Goal: Gray Chrystler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram – Clyde gets new DEF system.
The team at Gray CDJR were fantastic! We arrived just after they opened and Clyde was taken right in. Chris, the service writer, kept us informed every step of the way. While checking in, Chris shares that he owns a large travel trailer, and understands how we depend on a working truck.
While reading the codes the first thing the tech at Gray CDJR saw was the error “Active Air Box requires service – see dealer”. The tech then took 5 minutes and actually found the cause of the “Active Air Box” error that Clyde has shown on and off since we bought the truck! (Rob had complained to every service tech at each service.) While the air filter was close to needing replacement (and there was a stash of acorns in the air box) the “Active Air Box” error was because the Air Box gate was frozen in one position. Finally! That mystery was answered. Unfortunately, Gray CDJR did not have a replacement Air Box. Chris, the service writer, got on the phone to see if any near-by dealership happened to have one. No joy. Chris, let us know that status and asked what we wanted to do. Rob mentioned that we had an appointment in Wake Forest, NC on Monday. Chris went back to the phone and called the Wake Forest dealership; no they didn’t have one. While still on the phone with the Wake Forest dealership, the parts person at Wake Forest, checked his neighboring dealerships for an Active Air Box. Luckily, the Chrysler Jeep dealer in Raleigh, NC did have one! So, Rob and I will pick it up on Friday.
In the mean time, Rob did have Gray CDJR install a new air filter. It was the last air filter Gray CDJR had in stock. Air filters are on back order until December!
The DEF system error: Next the tech ran a diagnostic test on the DEF system and yes the DEF system had a failure. The question was what in the DEF system had failed. The easier, hence first suspect was the injector. To test the injector required that the injector be removed. Of course the bolts were rusted, and the bolts broke, so the bolts had to be drilled out. Drilling out the bolts required dropping the exhaust to get in and drill out the bolts. Chris comes out and tells us what is going on.
Rob decided that since the injector was 6 years, and 100,000 miles old, not to waste shop time testing the existing injector, and just put in a new injector. Luckily Gray CDJR had an injector in stock!
Time passes. The New injector installed, and system retested. Nope 🙁 DEF system stills fails. Therefore the problem has to be the only other part in the system, the DEF pump. Unfortunately, Gray CDJR did not have a DEF pump in stock. Chris jumps on the phone before even telling us that the test failed, and found that the Ram dealership up in Scranton, PA had one! So, Chris calls the Gray CDJR parts driver and sends them off to Scranton, a 45 minute drive each way. Supply Chain up close and personal!
Being now lunch time, Rob and I walk up the road a short distance from the dealership and have lunch at a nice diner. Rob has delicious liver and onions with a rich gravy, bacon, and mashed potatoes. Deryl has spanakopita (greek spinach and egg in phyllo dough crust) with a large Greek salad. Both meals were more than we could eat, resulting in LEFT OVERS!
Back at Gray CDJR, time passes and the pump arrives.
The pump is mounted in the bottom of the DEF tank so the system has to be drained prior to removing the pump.
While, Rob is getting some steps in to his day, he stops to talk to tech while the tech was watching the DEF fluid drain. Turns out the tech also has an RV, and he too understands about being on the road, and having your truck break down.
Once the Tech has the system drained, he is able to remove the pump. While removing the pump, a pump part falls out of the DEF fluid tank. Yes Virgina, that would be why the pump stopped working.
Finally at 4:45 PM, the tech is able to run a final test, and Clyde passes! Rob’s credit card does not explode into flames while paying the bill, and we head back to camp.
Over quarantinies, Rob and Deryl agree that we were lucky that we had scheduled a day of slack in the schedule. Day 3 was supposed to be a day of relaxation for Rob, instead Clyde was repaired on Day 2. This means Day 3 will now be the drive to Creekside Campground in Edinburg, VA instead.