Warnerelli
Semper Fi
Well it happened. Just 19 days after purchase and less than 700 miles on the odometer I got my first DIC message indicating my Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) was limited to 998 miles. We discussed the new emission regulations with the 2011 Diesel’s and the addition of the Urea Tanks in a past thread in February. There I had indicated I had taken possession of my new 2011 GMC Sierra CC 2500HD with Duramax/Allison combination and that I would update all if I experienced any of the problems related in the original thread.
Yesterday, March 8th as I was heading home from town my DIC reported to me that I had 998 miles of Diesel Exhaust Fluid left. I looked at my odometer and I had 680 miles on the truck. My stomach sunk. I realized then that all the bad publicity these vehicles have been getting was true . . . or at least it was in my case.
I arrived at the dealership early the next morning, March 9th and explained to the service manager my situation. They got right on it. The first thing he verified was in fact that the Urea Tank had been topped off with DEF during the service after the vehicle arrived. His explanation to me was due to the DEF having a shelf life with expiration date the vehicles are only shipped with about a gallon of DEF in them. The service record showed it had been topped off.
Next I was sent to the customer lounge while they ran diagnostic checks on the engine. About an hour later the service manager came out and asked me if I had noticed any leaks on the garage floor or elsewhere. I informed him I had not. I asked if it had been low on DEF. He stated it appeared to be. I then said again, no leaks were evident to me so perhaps it had not been topped off as the service record indicated. They topped the tank off and ran more diagnostics on the engine. Another hour later the service manager came to me and stated with the tank full the computer was now reading about 1300 miles of DEF left and that GM instructed them to empty the Urea Tank and then recalibrated the system and reboot the computer.
About two hours later I was informed the truck was ready but that the system was not repaired and that I would get another false indicator that the DEF was low. As it was further explained to me and later showed to me in writing the current correction may not correct all latched messages and is an interim update and “additional updates are being developed and will be released as soon as they are available”. This message also stated three more points (1) “in cold ambient temperatures customers may comment on an Exhaust Fluid Range message displaying on the DIC even though the DEF fluid has been filled or is known to be full even after the updated calibration has been installed” (2) “as long as the message is intermittent or clears, it is in a Frozen Tank Status and is acting as designed” and (3) if the message will not clear or gives a speed limiting warning return to the dealer for additional diagnostics”.
So basically, after being at the dealership from 7:00 a.m., until close to noon I was told I am being held hostage by my Urea Tank until the next electronic fix is devised and can be administered to the truck. As I said earlier this was discussed widely in an original post. I just wanted to advise you of my entire situation in the event it occurs to you and perhaps to hear from anyone else who has had a similar situation.
Yesterday, March 8th as I was heading home from town my DIC reported to me that I had 998 miles of Diesel Exhaust Fluid left. I looked at my odometer and I had 680 miles on the truck. My stomach sunk. I realized then that all the bad publicity these vehicles have been getting was true . . . or at least it was in my case.
I arrived at the dealership early the next morning, March 9th and explained to the service manager my situation. They got right on it. The first thing he verified was in fact that the Urea Tank had been topped off with DEF during the service after the vehicle arrived. His explanation to me was due to the DEF having a shelf life with expiration date the vehicles are only shipped with about a gallon of DEF in them. The service record showed it had been topped off.
Next I was sent to the customer lounge while they ran diagnostic checks on the engine. About an hour later the service manager came out and asked me if I had noticed any leaks on the garage floor or elsewhere. I informed him I had not. I asked if it had been low on DEF. He stated it appeared to be. I then said again, no leaks were evident to me so perhaps it had not been topped off as the service record indicated. They topped the tank off and ran more diagnostics on the engine. Another hour later the service manager came to me and stated with the tank full the computer was now reading about 1300 miles of DEF left and that GM instructed them to empty the Urea Tank and then recalibrated the system and reboot the computer.
About two hours later I was informed the truck was ready but that the system was not repaired and that I would get another false indicator that the DEF was low. As it was further explained to me and later showed to me in writing the current correction may not correct all latched messages and is an interim update and “additional updates are being developed and will be released as soon as they are available”. This message also stated three more points (1) “in cold ambient temperatures customers may comment on an Exhaust Fluid Range message displaying on the DIC even though the DEF fluid has been filled or is known to be full even after the updated calibration has been installed” (2) “as long as the message is intermittent or clears, it is in a Frozen Tank Status and is acting as designed” and (3) if the message will not clear or gives a speed limiting warning return to the dealer for additional diagnostics”.
So basically, after being at the dealership from 7:00 a.m., until close to noon I was told I am being held hostage by my Urea Tank until the next electronic fix is devised and can be administered to the truck. As I said earlier this was discussed widely in an original post. I just wanted to advise you of my entire situation in the event it occurs to you and perhaps to hear from anyone else who has had a similar situation.
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