Hightech_Hobo
Expert Expediter
I own a 2010 Sprinter. The problem started with a Diesel Exhaust Filter Indicator light that would not go out even after adding the DEF fluid.
The dealer told me that as a result of running one tank of 5% bio-diesel that the DEF Filter had clogged up and that the part alone was $2500.00 dollars.. As you can imagine I was upset that such an expensive repair had to be done at 160,000 miles.... I looked for alternatives...
I found that a DEF filter can be cleaned using a special process by DPF Regeneration out of Stanford, CT for 500.00 and got more upset with my dealer as they did not even mention this was an option... I decided to go this route and thought I could remove the filter myself and send it in, have it cleaned and re-install it upon its return. I took some time off in Feb to achieve this end..
When I got under the vehicle and looked at how to remove this section of the exhaust system I found I could not even see the starting point of the exhaust system to begin the removal and determined it was beyond my skill level to remove at least the front end of the exhaust system. I was in Bonita Springs, FL at the time...
I called the local Mercedes Benz dealer and asked them if they would remove this portion of the exhaust system so I could send it out for cleaning. They refused...citing "Legal Reasons" ..3 other Dealers in south florida gave me similar answers...
I finally found freightliner was not so shy so I cut my vacation short and returned to my Columbia, SC base where the freight liner dealer said he would remove and re-install the portion of the exhaust system in question. Cost should be around 250.00 ...
I dropped the van off on a thursday and was convinced that a local shop could do the cleaning and I could save the shipping costs, so I agreed to this plan. They apparently did not get to the van until Friday and sent off the part. I had expected this to be done by Sat. so I could go back into service on Monday. It seems as a result in the service delay we did not find out until Monday that this company did not have the right fittings to clean a sprinter filter.
Now the part will have to be shipped up to CT., go through a 48 hour cleaning process and be shipped back and reinstalled. This would delay going back into service for another week.
Finally I get the call the job is done and I go down to pick up the vehicle and am handed a bill for $1100.00.(this is only for the labor of removing and re-installling the section of the exhaust system. The cleaning and shipping bill is a separate bill from DPFRegeneration.(around 650.00 all told).
Imagine my reaction...
After scaring a few customers with in hearing range the labor bill was negotiated down to $845.00 and I left the establishment still quite upset but determined to let it go as a bad experience and move on... I go back into service and have about a month of trouble free expediting...(other than a very poor showing of revenue for the first quarter)
2 days ago the DPF light comes on again...I add the required fluid...Light goes out...39 miles later...Light comes on...another 2.5 gals of fluid...Light does not go out..I think how is it possible to use this much fluid...
i attempt to add more fluid only to find tank is full and can take no more...Been stuck in TX for 5 days with no runs or offers and I'm frustrated on that level so I say to myself...go home for the weekend, stop by the dealer and get what I now assume is a sensor installed incorrectly or gone bad as a result of the recent repair corrected and knock off a couple of other small issues while there. Take the weekend and lick your wounds and get back at on monday...
I was just informed by the dealer that the reason for the DPF light is an "SMS"(not sure of this abbreviation)..but it is the basically a catylitic converter is "still bad" and they had informed me this needed replaced along with the DPF filter at the original diagnosis.
I do not remember being told of this and if I had I certainly would have approached it at the Feb repair. I am also informed this part is a $2000.00 part and requires the same section of exahust be removed.
I am quite certain that I would remember being told $4500.00 in parts plus labor vs $2500.00. I think the service advisor after seeing me react to the $2500.00 part he did not get to the SMS part of the diagnosis in his explanation.
End result I am looking at another $3000.00 repair.. I can delay it a bit but ultimately it will have to be done.
The manager at the sprinter department of my dealer got a bit of an ear full to and we left it at him making some calls to see what he can do...
I will update as the story progressess....
The dealer told me that as a result of running one tank of 5% bio-diesel that the DEF Filter had clogged up and that the part alone was $2500.00 dollars.. As you can imagine I was upset that such an expensive repair had to be done at 160,000 miles.... I looked for alternatives...
I found that a DEF filter can be cleaned using a special process by DPF Regeneration out of Stanford, CT for 500.00 and got more upset with my dealer as they did not even mention this was an option... I decided to go this route and thought I could remove the filter myself and send it in, have it cleaned and re-install it upon its return. I took some time off in Feb to achieve this end..
When I got under the vehicle and looked at how to remove this section of the exhaust system I found I could not even see the starting point of the exhaust system to begin the removal and determined it was beyond my skill level to remove at least the front end of the exhaust system. I was in Bonita Springs, FL at the time...
I called the local Mercedes Benz dealer and asked them if they would remove this portion of the exhaust system so I could send it out for cleaning. They refused...citing "Legal Reasons" ..3 other Dealers in south florida gave me similar answers...
I finally found freightliner was not so shy so I cut my vacation short and returned to my Columbia, SC base where the freight liner dealer said he would remove and re-install the portion of the exhaust system in question. Cost should be around 250.00 ...
I dropped the van off on a thursday and was convinced that a local shop could do the cleaning and I could save the shipping costs, so I agreed to this plan. They apparently did not get to the van until Friday and sent off the part. I had expected this to be done by Sat. so I could go back into service on Monday. It seems as a result in the service delay we did not find out until Monday that this company did not have the right fittings to clean a sprinter filter.
Now the part will have to be shipped up to CT., go through a 48 hour cleaning process and be shipped back and reinstalled. This would delay going back into service for another week.
Finally I get the call the job is done and I go down to pick up the vehicle and am handed a bill for $1100.00.(this is only for the labor of removing and re-installling the section of the exhaust system. The cleaning and shipping bill is a separate bill from DPFRegeneration.(around 650.00 all told).
Imagine my reaction...
After scaring a few customers with in hearing range the labor bill was negotiated down to $845.00 and I left the establishment still quite upset but determined to let it go as a bad experience and move on... I go back into service and have about a month of trouble free expediting...(other than a very poor showing of revenue for the first quarter)
2 days ago the DPF light comes on again...I add the required fluid...Light goes out...39 miles later...Light comes on...another 2.5 gals of fluid...Light does not go out..I think how is it possible to use this much fluid...
i attempt to add more fluid only to find tank is full and can take no more...Been stuck in TX for 5 days with no runs or offers and I'm frustrated on that level so I say to myself...go home for the weekend, stop by the dealer and get what I now assume is a sensor installed incorrectly or gone bad as a result of the recent repair corrected and knock off a couple of other small issues while there. Take the weekend and lick your wounds and get back at on monday...
I was just informed by the dealer that the reason for the DPF light is an "SMS"(not sure of this abbreviation)..but it is the basically a catylitic converter is "still bad" and they had informed me this needed replaced along with the DPF filter at the original diagnosis.
I do not remember being told of this and if I had I certainly would have approached it at the Feb repair. I am also informed this part is a $2000.00 part and requires the same section of exahust be removed.
I am quite certain that I would remember being told $4500.00 in parts plus labor vs $2500.00. I think the service advisor after seeing me react to the $2500.00 part he did not get to the SMS part of the diagnosis in his explanation.
End result I am looking at another $3000.00 repair.. I can delay it a bit but ultimately it will have to be done.
The manager at the sprinter department of my dealer got a bit of an ear full to and we left it at him making some calls to see what he can do...
I will update as the story progressess....
