I was on my way home from work today and the check engine light came on. I noticed on my iDash that the DEF level was at 0. That percentage has never been a constant reading on the iDash display, it is always bouncing between 0 and what I thought was an accurate reading. Does anyone else have the iDash and have it setup to display the def level? And if so, is your reading constantly displayed or does it bounce like mine did/does? Looks like the code is redundant level sensor. This is on the baby max, not the big boy. Probably end up getting a new def tank, looks like the sensor is part of the tank itself.
P203B code 500 miles in
- Thread starter Grinks22
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securityguy
Well-known member
I have one and it's fairly steady. Never showed a ZERO at all. Mine is on the 6.6L.
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- #4
Hopefully it’s a simple sensor replacement or recalibrate the sensor. I didn’t look to far into it. I’m thinking it has been messed up since I bought it, if your gauge isn’t doing what mine was doing or it could be the difference between the little guy and the big guy’s sensor. Time will tell. Thanks for the response.
Also, I was on a long road trip this summer on my 2500HD. I got a DEF low message twice after adding a 2.5 gallon jug and then it would disappear. I am certain I had at least 3 gallons both times.
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- #6
I didn’t even get that message. I just noticed on my iDash that it was at 0, then saw the check engine light, the checked the trucks display and it said no def information available. I was surprised I didn’t get the low warning message.
You're lucky it didn't de-rate the motor.
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- #9
The old girl is going in Monday morning. Hopefully it doesn’t decide to de-rate before then or I’ll try Axe’s trick of clearing the code and keep rolling. Probably won’t drive it much anyway until Monday. A lot of Banks haters out there, it the iDash gauge is a pretty nice tool to have in your truck. Nice to be able to keep tabs on things going down the road.
LSnTX
Well-known member
Yes, I have an idash and DEF level will vary as it gets lower as you would expect. Not 0 to ?, but something in the range that is in the tank. I believe sensors can be replaced if that’s what’s needed and not the whole tank. Keep us informed
I might ask how low you think you were before it gave code?
I might ask how low you think you were before it gave code?
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- #12
The iDash always bounced from 0-95 when I installed it, spent more time at 0 than at the tank level. The truck gauge in the dash never came off of full. The last number that popped up on my way to work was 78. Then it stayed at 0 and the CEL light came on. I’m thinking the sensor was malfunctioning from the beginning. I thought I read it was the whole tank, but after AXE said just the sensor can be replaced, I think you guys are right.
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- #13
I didn’t drive my truck for 2 days after the code and I unplugged the iDash the night before I went to my appointment. When I started my truck to take it in, the check engine light was off. Dealership checked it, code was in the history and not current. They checked the def gauge and it was communicating, so they cleared the code and notated it and I was on my way. They and I don’t see anyway the iDash had anything to do with it, so I’m going to drive it and see what happens. The iDash still shows 0, but the truck’s gauge shows full, so who knows. Time will tell. I think the def gauge is defective, but I have to take it in while the engine light is on. LSnTX, do you have your gauge monitoring DEFLVL or DEF_L out of curiosity?
Take it to a truck stop and fill the DEF tank full. Then start to track it from there.
I think it's goofy software. I got two DEF related messages right after I poured DEF in the tank. Also had an emissions message and there was no code with it, but dealer tech said it might have been due to low DEF even though I had two bars showing on DEF guage.
I think it's goofy software. I got two DEF related messages right after I poured DEF in the tank. Also had an emissions message and there was no code with it, but dealer tech said it might have been due to low DEF even though I had two bars showing on DEF guage.
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- #15
Dealership topped it off for me. Hopefully you are right and it’s just a glitch. Tech didn’t think my code would’ve triggered a derate on the truck and said your trick of clearing the code should work if it does happen. Guess it’s bearings, lifters and blown motors with the 6.2’s and emissions issues with the 3.0’s. Love it.
HighTechPauper
Well-known member
Mine has always bounced around, I monitor DEF level, concentration, and DEF temperature. I often can start bouncing to 0 on a hill or bumpy roads, and I have read that frozen DEF can show as 0 on the iDash presumably because when frozen it loses its conductivity that the sensor uses to gauge the level. This is my second truck (21/RST/LM2 21.5K at trade and my 24/ZR2/LZ0/10K) that I have had the iDash on, both bounce around a bit but have never stayed at 0 but I don't know if I looked when I suspected my DEF was frozen. In IL I would imagine the DEF may be frozen solid this time of year and I think I remembered reading that the system will wait up to 30 minutes to thaw the DEF enough to be able to start injecting, if it can't by then it sets the CEL/MIL due to it, any chance freezing is the issue? Do you monitor DEF Temp too?
IMHO/YMMV
IMHO/YMMV
LSnTX
Well-known member
LSnTX
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #19
I was thinking about the freezing factor, I think def freezes around 12 degrees and it was 25 on the day that it happened. I am only monitoring def level, but there are 2 options. I was watching deflvl, I switched to def_l. Not sure what the difference is, the first states it def fluid level the second is def tank level, seems the same to me. I will check the def temperature next. Thanks for the insight.
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- #20
My def level is still going from 0-90 ish, more time at 0 than the level. DIC gauge shows completely full. DEF concentration is at 32 percent most of the time. DEF temperature was at 32 and outside temperature was at 30. Going for a longer drive tomorrow and see what happens. Has anyone added an additive to their DEF? I found this, any thoughts? I don’t put a ton of miles on and wondering if this will help keep the DEF “fresh” longer. I’m not planning on completely filling the tank once I get it close to empty.
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