Check engine light, 10 starts remaining

[gambita]

I guess this problem is common

[73shark]

Have you filled your DEF tank?

[Titus]

Maybe more than you wanted to know:
This message is courtesy of your friends at the US EPA. DEF is required to make the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system work. SCR reduces NOx (a precursor to ground level ozone or 'smog') to N2 and O2. DEF is consumed at about 2% of the rate that diesel fuel is consumed. So the 6-ish gallon DEF tank will last about 300 gallons of fuel. About 6000 miles +/-. The engine runs just fine without DEF. The DEF costs about $3 per gallon and those driving the Sprinter many many miles per year and using it to make money might be tempted to not fill the DEF tank, and save less than a penny of DEF per mile driven. So EPA reguires the engine manufacturer to somehow force the driver to refill the DEF. MErcedes does so by preventing restarts when the DEF is empty - hence your 10 restart warning. Others may choose to limit vehicle speed to 5 mph when DEF is low/empty. Unfortunately (IMHO) Mercedes chose not to have a DEF level gauge, so you have no idea when DEF is getting low until you get the 10 restart message.

[Ron_CA]

Usually when it is DEF the display will say so. I think it may be something different. I can't tell what the symbol is that it is displaying.

[73shark]

IIRC, the first DEF message is for 25 starts. FWIW, I get about 10K miles on the five gallon tank. YMMV.

Best to get scanned for any DTCs

[gambita]

I just had my 15k service A 2 weeks ago

[lewster]

I had that happen to me a few months ago, when the DEF countdown indicator showed 9 starts remaining. I had filled the DEF tank about a month prior, but found more and added a couple of pints. The clock remained at 9 after 3 more starts, so I knew there was an electronic problem.

Took it to Mercedes the next day and they re-flashed the ECU and all was good. HOWEVER, I have had more repair bills for DEF related issues, things like bad pre-heater, bad injection pump and bad level sensor than with any other part of the van. Now at 120,000 miles.

PS: the symbol in your second shot is the indicator for a DEF issue. All of the warning symbols are listed in your Sprinter owners' manual.

[Titus]

That symbol (and ice cream cone on its side, hovering over a body of water) is the universally recognized (or not) symbol for DEF. A somewhat similar looking symbol with a bunch of dots over the ice cream cone (which is supposed to represent the exhaust pipe) is supposed to alert you to issues with the particulate filter.

In addition to the Mercedes commercial warranty there is also an EPA-mandated (and CARB mandated if you are so unfortunate as to live in California) emissions warranty. That (longer?) emissions warranty may keep you from having to pay for SCR-related repairs.

[gambita]

The problem was the nox sensor.
The DEF was full .
See details below

[KJRitchie]

All these reports of diesel emission problems remind me the early days of gas emission controls back in the 70s.

[gmillerok1]

Curious. Did you happen to use biofuel and if so, was that when the NOX sensor's failed?

Originally Posted by gambita

The problem was the nox sensor.
The DEF was full .
See details below
Attachment 243067Attachment 243068

[UKDUDE]

The Sprinter seems rather prone to issues like this. I wonder if diesel Mercedes cars have the same problems. Our diesel Touareg is 18 months old and so far has never experienced any of these things.

[73shark]

My AI is almost five years old and that is one problem I haven't had. Not that I've had many problems with the MB part. My issues are on the Airstream side.

[Kwils25]

Originally Posted by gambita

The problem was the nox sensor.
The DEF was full .
See details below
Attachment 243067Attachment 243068

Interesting, I just had the same issue with my 2014 AI. DEF error and my DEF tank was close to being full. Had it serviced yesterday. It was warranty work also, but the dealer included costs on the invoice. Parts and labor came to $835. Glad I didn't have to pay for it. I hope this isn't a reoccurring issue.


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[73shark]

Was yours the NOX sensor also? Had you used any biodiesel?

[gambita]

I don't use biodiesel ... As much as possible

[Kwils25]

Mine was also the NOX sensor. I am very careful about not using Biodiesel, although living in Illinois it is sometimes difficult to find non biodiesel. One has to have faith that the absence of a biodiesel sticker on the pump means that your are not getting biodiesel.


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[Tomzstream]

The 2014 chassis seems to be prone to this issue. It has to do with defetive NOx sensors (two) on either side of the particulate filter. Learned about it on the B-forums. Also read the Sprinter Expediter forums for more DEF related woes. I think BikerBill had this issue with his RT, and the initial code being thrown was a crimped DEF line which caused all sort of grief trying to access and repair. It is not a crimped line! The early 2014's were giving the wrong code and once someone tried the 2013 diagnostic software they got the correct results. I hope Mercedes has updated their software to fix the diagnostic. There is no recall as far as I know and MBUSA seems to be dealing with it on a case by case basis. And no it does not affect other vehicles (I have a 2014 E250 BT Bluetec and it is fine.)

I have a Sprinter Camper Van with the 2014 chassis (RT CS-A) but so far no issues. The RT's require removal of both the fresh and black tanks to access the sensor wiring and some MB service centers may balk at performing this task which I think BikerBill encountered, but then his was mis-diagnosed to begin with... RT's president worked with MB to form a taskforce to address that issue and all authorized Sprinter Warranty shops are obligated to do the repair as both RT as well as Thor I am sure, are certified upfitters. Its just getting the Right diagnosis up front that is critical to a timely resolution.

These are defective sensors and the issue is not related at all to BioDiesel as far as I know. The resolution is to replace and reprogram. It can be a 2000 dollar fix but is covered under warranty.

[Kwils25]

Just to keep the facts straight, my Interstate is a 2014 built on a 2013 Sprinter chassis.


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[73shark]

I got a P2BAA code today which relates to NOx exceedence, low reagent consumption. I noticed that it was gone after one or two restarts. Hopefully that's the last of it but I doubt it.