Service DEF system see dealer warning message

[Dakota Kid]

So follow up:

1. The dealership finally got my rig into the shop last Thursday after a call to Jeep Wave (thanks Ron!!)…

2. Mechanic told me message popped up due to snow in the air intake, that they cleaned it out and cleared code and drive it for a bit and all was good…

My concerns are these though:

1. I can’t even find where the air intake is getting air from on the left side of the eco diesel (drivers side) in the engine compartment. There is a hole about the size of a silver dollar above the front drivers side tire in the plastic wheel/engine shroud. If that is indeed where the engine sucks up fresh air, I can see where driving through snow drifts and blowing snow/blizzard conditions might through snow into the equation…. Otherwise I’m stumped at that explanation.

2. The actual work listed in invoice said there was snow packed into area of the DEF heaters for the tank/line connectors and that they cleaned out/reapplied new grease to electrical connections/cleared codes. This concerns me as I live in ND and driving through snow is not avoidable. I truly hope this was a one time event as the vehicle chewed up blizzard conditions and spit them out otherwise. If anyone Can educate me on actual intake port/source that would be awesome. If I “had” to put in a snorkel kit to protect against snow intake I’d happily take that solution to my wife?.

So apparently if you’re getting the DEF system failure message, you might want to have mechanics check for loose/disconnected DEF heater connections…or snow in the air intake.

Either way, it seems like they have to clear the code to reset the countdown.

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[OldWillysForum]

Here we go again, got a second DEF systtem fail countdown yesterday, about 700 miles after the dealer replaced the DEF pump and heater assembly.

This time, the countdown started at 80 miles till no-start, instead of 200, with no other warning messages...

I did not get the "Service DEF System, See Dealer" message this time.
It threw the same two codes this time, P208B and P20C6, as it did the first time.
However, in the Car Scanner app, the DEF concentration Sensor showed a fault. The DEF tank level read zero, and the concentration was way out of whack with no dosing. Note that the DEF tank temp was above the freezing point of the DEF fluid.

I was towing an enclosed snowmobile trailer with two sleds inside, headed out for a day of fun with my boys when the countdown started, 50 miles from home, and about 30 more miles to the trail head. Knowing I wouldn't be able to restart it if I shut it off, we bagged the trip and turned around to head home. About 10 miles from home, it started working again and cleared the countdown, showed the DEF tank level at near full, and DEF concentration at 35.5.

When I got home, I cleared the codes with the Car Scanner app, and today it's working fine.

I called my dealer, and all they can do is have me bring it in for diagnostics again, a 400 mile round trip, twice if they have to keep it and give me a loaner car.

Starting to think the dealer needs to buy the Gladiator back from me and I'll move on. I have zero confidence that it won't shut down on me in the middle of nowhere. I live in Idaho, and everything is a couple of hours apart with literally nothing in between. Having a rig that will cause a random no-start out here, when it is 0 degrees outside, could be life threatening.

 

[OldWillysForum]

So follow up:

So apparently if you’re getting the DEF system failure message, you might want to have mechanics check for loose/disconnected DEF heater connections…or snow in the air intake.

Either way, it seems like they have to clear the code to reset the countdown.

Glad they got yours sorted, and I hope it lasts...
Pete

 

[Dakota Kid]

Glad they got yours sorted, and I hope it lasts...
Pete

Here is the official print out of what they said/did. Still trying to figure out intake for air box, I’ll ask tomorrow as I have to take a company Ram van in for servicing at same dealership.

I hear you on the no start being life threatening…. Not going to mess around with this issue as I’d be in the same boat as you here in ND.

 

[Glad_he_ate]

I got the message yesterday. Service def see dealer. No countdown but cel is still on. Have an appointment on Friday. I topped it off with def today it was 4f when it came on. We commonly see - numbers here. How is it that we can sell vehicles that are only usable 9 months a year.

 

[Glad_he_ate]

Ran my zr2 diesel for two winters with zero def ore fuel issues.

 

[Atch]

I got the message yesterday. Service def see dealer. No countdown but cel is still on. Have an appointment on Friday. I topped it off with def today it was 4f when it came on. We commonly see - numbers here. How is it that we can sell vehicles that are only usable 9 months a year.

I've heard from a few resourceful people saying it's best to run less def during the winter so the in tank heater can keep up. Less likely to freeze up this way so that is how I'm going to approach it this winter.

 

[Dakota Kid]

I've heard from a few resourceful people saying it's best to run less def during the winter so the in tank heater can keep up. Less likely to freeze up this way so that is how I'm going to approach it this winter.

I have seen where DEF is meant to freeze and doesn’t seperate when it does/thaws out. As it is a plastic reservoir, 3/4 full in winter to allow for physical expansion of water in solution a good idea. Having less to hear/thaw out is genius now that I’ve read the post above…. Makes perfect sense!

 

[OldWillysForum]

I've heard from a few resourceful people saying it's best to run less def during the winter so the in tank heater can keep up. Less likely to freeze up this way so that is how I'm going to approach it this winter.

For what it's worth, when my DEF pump and heater crapped and had to be replaced, the tank was less than half full.
When I got the second countdown a few days ago for the concentration sensor fault, it was at 90% full.
Not sure if keeping it on the low side when it is cold would help with the heating or not. It might take a little longer to heat the full tank, but I would think if the heater was working like it should, it would still bring the tank up to temp regardless of how full it is, given time.

 

[DrFalken]

Add me to the list. My first winter with the JT and this just popped on today. Had it warming up for about 10 minutes, short 2 mile drive, left it running when I ran into the store and the message was there when I got back. When I got home I had it sitting for a few minutes running and the message cleared from the center but the CEL was still on. Shutting down and restarting the CEL was still on but no message. I will have to check for other codes.

 

[Dakota Kid]

So I know this is getting down the rabbit hole a little bit, but I love my eco diesel and if snow is going to be a problem repeatedly, I am totally willing to put a snorkel system on.

Based on a massive amount of research (at least 30 minutes of googling) I can only find 1 vendor that has them for the 3.0 eco diesel and it’s drivers side air intake, from Hauk.

Does anyone have any experience with Hauk or other 3.0 compatible snorkel options? I know the big issue is access to/avoiding windshield fluid and brake fluid reservoirs on that side of engine bay.

If swallowing snow is tripping these codes, I’ll gladly help the Jeep engineers out?.

 

[DrFalken]

So I know this is getting down the rabbit hole a little bit, but I love my eco diesel and if snow is going to be a problem repeatedly, I am totally willing to put a snorkel system on.

Based on a massive amount of research (at least 30 minutes of googling) I can only find 1 vendor that has them for the 3.0 eco diesel and it’s drivers side air intake, from Hauk.

Does anyone have any experience with Hauk or other 3.0 compatible snorkel options? I know the big issue is access to/avoiding windshield fluid and brake fluid reservoirs on that side of engine bay.

If swallowing snow is tripping these codes, I’ll gladly help the Jeep engineers out?.

That is the only one I have found for the diesel, it is on my build list, but not sure how the quality is. I do like the look, reminds me of the hmmwv snorkels.

 

[22EcoDs]

Add me to the list. My first winter with the JT and this just popped on today. Had it warming up for about 10 minutes, short 2 mile drive, left it running when I ran into the store and the message was there when I got back. When I got home I had it sitting for a few minutes running and the message cleared from the center but the CEL was still on. Shutting down and restarting the CEL was still on but no message. I will have to check for other codes.

Curious, do you track your regens and how many times have you filled the def ?

 

[DrFalken]

Curious, do you track your regens and how many times have you filled the def ?

I do not have a OBD adapter yet to track regens, though I have one on order, and I have not filled the DEF since I picked it up at ~3700 miles. As an update the message has not come back, and the CEL was triggering off some other codes. I will keep an eye on it and update if it comes back.

 

[22EcoDs]

I do not have a OBD adapter yet to track regens, though I have one on order, and I have not filled the DEF since I picked it up at ~3700 miles. As an update the message has not come back, and the CEL was triggering off some other codes. I will keep an eye on it and update if it comes back.

Thats strange to me, Unless you are all highway 55+ and were tippity topped off by the dealer, I would think you need DEF by now, Whats the guage say?

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