I'm not a Tech, but I drive for a chemical company and all we have are Freighliners. The emission controls on these diesels are killing the truck industry Freaightliner also has what I think is called "multi-plex wiring" Meaning the wires in the harness have multiple uses. Our truck are out all the time for wiring issues and emissions. Hope it works out great for you guys....love the videos.
Best wishes guys. Braking down on the road is stressful as hell. We full-time in a 5th wheel, but we are not travelling at the moment. We have been in this park for three years with plans for a couple more. The point being, I didn't need my RAM3500 DRW if I wasn't pulling the camper. Because of DEF and some other issues with the RAM, I decided to sell it and just grab an SUV for daily use. When we do move it to family land, I will just hire it done. I love the 5th wheel; we had fun travelling in it and it has been great transitioning to full-time living. When we go back to travelling a lot, though, I think it will be with a Class C gasser. This 43' beast will get parked on a slab with a cover and a shop.
Phil, recommend that you put electrical tape on your wrench handle when doing work on your battery bank. On my socket wrench I have the handle taped up. If the wrench slips and touches the positive and negative you will get a big arc.
I second that!! I still have a nice adjustable wrench with a heat-shrinked handle to cover the big burn mark from the first off grid battery bank I assembled back in 1987.
Great tip! I've been monkeying around under the hood and never though about that, I have used insulated adjustable wrench when I had one convenient....what the heck sparks make life more interesting...LOL
We drove from Tennessee to Southern California with transmission problems in October. Not a fun journey. I was on the phone trying to find someone who would even look at us the entire way. The soonest anyone could help us was in Oklahoma City and they were at least two weeks out! We made it home, but it was a nail biter the entire journey. Definitely took the fun out of our trip and was not in our plans. Our rig is almost 20 years old! But we love it and have put so much time and money into it with upgrades. Steve keeps telling me a new rig won’t automatically insure we never have any problems….I guess he may be right. Four thousand dollars later we have a new transmission so the journeys will continue ❤️. I just want to mention how much we love following you. You guys are great! Thanks so very much for sharing the good and the bad!
He's right that a new rig won't automatically insure you never have any problems. It's always something new or used. Happy you were able to make it home okay and get the issues resolved.
Keep your 20-year-old pre-emissioned unit..... Trust me when I tell you the new ones are all shit and smell like plastic! Even at 450k honestly I wish I still had my 2003 coachmen and no payments.
So, you had the dreaded "DEF sensor" code, but Freightliner didn't have the problems Spartan had. The real DEF problems started in 2016 when the EPA changed the requirement. Often, the Check engine code will reset itself after a number of starts, if the problem has corrected. Many full times carry code readers that can reset the codes. Easier than disconnecting batteries.
I would say you had wonderful support for this problem. It’s awesome when a service shop says No Charge for something that obviously took up their time to diagnose. Have fun in school.
Someone suggested a obd2 type scan tool. A lot of large bus and bus size vehicles and tractor trailers don't have a obd2 plug in connection. They use a round plug connector to access the information to the vehicle computer. You use a laptop with down loaded software that the garage has to pay for annually. Back 10 years or more my shop was paying $5000-$8000 A year for access to the rights to use this software for diagnosis. Cummings, International, ect all had their own software you had to basically rent for 12 months. So owning a scanner for obd2 may not be an option. Check with your manufacturer of your vehicle to see if it is obd2 complaint or has the Round pig tail that connects to a computer.
I have a 2020 sprinter van, 5000 miles, and the count down started. When it reaches 0 ,you can only drive 5 mph. Got it to the dealer who said the def was at 15 percent and should be 32.5. When I got back home I check the box of blue def ,it was only 3 months old. Then I bought a refractometer and tested the small amount of def still in the box. It read 0, so my tank is 5 gallon so 2.5 gallon of 0 and 2.5 gallons at 30 would average out to 15. I bought the blue def at Walmart in Florida. So now I test every time I fill .
Funny I've had that happen in my F350. We had to stop because it had us down to 5mph. Call someone to get us and went to get food. 45 minutes later we came back and started it just for giggles. Lo and behold it was fine and we drove home. We did disconnect the battery. At first it didn't help but after we got back it woke up.
Really appreciate you guys showing the good, bad and the ugly of RV life. The fact that you let us learn from your struggles is very helpful. Hope you have fair winds and following seas in the rest of 2022. Semper Fi.
Ahhh, Deming New Mexico. We spent a week there in front of a diesel repair shop waiting for a fuel pump to be shipped and installed in our bus. Glad you got your engine figured out. Safe travels and thanks for all of the videos. We have learned so much from your videos as we transition from bus life to RV life.
Sorry Phil, it's me again, Ernie. I live in Universal City, Texas, just east of San Antonio. I was sitting here and realized that with your size rig you will more than likely have Air Brakes.? If so do you drain the water/moisture from the bottom of your Air tanks daily? There is also a moisture filter from the air compressor to th primary air tanks to help remove moisture. (it's called a Desiccant filter/element) Your air tanks should be drained daily if you drive. You don't have to drain all the air out just the water at the drain valve on the bottom of all the air tanks. (You can keep the air pressure up on the tanks just need to drain the water. The water will freeze in the tanks, air line, and brake valves and slack adjusters. Causing loss of braking. This would be a good information video for you to post if you haven't already done one on it. And if you didn't know about this and you have Air Brakes it could possibly save your life and the life's of others. Yes I am the guy with 40 years of mechanic experience. I retired from VIA Transit in San Antonio. If you want, a mechanic you come across in your travels might be a great person to interview. One Of your instructors? At one of the schools. At least at the bare minimum show the draining of the tanks because winters here. Thank you for your time. Ernie
I am a first time commenter. I am a Chevrolet Service advisor. DEF is the worse thing that has ever happened to diesel engines, regardless of manufacturer. I am glad that it was only a minor delay for you.
Glad you guys were pretty close to a shop to get help. I would tend to believe that there was air in the DEF line since you recently added some and removing the battery cable cleared the error. Good tip to keep the DEF tank filled. Good luck in school.
I built a DEF Simulator and tested, works great. Its cheap and easy to build. Also Cummins will install a patch, not sure why they didn't tell you about the patch. Derate is not 55mph its 5mph. Hundreds and hundreds of MH and big rigs have been sidelined by the DEF sensor issues.
I believe they started using DEF in 2010, and our Tiffin Phaeton is an '08, so no worries on that front, but I'm glad that Freightliner took good care of you. Once I had an 'overheat' yellow dash light, (which went out after climbing a long/steep grade) and I stopped in at Cummin's to have them do a quick diagnostics, which they found that the engine went into 'regen' well after the start of the long/steep climb, and said all was good, and that their was no charge either! Glad to hear you've not had the same DEF message, and hopefully you can get it looked at, so that worry for you will be eliminated. Stay safe you two!
I am a retired mechanic of 40 years. Even though you had a D.E.F and check engine light come on don't get overly concerned. For over the past 15 to 20 years vehicles have been programmed with (Adaptive Learning) this is where the adjust to your driving habits, altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, how fast you accelerate, and so much more. (In a way it gets to know your driving habits) This is not a bad thing by knowing you habits it can allow for some of them to get you better fuel economy and performance. If you take turns driving long distances and change drivers you may notice it not shifting the same as when you had driving several hours earlier. That is because it started learning how the new driver was driving. (Adaptive Learning) Now back to the D.E.F. and check engine light. By you fighting a cross wind and head wind, attitude change, temperature change, and other things beyond your control the onboard computers were trying to adjust for all the new and changing information coming in. It got to be to much for them and it got what we as mechanics call a Hic up. It does not mean you have a bad sensor per say (you still might) but because of your big change in driving conditions I believe that is what happened. Big hic up! I would still order the D.E.F sensor and carrier it with me if they are that hard to get. Hope that gives you some peace of mind. Because you didn't have anymore problems in the distance you drove I would mark it up as a hic up. If it started happening more frequently then you may need a new sensor.
I bought a spare DEF sensor to carry with me. Not cheap, but given the current situation a good investment. I also carry a Nexus code reader so I can get more details and clear the code myself. It won't fix it but it would help me communicate with the dealer and eliminate an anomaly.
Just the thought of not knowing what you may have to face until you had it looked at is the hard part. This is good information to have. Our system went into calibration of the def while driving and it came up on the display. I pulled over and was able to reach the person we purchased our rig from. He told us we need to keep it running and it will do this every so many miles. All you thing about is , OMG now what.
Oh guys I’m so sorry to hear this. As a truck driver the most frustrating and hated system in our rigs is the DEF system. I’ve spent over $16,000 trying to get mine lined out, and still having problems.
I think we found Stacy’s younger sister over at “Paving New Paths” RUclips. Her smiling, bubbly, easy going personality just feels like Stacy coming across. Plus she favors Stacy. It is enjoyable watching them and their young family adventures.
We had the same issue on our Tiffin 35CP two months ago. Same parts shortage but thankfully Cummins was able to get us in and apply their software patch. For ours, they're saying 5 - 6 months. I realize this was 3 months ago for you, hope it's still running with no issue.
Phil we’ve had a similar issue for about a year now on our 14 33aa, not sure if you’re getting the same code but on ours the lights come on for about 3 start cycles and then clear. They originally thought it was the Nox sensor and changed that for a cool 700 bucks and 3 months later boom light is back on then cleared itself. I believe on ours after some research it is the dosing valve which can become crystallized where it injects into the exhaust, it’s an easy job to clean but you have to replace the gasket which is about 30 bucks or the whole dosing valve for about 300. So that will probably be our next step if the light returns. Even something as small as a little piece of carbon or ground issue can throw these things off. 🤞 Good Luck
Glad you guys are ok. Just an FYI join (unless already) rv diagnostics and troubleshooting. Jeff is the founder he’s always on along with many other knowledgeable folks. Jeff will walk you through issues he has saved me several times.
In 2011 I bought a Volvo truck with a Cummins engine. It was one of the first with the requirement for DEF and the new exhaust system. That truck was in the shop every single month of it's life until I sold it 3 years later and claimed bankruptcy. 11 years later and I drive company trucks that have very few problems but sensors are regularly problematic, especially on Cummins engines.
As a side note, I have heard that sensor fails are a pretty regular thing with those DEF systems. It may be a good idea to pick up a sensor(s) just in case you find yourself in a tight spot for that reason again. Happy travels!
you are not going to put a Def sensor in your coach on the side of the road. Plus if you do not ha a computer with the engine software so you can force a regen it is going to be useless anyway.
@@alancharlton4606 Alan fyi DEF and DPF are 2 different systems Regen is for cleaning soot in the DPF. DEF is for the SCR to reduce NOX via catalytic reaction. You bring up a good point in that the firm ware for the replacement sensor must match the existing or be reprogramed via laptop with integrated software and key or the ECU won't recognize the replaced sensor and you'll stil need a qualified tech with etools to clear the fault code. Ain't it fun living with Al Gore holding the ignition key ready to shut down the Happy Camping times. YMMV
@@keithrowell8895 Keith fyi I've had 1st hand experience when my '15 GMC D'Max was hooked up to my 5ver and ready to go but when I turned the key I got the Service Def System warning with CEL and 50 mile to limp mode. I contacted GM dlr who informed me that this was a hard set warning which required Dlr. Service. Disconnected truck from trlr. and had truck back by end of day as the dlr. luckily had the replacement part (DEF tank&htr) on hand.The repair was made under warranty as truck had 40k miles would have been a different outcome had it occured crossing the Mojave desert where We were headed. YMMV
We were supposed to travel today, but we have high wind warnings here in TX so we decided to wait until tomorrow. When I heard Phil talk about what can happen in high winds, I knew we made the right decision. We'll be staying at Dreamcatcher RV Park next month on our way to Arizona. We try to use Escapees parks when we can because of the great price. I'm glad your issue with the low DEF light turned out to not be too bad!
Man those are tough issues when you are trying to troubleshoot in the truck stop. I like how you guys kept filming and showed how you worked through the problem. It’s not all cool sunsets and sunrises. Appreciate showing the reality of living on the road. Be safe.
You have a check engine light and a malfunction indicator light. When the code is active the CEL will come on. Once the fault is inactive the MIL will stay on until cleared. Always get DEF at the truckstop pumps and if you use the jugs check the expiration date. If your DEF gauge red light is on the level sensor or sender could be failing if the light is blinking it has lost communication with ECU or CECU. Good luck 👍
Our very first outing with our '96 DP my engine derated - trust me when I say that you'll know it when it happens! My dash temp gauge is inaccurate (I now have a Scangauge so have accurate readings all the time) so when it indicated I was approaching high heat I was already there (partially blocked radiator cooling fins - which were discovered and cleaned out). Mine ran like a champ on the flat and minor inclines and only derated when we had taller hills and mountains to deal with. Not one of the best feelings in the world to wonder about what's going on and why, so I can totally understand your hesitation, Phil.
When the engine Derates, you'll know it... I'm a CDL driver and had a 2016 International Derate when the Def ran too low and I couldn't go over 5mph. I put about 1 1/2 gallons of water in the Def tank just to get me going again. I drove 20 miles with water in the Def tank and the truck never knew the difference.
Glad you got the rig looked at. DEF is one of the big reasons I will stay with gas. My wife and I will be full time in a fifth wheel at the end of May, I learn much from you two. From an old Air Force retiree to a young Navy retiree, thanks.
I am so sorry that you all had to go through it. I wish life at this stage in our life could be carefree (all the time). Thank you for sharing this. We love your channel. As Rvers we have learned so much from you. You guys are no nonsense, funny, entertaining and real. So thank you for that. Be safe!!!!
Love the class A beeps. and here we thought we were the only ones that get them. Do love the Freightliner support. Had a good experience in PA as well.
Glad you were able to get back on the road without any problems. One thing mentioned was the low voltage on the code. Checking the connections on the batteries and cleaning them may help prevent a repeat problem. Have the batteries checked for condition also. If they are getting old and there is a low voltage issue on startup, especially if the weather is a little cold/cool, it can cause the code to appear. I had a similar issue on my truck and found that a battery terminal had come loose. Cleaned and tightened, problem solved. Good luck.
Glad you figured out what the issue was! Safe Travels and thank you for your service from one Veteran to another. We stayed at Demings also , good campground!
That's what scares us about getting an RV. We wouldn't have a clue what to do if that happened to us. So glad you were able to get to the mechanic. I'm thinking our sticks and bricks will be sufficient! Safe travels, love your show! We hopefully will meet you both at the Tampa RV Show.
That's some good information as I'm looking into RVing soon. I've always taken "maintenance" into consideration when buying a new vehicle. Thank you for your Service btw, Brother, as I'm a Veteran myself.
We just had our issues with the DEF Head, we managed to make it to our campsite about 40mi away. It took almost a month for the part to come in. Our check engine light finally went red and stop engine light came on, Cummings mobile tech came and replace the sensor. Safe travels
My Volkswagen had a def issue too. Very irritating. I was told don't turn the vehicle off until I got into the dealership maintenance area. I had no idea about the battery cable fix. Just another day... glad you are both safe and well.
Error lights....friend and foe. Heart jumps when they come on. Thankfully only a few in several thousand miles for us. A dairy without homemade ice cream...sacrilegious! Strong winds over the past two weeks in Florida....white knuckle driving. Thanks, shipmates. Peace!
Always worry about the issues associated with DEF and the electronics. Glad you guys were able to get to the shop and that the battery reset worked the way it did. Good luck in class Phil...
Sounds like the same thing we ran across.1st time we stopped at a diesel shop and they cleared the codes and did a regen for an hour. The 2nd time was my fault,I left the cap off. We did the battery reset as someone suggested on Facebook and it went away. No low def alarms since then and we’ve been traveling for 6 months after
Personally, the worse decision ever made on coming up with DEF in the first place! So glad we have the pre DEF engine! Glad you were able to figure out what was wrong and nothing has come back, but that would always be in the back of my mind going down the road next time! Wishing you both the best in your travels. We will be here in TN until end of May, as DW is getting knee surgery next month. Hope to see you down the road, as we will be heading up to New England later on and winter in Florida at end of year into '23.
We too had the DEF sensor go bad on our 2017 Anthem last summer. Our RV needed to be towed to the closest Cummins a couple hours away. They said this was a known issue and the DEF head needed replacement. The dealer called Corporate who said to just park it while they waited on parts, which could take 3 months or more. After explaining to corporate we were full-timers and following specific requirements, our dealer persuaded Cummins to provide us the parts we needed. After staying for 10 days with free water and electric at Camp Cummins we were back on the road free of charge. If Freight-liner covers yours under warranty, I would recommend you replace it as soon as possible or carry a spare.
That’s one of those things that always lurks in the back of your mind. We have a 2017 Red, with low mileage that we got a few months ago, so am sensitive to your issue. Hope it works out that it doesn’t sidetrack you.
DEF has cost so much in repairs, down time and waste products. You may want to consider getting DEF from a container not the pump, it is cheaper at the pump but if you get crystals from the pump it will cause problems. Drive safe and stay healthy.
That has been a worry with us after reading posts in the Tiffin FB posts- glad it wasn't the true shut down from the DEF system & so nice they didn't charge you! Safe travels and have fun in class- Chasing RV Sunshine ☀️Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
@@todayissomeday Yes sir...finally great to put real people to the YT videos. Stop by Missy and my channel, I'll publish the video I did...hmmm...in a couple of months, that is how far behind I am in editing.
I hoped that fixed yours, I had a low def light come on last 4th of July on my 2018 Thor Venesian 40a, it had been on for maybe 100 miles before I started that trip. We we’re about 3 hours from our home in Shelby NC to eat breakfast then head to Missouri, when we got back on the road after breakfast the RV would only go 5 miles per hour so we limped to the Shelby High School where we parked and called Freightliner. My low def light was on but my def was full so I ignored it until this happened, it was the def head unit that was malfunctioning and they brought out a new one and installed it there but the WiFi wasn’t good enough to do a regen so they had to tow it to Gafney SC about 20 miles away where the chassis was actually built and had us on the road the next day, so definitely don’t ignore a low def light if your full of def. Love y’all’s channel.
We drive a Chevy with a Duramax 6.6. Always have an issue with the DEF Sensors at high altitudes. Bought a scanner for the vehicle and when the truck decides to throw codes at me, I clear them with a scanner unless it needs to be addressed right away. So far this has saved us several times.
If the problem doesn't reoccur, several cycles will probably extinguish the Chk Eng lite. Mine was doing that over and over. Ended up replacing the DEF head. Fixed the problem. You may consider getting a software update from Cummins where you will not be Derated.
That was awesome that the Fort Worth Freightliner could take a look at it for you and were only 1+ hours away! Imagine being d-rated down to 5mph! UGH! Engines were so less complicated years ago... all this emission stuff just gives us more things to fail! Safe travels!
I had a 16 Freightliner with a Detroit engine for 3 years. I had a DEF system issue twice in almost the exact same spot near Hesperia, CA about a year apart. Both times I was almost full of DEF. A full day in the shop both times. The truck was less than 3 years old the 2nd time & around 350,000 miles. Warrantee on heavy duty trucks in usually 500,000 miles, so it was covered. But the hotel room (in California) wasn't.
Great info. As new pusher owners with a Freightliner chassis, this was great insight. If your near Redstone Arsenal, AL look us up. Kelly & Kathy “Away We Go 2.0!” We’ll Catch You Down The Road!
Did you go to Elisa's House of Pies? She cycles through over 100 pies! Good soul food! Great people. They were RVing when winds stopped them there. They fell in love with the area and stayed. I love the Dreamcatcher RV Park. There is a Harvest Host winery there (wine prices cheaper at Walmart). You did not mention the camel at the dairy! The cheese is very good. The food in the bar is good!
We made a trip to northern Indiana when it was 7 degrees. The def must have gelled be cause it did not regen for 2000 miles which was on a different trip about 3 months later. I was driving in the sweet spot which is probaly too fast. When I slowed down and let the engine bog a little the regen happenned. I ran the def below a quarter tank then filled with fresh. Never another issue
Whew, that could have turned out worse than it did. So glad to see that you were able to make it to Ft Worth and have it checked by that awesome team of technicians. Looking forward to the upcoming training video(s). Have an uneventful and safe journey.
Phil If you dig into the de issue you will find a Cummings recall with the def issue documented with over 3k in free repairs. At least it was what I found with my 2014 33aa
I drove school bus for 32 years. Some Freightliners. Mine never had problems but others did. I asked why. They said they always noticed that I never punched the peddle out of lights. True. No 0 to 60 in 10 seconds for me. Baby your baby. That limp mode is embarrassing. Good advice is to spend the money and carry a spare part and know how to install it. I drive a gas motorhome fearing the constant diesel maintenance. Some new buses came in and we're always in the shop while others never ever had a problem. Note: if stranded and near a school district's transportation Dept., See if there is a mechanic willing to do a side job. Ask for the garage. Then ask for the head mechanic. Then ask. Ours always loved helping people out. Good luck.
Love you both and your awesome content. Appreciate so much when you share the trouble and not just the awesome fun parts. We plan to travel in a tiffin like yours and stay at places like you guys. Appreciate your content so much.
I drove semi for 20 years. Last 5 years I drove local- drove a freightliner day cab. We 1st got the truck at 22,000 miles. Within a few weeks we had the exact same issue with the Def system. Long story short the truck as of when I left and started my own business was around 800,000 miles. It was in and out of the shop monthly! Always the same thing. Sometimes we could drive for weeks with the engine light on but as soon as that low Def light came on within a few hundred miles it would go into derate mode. 5mph. Sometimes it would just lose power and a few hundred miles later it would "fix" itself. The truck has had ALMOSTA THE WHOLE DEF system replaced! Problem continued. Freightliner even replaced multiple wiring harnesses as they did find frayed wires under cab. The Def systems are complete garbage 🗑 .. I hope this was a one time deal as our truck maintenance was included along with repairs so our company never paid. I'm guessing around 30k worth of work done just in the Def system alone.
We tow our car via tow dolly and thus also can't back-up. Thus far we stayed twice at a Cracker Barrel and often see they have extra RV parking spaces (although they are barely enough).
Welcome back to Texas! The EPA should be sued requiring vehicles to go into limp mode if DEF isn''t being sprayed into the exhaust steam to reduce emissions! Our DEF pump on 2016 GMC Canyon 2.8lt Duramax failed and put the truck in limp mode towing our 2020 EPro to South Padre Island! 73,000 miles on engine! Thankfully we were just 3 miles from Home! 3 weeks at dealer to get it replaced , traded for a Ram1500, 5.3 HEMI . Safe Travels!
I had the sensor fail on my tiny 2.8L Diesel in my GMC Canyon. It took over 2 weeks for the dealer to get the part in and get it repaired. The worst issue is the truck will start reducing the maximum speed you can drive in increments every 100 miles until the problem is fixed. I was down to a maximum speed of 55 when I took it in.
We were at Dream Catcher a few weeks ago, not to bad. Love the HH location as well will have to look that one up. Sorry to hear about your engine troubles as well.
Phil one thing I will recommend to you is where electrical connections like the batteries or a ground connection keeping those spots clean cause those spots if you have a build up of gunk it can cause a voltage issue to where a sensor will not read properly cause it doesn’t have the proper voltage
I did some more research on D.E.F. Found out that on most D.E.F. setups uses several inputs like fluid temp., level, even quality. I believe that the information was affected by all data from the hard drive you were experiencing. You had several of the conditions that could have sent flawed information to your computer.
The DEF dosing code was caused when you turned your Chassis batteries off before turning your inside 12 volt with off first. You should first turn off your 12 volts inside allowing a few minutes for things to power down on the 12 volt feeds. THEN turn you chassis batteries off. Once they cleared that code it should not return. Your original Def code is a whole different story? Only time will tell on that one? I recommend getting (DEF sensor) one on order and keeping it on hand. Good luck.
Oil changes in the Fort Worth area run over to Decater Tx to first choice lube. It is about 280.00 for and inspection oil change in the generator and the coach engine. Now all that being said Phil we had the same thing happen to our coach in no where NM two years ago. Filled the def tank 3 gallons cleared the message it has not reoccurred over the last 16,000 miles. So fear not my friends boldly go forward with out worry. Besides if Ruby does break down there is nothing you can do about it but work the problem. So don't worry about failures before they occur. If you want to know know more about the oil change deal give me a call. Mike
Good luck on the light problem. I have had check lights come on and have an expensive problem. Cleared it and never came on again must be a spook in the camper. Be safe and wishing fair weather on your travels.
In Wyoming we had winds like that - 50 mph gusting to 70 hitting us broadside. I pulled our awning canvas out from under the metal cover. We were on the side of the interstate wondering how we would get it back in when a gust hit and it wound back in. Stopped at the next town cause thankfully the pass was closed. When we went over the next day three semis were tipped over.
Well now we have two one with the very first RV and one with the current RV. With the first RV we were exiting i-95 on a curved exit and the harmonic balancer flew off out under the RV no brakes no power steering 60 miles an hour towing a Jeep. Somehow miraculously we got to a stop with the emergency brake. AAA to the rescue to tow it to our residence we drove our Jeep home replaced the flywheel and traveled another 6 months in the RV till we sold that one and bought the new one with that one we take a test run up to see my daughter the other side of the state and stayed at a state park which is a very narrow twisty road over Christmas in the mountains very very cold with our old RV we didn't have a diesel engine and the diesel heater did not get turned on so when we went to start it it wouldn't start when we called AAA well they ended up blowing out our starter trying to start it with 24 volts instead of 12 and our RV apparently is a unicorn there are only six starters for this RV in the country 3 days later it arrived advance maintenance replace the starter got us on the road again AAA tried tow company within a hundred miles to come tow us off the mountain to a repair shop which nobody was willing to do because of the road and we're a 40 ft class a motorhome. And for some stupid reason now the first week of February we are returning to that campground to visit my daughter before we head to Florida for several months. We love your videos and have learned so much from you both. Thank you both for your service and for sharing your travels.
I have heard stories of the float inside the tank for the gauge getting stuck and causing a false low def warning. Apparently the fluid crystallizes as it dries causing issues like a stuck tank float
one thing you could try if the same issue should pop up is try a 'forced regen" ... most any engine since 2010 has that ability ... Though im not sure your RV does. Often times what happens is the dosing nozzle gets a bit of carbon on it or a drop of DEF crystalized on the nozzle. A regen will burn all that off. Glad you were able to get it squared away .. happy trails!
Had the DEF pump unit checked on my rig recently. I thought the thing was making too much noise and it was driving me crazy. Mercedes Sprinter. Turned out to be all was well, just noisy. They can check the pump itself and the dosing unit to tell you if it’s working properly - outputting the correct amount of DEF as needed. It would be worth having that checked. DEF problems can be a real pain in the behind with the way they limit speed and distance etc. Surprising that while reading the error codes they couldn’t clear the one that is there - making the light go out. Usually they can make that happen just like on a car. Is it possible the check engine light is related to the fact you said you needed an oil change. Here’s one last thought, as long as the light is orange you aren’t likely to hurt the engine - if it goes red, you need to shut it down as soon as possible and get some help.
Love the vids you two. One thing being a full time rv'er is something going wrong with the coach, which is our home. Having animals with us would make it very difficult to find accomodations while repairs are made. We just ran from Texas round trip to Oregon for the holidays and we almost made a huge mistake that would have made life very inconvenient. Thanks for sharing. Julie and I always look forward to your newest videos.
I had a def sensor issue on my F250 Super Duty . Same problems you had they did change sensor how ever found out batteries where dying replaced both. Going back on diagnostics test said it was a low voltage issue. Have your batteries Checked.
I'm not a Tech, but I drive for a chemical company and all we have are Freighliners. The emission controls on these diesels are killing the truck industry Freaightliner also has what I think is called "multi-plex wiring" Meaning the wires in the harness have multiple uses. Our truck are out all the time for wiring issues and emissions. Hope it works out great for you guys....love the videos.
Best wishes guys. Braking down on the road is stressful as hell.
We full-time in a 5th wheel, but we are not travelling at the moment. We have been in this park for three years with plans for a couple more. The point being, I didn't need my RAM3500 DRW if I wasn't pulling the camper. Because of DEF and some other issues with the RAM, I decided to sell it and just grab an SUV for daily use. When we do move it to family land, I will just hire it done. I love the 5th wheel; we had fun travelling in it and it has been great transitioning to full-time living. When we go back to travelling a lot, though, I think it will be with a Class C gasser. This 43' beast will get parked on a slab with a cover and a shop.
Phil, recommend that you put electrical tape on your wrench handle when doing work on your battery bank. On my socket wrench I have the handle taped up. If the wrench slips and touches the positive and negative you will get a big arc.
Thanks for the tip. Will do
I second that!! I still have a nice adjustable wrench with a heat-shrinked handle to cover the big burn mark from the first off grid battery bank I assembled back in 1987.
Great tip! I've been monkeying around under the hood and never though about that, I have used insulated adjustable wrench when I had one convenient....what the heck sparks make life more interesting...LOL
As a teenager thats how I learned how DC voltage works!
Welcome to Beijing Biden's America.
We drove from Tennessee to Southern California with transmission problems in October. Not a fun journey. I was on the phone trying to find someone who would even look at us the entire way. The soonest anyone could help us was in Oklahoma City and they were at least two weeks out! We made it home, but it was a nail biter the entire journey. Definitely took the fun out of our trip and was not in our plans. Our rig is almost 20 years old! But we love it and have put so much time and money into it with upgrades. Steve keeps telling me a new rig won’t automatically insure we never have any problems….I guess he may be right. Four thousand dollars later we have a new transmission so the journeys will continue ❤️. I just want to mention how much we love following you. You guys are great! Thanks so very much for sharing the good and the bad!
He's right that a new rig won't automatically insure you never have any problems. It's always something new or used. Happy you were able to make it home okay and get the issues resolved.
Keep your 20-year-old pre-emissioned unit..... Trust me when I tell you the new ones are all shit and smell like plastic!
Even at 450k honestly I wish I still had my 2003 coachmen and no payments.
So, you had the dreaded "DEF sensor" code, but Freightliner didn't have the problems Spartan had. The real DEF problems started in 2016 when the EPA changed the requirement. Often, the Check engine code will reset itself after a number of starts, if the problem has corrected. Many full times carry code readers that can reset the codes. Easier than disconnecting batteries.
Good to know. Thanks!
I would say you had wonderful support for this problem. It’s awesome when a service shop says No Charge for something that obviously took up their time to diagnose. Have fun in school.
It's a real bad feeling when things like that happen out of nowhere especially on a interstate. Glad it wasn't anything major.
This was a fantastic example of asking good questions and exploring options and risks.
Someone suggested a obd2 type scan tool.
A lot of large bus and bus size vehicles and tractor trailers don't have a obd2 plug in connection.
They use a round plug connector to access the information to the vehicle computer. You use a laptop with down loaded software that the garage has to pay for annually. Back 10 years or more my shop was paying $5000-$8000 A year for access to the rights to use this software for diagnosis. Cummings, International, ect all had their own software you had to basically rent for 12 months.
So owning a scanner for obd2 may not be an option.
Check with your manufacturer of your vehicle to see if it is obd2 complaint or has the Round pig tail that connects to a computer.
I have a 2020 sprinter van, 5000 miles, and the count down started. When it reaches 0 ,you can only drive 5 mph. Got it to the dealer who said the def was at 15 percent and should be 32.5. When I got back home I check the box of blue def ,it was only 3 months old. Then I bought a refractometer and tested the small amount of def still in the box. It read 0, so my tank is 5 gallon so 2.5 gallon of 0 and 2.5 gallons at 30 would average out to 15. I bought the blue def at Walmart in Florida. So now I test every time I fill .
Funny I've had that happen in my F350. We had to stop because it had us down to 5mph. Call someone to get us and went to get food. 45 minutes later we came back and started it just for giggles. Lo and behold it was fine and we drove home. We did disconnect the battery. At first it didn't help but after we got back it woke up.
Really appreciate you guys showing the good, bad and the ugly of RV life. The fact that you let us learn from your struggles is very helpful. Hope you have fair winds and following seas in the rest of 2022. Semper Fi.
Ahhh, Deming New Mexico. We spent a week there in front of a diesel repair shop waiting for a fuel pump to be shipped and installed in our bus. Glad you got your engine figured out. Safe travels and thanks for all of the videos. We have learned so much from your videos as we transition from bus life to RV life.
Sorry Phil, it's me again, Ernie. I live in Universal City, Texas, just east of San Antonio.
I was sitting here and realized that with your size rig you will more than
likely have Air Brakes.?
If so do you drain the water/moisture from the bottom of your Air tanks
daily?
There is also a moisture filter from the air compressor to th primary air
tanks to help remove moisture. (it's called a Desiccant filter/element)
Your air tanks should be drained daily if you drive. You don't have to drain
all the air out just the water at the drain valve on the bottom of all the air tanks. (You can keep the air pressure up on the tanks just need to drain the water.
The water will freeze in the tanks, air line, and brake valves and slack adjusters. Causing loss of braking.
This would be a good information video for you to post if you haven't already done one on it. And if you didn't know about this and you have Air Brakes it could possibly save your life and the life's of others.
Yes I am the guy with 40 years of mechanic experience.
I retired from VIA Transit in San Antonio.
If you want, a mechanic you come across in your travels
might be a great person to interview. One Of your instructors?
At one of the schools.
At least at the bare minimum show the draining of the tanks because winters here.
Thank you for your time.
Ernie
Do u come in a compact size so I can keep u in my tool box? Lol, 😉 🍻
I am a first time commenter. I am a Chevrolet Service advisor. DEF is the worse thing that has ever happened to diesel engines, regardless of manufacturer. I am glad that it was only a minor delay for you.
Glad you guys were pretty close to a shop to get help. I would tend to believe that there was air in the DEF line since you recently added some and removing the battery cable cleared the error. Good tip to keep the DEF tank filled. Good luck in school.
I built a DEF Simulator and tested, works great. Its cheap and easy to build. Also Cummins will install a patch, not sure why they didn't tell you about the patch. Derate is not 55mph its 5mph. Hundreds and hundreds of MH and big rigs have been sidelined by the DEF sensor issues.
I believe they started using DEF in 2010, and our Tiffin Phaeton is an '08, so no worries on that front, but I'm glad that Freightliner took good care of you. Once I had an 'overheat' yellow dash light, (which went out after climbing a long/steep grade) and I stopped in at Cummin's to have them do a quick diagnostics, which they found that the engine went into 'regen' well after the start of the long/steep climb, and said all was good, and that their was no charge either! Glad to hear you've not had the same DEF message, and hopefully you can get it looked at, so that worry for you will be eliminated. Stay safe you two!
I am a retired mechanic of 40 years.
Even though you had a D.E.F and check engine light come on don't
get overly concerned.
For over the past 15 to 20 years vehicles have been programmed with (Adaptive Learning) this is where the adjust to your driving habits, altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, how fast you accelerate, and so much more. (In a way it gets to know your driving habits)
This is not a bad thing by knowing you habits it can allow for some of them to get you better fuel economy and performance.
If you take turns driving long distances and change drivers you may notice it not shifting the same as when you had driving several hours earlier. That is because it started learning how the new driver was driving. (Adaptive Learning)
Now back to the D.E.F. and check engine light.
By you fighting a cross wind and head wind, attitude change, temperature change, and other things beyond your control the onboard computers were trying to adjust for all the new and changing information coming in.
It got to be to much for them and it got what we as mechanics call a Hic up.
It does not mean you have a bad sensor per say (you still might) but because of your big change in driving conditions I believe that is what happened. Big hic up! I would still order the D.E.F sensor and carrier it with me if they are that hard to get.
Hope that gives you some peace of mind.
Because you didn't have anymore problems in the distance you drove I would mark it up as a hic up. If it started happening more frequently then you may need a new sensor.
Thanks for the info, Earnest. Makes sense!
Fascinating! Thank you 🍻
I bought a spare DEF sensor to carry with me. Not cheap, but given the current situation a good investment. I also carry a Nexus code reader so I can get more details and clear the code myself. It won't fix it but it would help me communicate with the dealer and eliminate an anomaly.
Good idea, care to share the cost of the spare DEF sensor? thanks
@@rjahn3000 $53 but they can be up to $175
@@hatenlebron Thanks I appreciate it.
Just the thought of not knowing what you may have to face until you had it looked at is the hard part. This is good information to have. Our system went into calibration of the def while driving and it came up on the display. I pulled over and was able to reach the person we purchased our rig from. He told us we need to keep it running and it will do this every so many miles. All you thing about is , OMG now what.
Oh guys I’m so sorry to hear this. As a truck driver the most frustrating and hated system in our rigs is the DEF system. I’ve spent over $16,000 trying to get mine lined out, and still having problems.
I think we found Stacy’s younger sister over at “Paving New Paths” RUclips.
Her smiling, bubbly, easy going personality just feels like Stacy coming across. Plus she favors Stacy.
It is enjoyable watching them and their young family adventures.
We had the same issue on our Tiffin 35CP two months ago. Same parts shortage but thankfully Cummins was able to get us in and apply their software patch. For ours, they're saying 5 - 6 months. I realize this was 3 months ago for you, hope it's still running with no issue.
Phil we’ve had a similar issue for about a year now on our 14 33aa, not sure if you’re getting the same code but on ours the lights come on for about 3 start cycles and then clear. They originally thought it was the Nox sensor and changed that for a cool 700 bucks and 3 months later boom light is back on then cleared itself. I believe on ours after some research it is the dosing valve which can become crystallized where it injects into the exhaust, it’s an easy job to clean but you have to replace the gasket which is about 30 bucks or the whole dosing valve for about 300. So that will probably be our next step if the light returns. Even something as small as a little piece of carbon or ground issue can throw these things off. 🤞 Good Luck
Thanks for the info! Glad you got it fixed.
Glad you guys are ok. Just an FYI join (unless already) rv diagnostics and troubleshooting. Jeff is the founder he’s always on along with many other knowledgeable folks. Jeff will walk you through issues he has saved me several times.
In 2011 I bought a Volvo truck with a Cummins engine. It was one of the first with the requirement for DEF and the new exhaust system. That truck was in the shop every single month of it's life until I sold it 3 years later and claimed bankruptcy. 11 years later and I drive company trucks that have very few problems but sensors are regularly problematic, especially on Cummins engines.
As a side note, I have heard that sensor fails are a pretty regular thing with those DEF systems. It may be a good idea to pick up a sensor(s) just in case you find yourself in a tight spot for that reason again. Happy travels!
Great point!
you are not going to put a Def sensor in your coach on the side of the road. Plus if you do not ha a computer with the engine software so you can force a regen it is going to be useless anyway.
@@alancharlton4606 Alan fyi DEF and DPF are 2 different systems Regen is for cleaning soot in the DPF. DEF is for the SCR to reduce NOX via catalytic reaction. You bring up a good point in that the firm ware for the replacement sensor must match the existing or be reprogramed via laptop with integrated software and key or the ECU won't recognize the replaced sensor and you'll stil need a qualified tech with etools to clear the fault code. Ain't it fun living with Al Gore holding the ignition key ready to shut down the Happy Camping times. YMMV
I've driven trucks with Def and never had a sensor problem with one. Or even Hurd of a problem with it. I don't were your getting your info from
@@keithrowell8895 Keith fyi I've had 1st hand experience when my '15 GMC D'Max was hooked up to my 5ver and ready to go but when I turned the key I got the Service Def System warning with CEL and 50 mile to limp mode. I contacted GM dlr who informed me that this was a hard set warning which required Dlr. Service. Disconnected truck from trlr. and had truck back by end of day as the dlr. luckily had the replacement part (DEF tank&htr) on hand.The repair was made under warranty as truck had 40k miles would have been a different outcome had it occured crossing the Mojave desert where We were headed. YMMV
We were supposed to travel today, but we have high wind warnings here in TX so we decided to wait until tomorrow. When I heard Phil talk about what can happen in high winds, I knew we made the right decision. We'll be staying at Dreamcatcher RV Park next month on our way to Arizona. We try to use Escapees parks when we can because of the great price. I'm glad your issue with the low DEF light turned out to not be too bad!
Smart to wait out the high winds!
Man those are tough issues when you are trying to troubleshoot in the truck stop. I like how you guys kept filming and showed how you worked through the problem. It’s not all cool sunsets and sunrises. Appreciate showing the reality of living on the road. Be safe.
You have a check engine light and a malfunction indicator light. When the code is active the CEL will come on. Once the fault is inactive the MIL will stay on until cleared. Always get DEF at the truckstop pumps and if you use the jugs check the expiration date. If your DEF gauge red light is on the level sensor or sender could be failing if the light is blinking it has lost communication with ECU or CECU. Good luck 👍
Our very first outing with our '96 DP my engine derated - trust me when I say that you'll know it when it happens! My dash temp gauge is inaccurate (I now have a Scangauge so have accurate readings all the time) so when it indicated I was approaching high heat I was already there (partially blocked radiator cooling fins - which were discovered and cleaned out). Mine ran like a champ on the flat and minor inclines and only derated when we had taller hills and mountains to deal with. Not one of the best feelings in the world to wonder about what's going on and why, so I can totally understand your hesitation, Phil.
When the engine Derates, you'll know it...
I'm a CDL driver and had a 2016 International Derate when the Def ran too low and I couldn't go over 5mph.
I put about 1 1/2 gallons of water in the Def tank just to get me going again.
I drove 20 miles with water in the Def tank and the truck never knew the difference.
Glad you got the rig looked at. DEF is one of the big reasons I will stay with gas. My wife and I will be full time in a fifth wheel at the end of May, I learn much from you two. From an old Air Force retiree to a young Navy retiree, thanks.
I am so sorry that you all had to go through it. I wish life at this stage in our life could be carefree (all the time). Thank you for sharing this. We love your channel. As Rvers we have learned so much from you. You guys are no nonsense, funny, entertaining and real. So thank you for that. Be safe!!!!
Thank you so much!
Hope that pesky def light remains off. We are headed to Licon HH next week. Thanks for the sneak peak. Have a great week. Mary 💕Fred
Love the class A beeps. and here we thought we were the only ones that get them. Do love the Freightliner support. Had a good experience in PA as well.
Glad you were able to get back on the road without any problems. One thing mentioned was the low voltage on the code. Checking the connections on the batteries and cleaning them may help prevent a repeat problem. Have the batteries checked for condition also. If they are getting old and there is a low voltage issue on startup, especially if the weather is a little cold/cool, it can cause the code to appear. I had a similar issue on my truck and found that a battery terminal had come loose. Cleaned and tightened, problem solved. Good luck.
Glad you figured out what the issue was! Safe Travels and thank you for your service from one Veteran to another. We stayed at Demings also , good campground!
That's what scares us about getting an RV. We wouldn't have a clue what to do if that happened to us. So glad you were able to get to the mechanic. I'm thinking our sticks and bricks will be sufficient! Safe travels, love your show! We hopefully will meet you both at the Tampa RV Show.
Thanks so much!
That's some good information as I'm looking into RVing soon. I've always taken "maintenance" into consideration when buying a new vehicle. Thank you for your Service btw, Brother, as I'm a Veteran myself.
We just had our issues with the DEF Head, we managed to make it to our campsite about 40mi away. It took almost a month for the part to come in. Our check engine light finally went red and stop engine light came on, Cummings mobile tech came and replace the sensor. Safe travels
Glad that this turned out like it did.🙂 You two did exactly the right thing. WAY better safe than sorry.
My Volkswagen had a def issue too. Very irritating. I was told don't turn the vehicle off until I got into the dealership maintenance area. I had no idea about the battery cable fix. Just another day... glad you are both safe and well.
Error lights....friend and foe. Heart jumps when they come on. Thankfully only a few in several thousand miles for us. A dairy without homemade ice cream...sacrilegious! Strong winds over the past two weeks in Florida....white knuckle driving. Thanks, shipmates. Peace!
Always worry about the issues associated with DEF and the electronics. Glad you guys were able to get to the shop and that the battery reset worked the way it did. Good luck in class Phil...
One thing about windy days, Phil doesn’t have to worry about his hair getting must.😉 Some good DEF information.👍🏻
Sounds like the same thing we ran across.1st time we stopped at a diesel shop and they cleared the codes and did a regen for an hour. The 2nd time was my fault,I left the cap off. We did the battery reset as someone suggested on Facebook and it went away. No low def alarms since then and we’ve been traveling for 6 months after
Personally, the worse decision ever made on coming up with DEF in the first place! So glad we have the pre DEF engine! Glad you were able to figure out what was wrong and nothing has come back, but that would always be in the back of my mind going down the road next time! Wishing you both the best in your travels. We will be here in TN until end of May, as DW is getting knee surgery next month. Hope to see you down the road, as we will be heading up to New England later on and winter in Florida at end of year into '23.
We too had the DEF sensor go bad on our 2017 Anthem last summer. Our RV needed to be towed to the closest Cummins a couple hours away. They said this was a known issue and the DEF head needed replacement. The dealer called Corporate who said to just park it while they waited on parts, which could take 3 months or more. After explaining to corporate we were full-timers and following specific requirements, our dealer persuaded Cummins to provide us the parts we needed. After staying for 10 days with free water and electric at Camp Cummins we were back on the road free of charge. If Freight-liner covers yours under warranty, I would recommend you replace it as soon as possible or carry a spare.
That’s one of those things that always lurks in the back of your mind. We have a 2017 Red, with low mileage that we got a few months ago, so am sensitive to your issue. Hope it works out that it doesn’t sidetrack you.
DEF has cost so much in repairs, down time and waste products. You may want to consider getting DEF from a container not the pump, it is cheaper at the pump but if you get crystals from the pump it will cause problems. Drive safe and stay healthy.
That has been a worry with us after reading posts in the Tiffin FB posts- glad it wasn't the true shut down from the DEF system & so nice they didn't charge you! Safe travels and have fun in class- Chasing RV Sunshine ☀️Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Nice to meet you both at the Tampa RV show today....best of luck with your future travels.
Thanks for coming
@@todayissomeday Yes sir...finally great to put real people to the YT videos. Stop by Missy and my channel, I'll publish the video I did...hmmm...in a couple of months, that is how far behind I am in editing.
Sympathy on your travel troubles (research DEF issues). Hope school went well. Thanks for the update.
I hoped that fixed yours, I had a low def light come on last 4th of July on my 2018 Thor Venesian 40a, it had been on for maybe 100 miles before I started that trip. We we’re about 3 hours from our home in Shelby NC to eat breakfast then head to Missouri, when we got back on the road after breakfast the RV would only go 5 miles per hour so we limped to the Shelby High School where we parked and called Freightliner. My low def light was on but my def was full so I ignored it until this happened, it was the def head unit that was malfunctioning and they brought out a new one and installed it there but the WiFi wasn’t good enough to do a regen so they had to tow it to Gafney SC about 20 miles away where the chassis was actually built and had us on the road the next day, so definitely don’t ignore a low def light if your full of def. Love y’all’s channel.
Hopefully this problem will not return. Good luck in your continued travels.
We drive a Chevy with a Duramax 6.6. Always have an issue with the DEF Sensors at high altitudes. Bought a scanner for the vehicle and when the truck decides to throw codes at me, I clear them with a scanner unless it needs to be addressed right away. So far this has saved us several times.
If the problem doesn't reoccur, several cycles will probably extinguish the Chk Eng lite. Mine was doing that over and over. Ended up replacing the DEF head. Fixed the problem. You may consider getting a software update from Cummins where you will not be Derated.
Also super cool that you guys hang out with Chad and Tara, my other favorites!!
We were at Licon Dairy about a month ago. The drive in was interesting. Glad to hear you're up and running again.
That was awesome that the Fort Worth Freightliner could take a look at it for you and were only 1+ hours away! Imagine being d-rated down to 5mph! UGH! Engines were so less complicated years ago... all this emission stuff just gives us more things to fail! Safe travels!
I had a 16 Freightliner with a Detroit engine for 3 years. I had a DEF system issue twice in almost the exact same spot near Hesperia, CA about a year apart. Both times I was almost full of DEF. A full day in the shop both times. The truck was less than 3 years old the 2nd time & around 350,000 miles. Warrantee on heavy duty trucks in usually 500,000 miles, so it was covered. But the hotel room (in California) wasn't.
Great info. As new pusher owners with a Freightliner chassis, this was great insight.
If your near Redstone Arsenal, AL look us up.
Kelly & Kathy
“Away We Go 2.0!”
We’ll Catch You Down The Road!
Did you go to Elisa's House of Pies? She cycles through over 100 pies! Good soul food! Great people. They were RVing when winds stopped them there. They fell in love with the area and stayed.
I love the Dreamcatcher RV Park. There is a Harvest Host winery there (wine prices cheaper at Walmart).
You did not mention the camel at the dairy! The cheese is very good. The food in the bar is good!
We made a trip to northern Indiana when it was 7 degrees. The def must have gelled be cause it did not regen for 2000 miles which was on a different trip about 3 months later. I was driving in the sweet spot which is probaly too fast. When I slowed down and let the engine bog a little the regen happenned. I ran the def below a quarter tank then filled with fresh. Never another issue
Glad it all worked out for you guys
Whew, that could have turned out worse than it did. So glad to see that you were able to make it to Ft Worth and have it checked by that awesome team of technicians. Looking forward to the upcoming training video(s). Have an uneventful and safe journey.
Happy that wasn't a serious problem.
Phil
If you dig into the de issue you will find a Cummings recall with the def issue documented with over 3k in free repairs. At least it was what I found with my 2014 33aa
I had the same issue with my vehicle and I solved the problem by keeping my level above half. And check the def code if you buy box def.
Date code not DEF code
I drove school bus for 32 years. Some Freightliners. Mine never had problems but others did. I asked why. They said they always noticed that I never punched the peddle out of lights. True. No 0 to 60 in 10 seconds for me. Baby your baby. That limp mode is embarrassing. Good advice is to spend the money and carry a spare part and know how to install it. I drive a gas motorhome fearing the constant diesel maintenance. Some new buses came in and we're always in the shop while others never ever had a problem.
Note: if stranded and near a school district's transportation Dept., See if there is a mechanic willing to do a side job. Ask for the garage. Then ask for the head mechanic. Then ask. Ours always loved helping people out. Good luck.
Love you both and your awesome content. Appreciate so much when you share the trouble and not just the awesome fun parts. We plan to travel in a tiffin like yours and stay at places like you guys. Appreciate your content so much.
Thanks so much!
I drove semi for 20 years.
Last 5 years I drove local- drove a freightliner day cab. We 1st got the truck at 22,000 miles. Within a few weeks we had the exact same issue with the Def system. Long story short the truck as of when I left and started my own business was around 800,000 miles. It was in and out of the shop monthly! Always the same thing. Sometimes we could drive for weeks with the engine light on but as soon as that low Def light came on within a few hundred miles it would go into derate mode. 5mph. Sometimes it would just lose power and a few hundred miles later it would "fix" itself. The truck has had ALMOSTA THE WHOLE DEF system replaced! Problem continued. Freightliner even replaced multiple wiring harnesses as they did find frayed wires under cab. The Def systems are complete garbage 🗑 .. I hope this was a one time deal as our truck maintenance was included along with repairs so our company never paid. I'm guessing around 30k worth of work done just in the Def system alone.
We tow our car via tow dolly and thus also can't back-up. Thus far we stayed twice at a Cracker Barrel and often see they have extra RV parking spaces (although they are barely enough).
Welcome back to Texas! The EPA should be sued requiring vehicles to go into limp mode if DEF isn''t being sprayed into the exhaust steam to reduce emissions! Our DEF pump on 2016 GMC Canyon 2.8lt Duramax failed and put the truck in limp mode towing our 2020 EPro to South Padre Island! 73,000 miles on engine! Thankfully we were just 3 miles from Home! 3 weeks at dealer to get it replaced , traded for a Ram1500, 5.3 HEMI . Safe Travels!
And this is why I just deleted all the def and egr nonsense off my 2015 cummins 6.7. Was cheaper than replacing a dpf canister by far.
I had the sensor fail on my tiny 2.8L Diesel in my GMC Canyon. It took over 2 weeks for the dealer to get the part in and get it repaired. The worst issue is the truck will start reducing the maximum speed you can drive in increments every 100 miles until the problem is fixed. I was down to a maximum speed of 55 when I took it in.
Derating, basucally means limp mode. It can drive, but in a mode that will prevent any damage to the engine.
Realistic and funny all in one. Love this show!
We were at Dream Catcher a few weeks ago, not to bad. Love the HH location as well will have to look that one up. Sorry to hear about your engine troubles as well.
Phil one thing I will recommend to you is where electrical connections like the batteries or a ground connection keeping those spots clean cause those spots if you have a build up of gunk it can cause a voltage issue to where a sensor will not read properly cause it doesn’t have the proper voltage
Good call Nathan. Thanks.
I did some more research on D.E.F.
Found out that on most D.E.F. setups uses several inputs like fluid temp., level, even quality. I believe that the information was affected by all data from the hard drive you were experiencing. You had several of the conditions that could have sent flawed information to your computer.
Thanks for the info!
The DEF dosing code was caused when you turned your Chassis batteries off before turning your inside 12 volt with off first. You should first turn off your 12 volts inside allowing a few minutes for things to power down on the 12 volt feeds. THEN turn you chassis batteries off. Once they cleared that code it should not return. Your original Def code is a whole different story? Only time will tell on that one? I recommend getting (DEF sensor) one on order and keeping it on hand. Good luck.
Oil changes in the Fort Worth area run over to Decater Tx to first choice lube. It is about 280.00 for and inspection oil change in the generator and the coach engine. Now all that being said Phil we had the same thing happen to our coach in no where NM two years ago. Filled the def tank 3 gallons cleared the message it has not reoccurred over the last 16,000 miles. So fear not my friends boldly go forward with out worry. Besides if Ruby does break down there is nothing you can do about it but work the problem. So don't worry about failures before they occur. If you want to know know more about the oil change deal give me a call. Mike
That sucks guys but so glad everything worked out. Love the battle of the asses. 😂
Good luck on the light problem. I have had check lights come on and have an expensive problem. Cleared it and never came on again must be a spook in the camper. Be safe and wishing fair weather on your travels.
The trucking folks have been having problems with def sensors. (bad sensor). It has been a big problem, I hope your problems are over
Yes! They are amazing! We love them!
Great video, sorry to hear about your DEF problems, sounds like you handle the problem correctly!
Thank you!
In Wyoming we had winds like that - 50 mph gusting to 70 hitting us broadside. I pulled our awning canvas out from under the metal cover. We were on the side of the interstate wondering how we would get it back in when a gust hit and it wound back in. Stopped at the next town cause thankfully the pass was closed. When we went over the next day three semis were tipped over.
We stopped at Licon Dairy last fall...we liked the cheese there..kinda like a mozzarella thin slices..enjoyed the animal park too
Well now we have two one with the very first RV and one with the current RV. With the first RV we were exiting i-95 on a curved exit and the harmonic balancer flew off out under the RV no brakes no power steering 60 miles an hour towing a Jeep. Somehow miraculously we got to a stop with the emergency brake. AAA to the rescue to tow it to our residence we drove our Jeep home replaced the flywheel and traveled another 6 months in the RV till we sold that one and bought the new one with that one we take a test run up to see my daughter the other side of the state and stayed at a state park which is a very narrow twisty road over Christmas in the mountains very very cold with our old RV we didn't have a diesel engine and the diesel heater did not get turned on so when we went to start it it wouldn't start when we called AAA well they ended up blowing out our starter trying to start it with 24 volts instead of 12 and our RV apparently is a unicorn there are only six starters for this RV in the country 3 days later it arrived advance maintenance replace the starter got us on the road again AAA tried tow company within a hundred miles to come tow us off the mountain to a repair shop which nobody was willing to do because of the road and we're a 40 ft class a motorhome. And for some stupid reason now the first week of February we are returning to that campground to visit my daughter before we head to Florida for several months.
We love your videos and have learned so much from you both. Thank you both for your service and for sharing your travels.
WOW! Fingers crossed this trip goes better than the last.
I have heard stories of the float inside the tank for the gauge getting stuck and causing a false low def warning. Apparently the fluid crystallizes as it dries causing issues like a stuck tank float
one thing you could try if the same issue should pop up is try a 'forced regen" ... most any engine since 2010 has that ability ... Though im not sure your RV does. Often times what happens is the dosing nozzle gets a bit of carbon on it or a drop of DEF crystalized on the nozzle. A regen will burn all that off. Glad you were able to get it squared away .. happy trails!
Good call. I will keep this in mind.
Had the DEF pump unit checked on my rig recently. I thought the thing was making too much noise and it was driving me crazy. Mercedes Sprinter. Turned out to be all was well, just noisy. They can check the pump itself and the dosing unit to tell you if it’s working properly - outputting the correct amount of DEF as needed. It would be worth having that checked. DEF problems can be a real pain in the behind with the way they limit speed and distance etc. Surprising that while reading the error codes they couldn’t clear the one that is there - making the light go out. Usually they can make that happen just like on a car. Is it possible the check engine light is related to the fact you said you needed an oil change. Here’s one last thought, as long as the light is orange you aren’t likely to hurt the engine - if it goes red, you need to shut it down as soon as possible and get some help.
IM SO PROUD OF YOU GIRLFRIEND YOU DROVE IT. I have a 33Ft. RV and am afraid to drive it. GOD BLESS YOU LOVE YOU GUYS❤️❤️❤️👍🙏💕
Love the vids you two. One thing being a full time rv'er is something going wrong with the coach, which is our home. Having animals with us would make it very difficult to find accomodations while repairs are made. We just ran from Texas round trip to Oregon for the holidays and we almost made a huge mistake that would have made life very inconvenient. Thanks for sharing. Julie and I always look forward to your newest videos.
I had a def sensor issue on my F250 Super Duty . Same problems you had they did change sensor how ever found out batteries where dying replaced both. Going back on diagnostics test said it was a low voltage issue. Have your batteries Checked.
This is the reason why companies created DEF delete kits. It is nothing but trouble for big engines all the way down to regular cars and trucks.