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J Gunter · 05-31-2021, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck58

And if I was alone that’s probably what I would do, but I have the wife and two little ones with me I don’t wanna be stuck on the side of the interstate....

That’s why I kept going, didn’t want to be stuck on side of interstate. If you’ve only got 17 miles to go to a rv park I don’t think you have anything to worry about. JMHO

brobox · 06-01-2021, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck58

And if I was alone that’s probably what I would do, but I have the wife and two little ones with me I don’t wanna be stuck on the side of the interstate....

When my first DEF head went out, Spartan had me drive it 20 miles sloshing the DEF tank to see of the codes were clear. Apparently Spartan is not worried about low miles driven with the codes I would feel safer driving to an RV park than staying in a parking lot especially with kids on board.

Marcosdad · 06-01-2021, 10:45 AM

I drove in excess of 100 (maybe 150) miles with BOTH

of my bad DEF heads. No problem

BaldDaddy · 06-01-2021, 02:50 PM

I will concur, though Spartan is very quick to say that they have no way of knowing when the engine will derate. I probably drove close to 200 miles after my codes presented. White knuckled it the whole way to the Cummins shop for replacement. 20 miles away from your campground? With little ones on board? I would take those odds. That tire of yours on the other hand, if that is a hole I am seeing, that is a different story completely. That would give me greater pause on driving it.

buck58 · 06-01-2021, 03:44 PM

Wife and little one followed me in tow vehicle to RV park.... tire and part should be here tomorrow. If all goes as planned now we should be back on the road in route to Hearthside Grove tomorrow or next day.... thanks so much for all the help ✝️[emoji120]

J Gunter · 06-01-2021, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck58

wife and little one followed me in tow vehicle to rv park.... Tire and part should be here tomorrow. If all goes as planned now we should be back on the road in route to hearthside grove tomorrow or next day.... Thanks so much for all the help ✝️[emoji120]

👍👍👍

mareca12 · 06-07-2021, 06:52 AM

For future reference: I had a CEL and called Cummins and Spartan. Originally, the 3 codes indicated a DEF head/sensor problem. I drove 290 miles with NO problems and no de-rate. Subsequently, when I decided to drive to where the new DEF head was sent I had all the same codes BUT, I had a differential between what was in the DEF tank and what the gage read. Definitely a DEF head failure. Cummins said not to drive too far b/c you may/probably will debate. Spartan said don't get too far from the repair place. My stomach said, "don't drive, replace the head, now". Was surprised to find every repair facility either didn't do DEF, or, like the Cummins facility "we're scheduling 3.5 weeks out" SORRY!! Not a fun job but it took me about 2 hours and a lot of scratches and bruises, but I replaced it myself. Note: make sure you have plenty of antifreeze when you disconnect the cooling hoses (one in one out) you're going to lose antifreeze and then you'll get a low coolant code.

LWBAZ · 06-07-2021, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mareca12

For future reference: I had a CEL and called Cummins and Spartan. Originally, the 3 codes indicated a DEF head/sensor problem. I drove 290 miles with NO problems and no de-rate. Subsequently, when I decided to drive to where the new DEF head was sent I had all the same codes BUT, I had a differential between what was in the DEF tank and what the gage read. Definitely a DEF head failure. Cummins said not to drive too far b/c you may/probably will debate. Spartan said don't get too far from the repair place. My stomach said, "don't drive, replace the head, now". Was surprised to find every repair facility either didn't do DEF, or, like the Cummins facility "we're scheduling 3.5 weeks out" SORRY!! Not a fun job but it took me about 2 hours and a lot of scratches and bruises, but I replaced it myself. Note: make sure you have plenty of antifreeze when you disconnect the cooling hoses (one in one out) you're going to lose antifreeze and then you'll get a low coolant code.

The way to avoid that problem is to use "pinch-off" pliers, which allow you to compress the coolant hoses so that little or no coolant leaks out when you disconnect the hoses from their respective fittings.

Pinch-off pliers come in a number of designs. Below are three photos. The first shows a set of pinch-off pliers available at AutoZone stores, the second shows a design available at Harbor Freight stores, and the third shows yet another design available at NAPA stores.

mareca12 · 06-08-2021, 05:44 AM

Let me be brutally honest....I had no clue what those hoses carried until I disconnected the first one, at which time it was too late and I was up to my elbows in coolant!!!