Ford Power Stroke Customer Satisfaction Program 18M01

[ParkCountry]

Thought you all would be interested...

I have had a persistent Check Engine Light for the past 6 weeks. I have had my personal Mechanic read the Code 3 times and the local Ford Dealer 1 time. Each time, it has been a Reductant Heater code (can't remember the exact Code number). Coincidentally, after the last time I had it read (by the Ford Dealer), the very NEXT day I received the following letter from Ford. For the record, I own a 2012 F-350 6.7 liter Power Stroke. For brevity, I am only reporting the portions of the letter that I think are most important for purposes of this discussion...

"Customer Satisfaction Program 18M01"

Although your vehicle's Diesel Exhaust Fluid system is likely functioning fine, we are pleased to let you know that, for your peace of mind, Ford Motor Company is extending the Warranty Coverage of the Reductant Heater and Sender Assembly.

If the Reductant Heater and Sender Assembly fails, the Service Engine Soon warning indicator will illuminate and in some cases the engine may go into a Reduced Power Operating Mode.

This program increases the Reductant Heater and Sender Warranty Coverage to a Total of 11 years or 120,000 miles from the warranty Start Date, whichever occurs first.

If your vehicle's Reductant Heater and Sender Assembly requires service or replacement and your vehicle is within the indicated time/mileage limitations, Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to Repair or Replace the Reductant Heater and Sender Assembly FREE OF CHARGE (parts and labor).

When I made the appointment to bring it in for diagnosis, I was told that the next appointments would be in 2 weeks at the earliest. I interpreted this to mean that there has been a "run" on service requests for this very problem, and the Service Writer confirmed this. They also warned me that the Diagnostic Fee would be approx. $120.00 IF, in fact, the problem turned out to be OTHER than this identified problem. Thank goodness, the Service Writer called me once the technician had made his diagnosis and reported that the problem is indeed this VERY problem.

I just thought that Power Stroke owners would be interested in this tidbit as it seems to be a widespread problem, apparently. I will report back to you all once the work is completed. For now, I am pleased with Ford's response to this problem, especially as how I was a GM man for decades prior to purchase of my Power Stroke in 2012. From my decades of experience, I doubt that GM would have been as forthcoming with Problem Identification and Resolution as Ford has.

[FishOnOne]

leggy wrote:
I had the same truck and the same code. It drove fine for 3 years with engine light on even in the coldest of winter days. I did trade it in and this may not have helped me anyway as it would have been quite close to the mileage limit.

If you your current truck exceeds the mileage or time limits you still have until the end of 2018 to get it fixed. In addition if you had to pay out of pocket to have this unit replaced out of warranty you have until the end of 2018 to take your receipt to your local Ford dealer to get reimbursed.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

ParkCountry wrote:
From my decades of experience, I doubt that GM would have been as forthcoming with Problem Identification and Resolution as Ford has.

You would be incorrect. GM did the exact same thing as this with their Bosch LB7 injector debacle. And these injectors cost a whole hellofalot more than a DEF part.

Ford did the correct thing on this. Bad designed? Fix it. It's simple!

[leggy]

I had the same truck and the same code. It drove fine for 3 years with engine light on even in the coldest of winter days. I did trade it in and this may not have helped me anyway as it would have been quite close to the mileage limit.

[FishOnOne]

This is a known problem with the heater element on some of the earlier build trucks I believe, and I got the letter in mail too. My truck has 151k miles so it's extended warranty will expire on 12/31/18 under this new extended warranty.

[ScottG]

Just in case anyone wonders what it is (I had no idea)

Reductant Heater & Sender Assembly
The reductant heater and sender assembly contains pickup tube for reductant pump module, an electric heating element, a reductant temperature sensor and an electrode type level sensor. The heating element is directly above pickup tubes inlet filter. When reductant temperature sensor detects the diesel exhaust fluid temperature dropping to the freezing point of 12°F (-11°C), the PCM will command the glow plug control module to provide voltage to heating element. The heating element thaws liquid reductant within reductant heater and sender assembly reservoir during cold ambient temperatures.

The reductant level sensor incorporates four stainless steel electrodes, with three electrodes arranged vertically to provide a high, middle, and low level signal. The fourth electrode acts as a ground. When reductant tank is full, DEF closes a circuit between all three level electrodes and ground electrode, indicating tank is full. As DEF is consumed, level drops and uncovers each electrode in sequence. The PCM calculates DEF level based on these signals

Reductant Heaters
The reductant heaters maintain DEF in a liquid state during cold ambient temperatures. There are three heating elements in system, each receiving voltage from the glow plug control module. The reductant tank heater is integral to reductant heater and sender assembly. The reductant pump heater is integral to reductant pump assembly

Looks like they're about $259 on fleabay

[Trackrig]

Maybe Ford learned a lesson from their 6.0 diesel. I still have mine, nothing money can't fix............(Oh, and it was my money, not theirs that fixed it).

Bill