and then getting it installed (not difficult, DIY job). Cummins or Freightliner will charge a diagnostics fee of well over $100 dollars just to tell you the DEF Header has failed. I would imagine they would then charge another $150-$184 (1 hr. RV labor) to install the software patch. Being able to install the simulator and drive to a repair shop of my choice is "priceless".
BTW, if your coach isn't throwing codes I don't know what can be checked. The DEF Header is a sealed unit that is submerged in DEF, not exactly anything that can be inspected.
Pic is failed DEF Header after removal.