Unusual DEF activity?

[Vndlfsn]

Yesterday I recd a message from my 2013 3.0 Sprinter that DEF was low. I topped it off this morning with almost the entire bottle of the Peak brand.

Ran some errands in the morning with no additional messages.

This afternoon we were driving around looking at the fall colors and suddenly recd the 10 Starts Left message. It reliably decreased to 9, then 8, on subsequent stops.

Then on our way home I get “You have 16 starts left”…..

Uh. What?

I’m going to see if it needs more tomorrow morning I guess but it seems a bit illogical.

 

[1der]

Oh man, my friend's 2011 just went through this three months ago - 125k miles. Add DEF, added - and it fails to recognize

He ended up at the dealer in Sprinter dealer in Fairfield, CA (he lives in Berkeley).

Part of the work was covered under warranty. I suggest finding the closest Sprinter focused dealer. The local independents had no clue other than throwing $$$ part$ at the problem, which they did not solve. Bunch of white crystal (urea) around the exhaust joint near the tranny.

A good dealer can diagnose and then you can decide if you want to buy and replace the parts yourself. Oh, he was at the $1,200 transmission/ diff fluid change point, too.

DEF level sensor, Dosing valve, NOX sensors i think were covered under warranty, and then:
CHARGE AIR MUFFLER
$900.51
LEFT METAL BOOST DOWN PIPE
$727.76
LEFT BOOST HOSE
$654.80
ADBLUE FEED LINE FROM PUMP TO METERING VALVE
$1383.84
WIPERS
$146.30
BOTH LICENSE BULBS
$117.50
TRANSMISSION SERVICE
$967.90
REAR DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE
$293.30
FUEL FILTER
$450.40
SMALL HOSE GOING TO FUEL FILTER
$299.78

 

[86Scotty]

I recommend selling this vehicle quickly, especially if you plan to take it more than about 50 miles from a Benz dealer.

 

[Fitz2]

The single-most finicky system on a Sprinter is the DEF system. One of the experience-based "rules" that has been proven over time is to never let the level fall below 3/4 full, another is to not overfill the system. Both practices mess with the internal sensors and cause far more grief than they ever should.

Ray's list includes several non-DEF related items. Dealer prices are what they are, there is no need for me to comment on that.

We have driven our Sprinter 100k miles over the last 8 years, often venturing more than 50 miles from a dealer, something I plan to continue to do repeatedly in the future! I have documented every issue I have had with the Sprinter in my build thread, you all can draw your own conclusions regarding dependability. As for me, I plan to keep on maintaining and driving it.

Vndlfsn, once you get this straightened out I suggest you pick up a couple of the (relatively expensive) half gallon AdBlue DEF bottles. They are refillable and they have a shut-off design that prevents you from overfilling the system.

https://www.amazon.com/LR072258-Equ...-4-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[Vndlfsn]

Now that is really helpful information, thank you!

I drove to the store this afternoon without any kind of warnings at all. I’ll take your advice on the half gallon bottles.

 

[Fitz2]

I have found that it often takes a day or so for the DEF sensors to reset.

BTW, where are you located? It's really nice when there is a location in the signature line.

 

[Vndlfsn]

I took your advice, thank you. We recently paid 55K for this but I was so desperate to get rid of it I just sold it for $1000..

 

[Twoxentrix]

I took your advice, thank you. We recently paid 55K for this but I was so desperate to get rid of it I just sold it for $1000..

Well based on the potential validity of the advise 86Scotty provided, and If you amortize your loss (say, over the next 5 years), then factor in suspected repair costs for the same period, I'd say you've made money. Congrats on the sale! :d3:

 

[Fitz2]

Vndlfsn,

Thanks for adding your location. Cold is also the enemy of low DEF levels, it has to do with the location of the DEF heater in the tank. Keep 'er full!

I was in WI earlier this year after chasing the solar eclipse (one of those trips that took me more than 50 miles from a MB dealer!), I'll do my best to reach out the next time I'm out that way.

 

[Vndlfsn]

Sounds good!

 

[RMH-SMB]

We had this problem on our 2016 Sprinter. It was a bad NOx sensor. Get your van to a MB certified repair shop ASAP before using up your remaining starts. Ours was repaired under an post-recall extended warranty in about two hours.

 

[Vndlfsn]

Since I had the “16 starts” left error, there has been no message activity at all. I’m assuming that this is just part of the finicky behavior that other forum participants mentioned but I will monitor closely and probably keep it topped up as seems to be the recommended strategy.

 

[1der]

Do you have a OBD code reader ? Good to have so you can at least monitor the computer readings.

The most inconvenient issue is the reoccurrence of the issue when on a road trip. Our friend's rig started this on the way into a two week Yosemite/ Sierra trip. They were able to nurse it through the trip but did hit limp mode once.

The fact that the NOx sensors and a few other items actually are covered under warranty at the dealer may point to dealing with this sooner rather than later. Also, there are potential compounding consequences that can occur that are not covered under warranty.

Just considerations.

 

[Vndlfsn]

Thanks again for that helpful information. I did have a NOX sensor code that concurred with being low on DEF but I reset it and have not seen it since I topped the DEF up.

I purchased an iCarSoft reader.

I will definitely keep an eagle eye on it. I did research the recall and I have the paperwork from the recall and the repair done by the previous owner’s Mercedes dealer. I believe it extended the original warranty to a total of 11 years but we are past that now.

 

[porschedpm]

You pretty much need the Dealer to decipher how much warranty is left on cars covered under the Diesel recalls. For the car manufacturer I worked for, the cars covered under their ‘Dieselgate’ recall got an increase to their power train warranty and an increase in their emissions warranty. Emission warranties are typically longer than New Car Warranties. Start dates for the additional warranties might also vary. Also any cars purchased under a Dealers Certified Pre-Owned program could have additional years of warranty tacked on.

 

[1der]

Agree 100% with checking w the dealer asap.

We were surprised that the 2010 was still covered under the VERY extended warranty as of July this year. Granted the rig is in California and may have had a state specific mandated warranty.

 

[Fitz2]

I purchased an iCarSoft reader.

Can you tell me if it reads the DPF soot level? My Blue Driver reader does not, it looks like a dealer-level reader may be required.

 

[Vndlfsn]

Good question- I’ll check and get back to you.

 

[Vndlfsn]

Can you tell me if it reads the DPF soot level? My Blue Driver reader does not, it looks like a dealer-level reader may be required.

Yes, there’s a DPF function on the IR soft module.

I checked mine and it said that regeneration is at a standstill. I hope that’s OK ha ha.

 

[Vndlfsn]

To close the loop on this- continued to get the CEL and Nox sensor code. The dealership in Appleton replaced the downstream sensor free of charge under warranty.