DEF Wire Connection Problem?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by PE_T, Apr 2, 2019.

  1. Working2party

    Working2party Medium Load Member

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    I should have looked closer at troubleshooting attachment. Idk why I thought I needed to look it up for myself. You already had what you needed.

    One last word of advice, unless your selling the truck tomorrow, don’t use but connectors. Whether you find the bad spot or run new wire, solder and heat shrink your connections or you’ll be fighting this issue again.
     
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  3. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    I’m a bit new to using a multimeter. Assuming I am using it correctly, it is showing 3.36 volts for the dosing valve (#4 in the image). Also, step #4a says it needs to be over 11.75 volts? If so, then the wire is apparently partially corroded?

    It’s confusing using a multimeter. I am selecting the option for battery and 12 volts, and it seems to work.

    EDIT:

    I had the wrong instructions. I now uploaded the correct one for my truck (EPA10).
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 2, 2019
  4. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    Ok, I finally learned how to use a multimeter. Step 4 passes with a 12.8 voltage. Step 5b does not pass. It shows a 2.59 voltage. It’s strange how the voltage is higher than it’s supposed to be. How is this even possible? What kind of wire damage will make the voltage rise instead of lower?
     
  5. Working2party

    Working2party Medium Load Member

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    I’m guessing alittle here, but I’m betting it’s “bleeding” over from a higher voltage source from corrosion bridging.

    So look for green, you’ll hopefully find it in a plug you can just clean out or you’ll find a spot in the harness where the wires and road debri have rubbed the insulation off the wires. If your lucky the wash job you just had will have washed some of it out so you can see a trail of green (corrosion) coming out of the harness or plug. But I’ve only been this lucky a couple times.

    This is a problem you’ll want to find. Running new wires will fix it temporarily, but what ever is bleeding over will more than like rear it’s ugly head down the road and you’ll have to find it then anyway....
     
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  6. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    The “ground” wire on ECM monitored circuits is sometimes not a normal ground, but is routed back to the ECM and can have a small voltage on it. This allows the computer to distinguish between a wire problem on either side of the circuit.
     
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  7. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    I grounded the multimeter to a negative post on my truck batteries, and then tested each of the two pins on the doser valve (or heater) connector.

    Do you happen to know why Detroit’s instructions are saying the voltage should be between 2.25 and 2.50 volts for step 5, instead of just saying over 2.50 volts like on the previous step 4?
     
  8. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    To correct myself, it turns out disconnected wires don’t appear to work that way. I had the entire ACM2 120-pin connector disconnected, and it only gave me 7 codes. Perhaps if I had turned on the engine it would give more codes. Update on fixed problem coming soon.
     
  9. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    UPDATE———

    I finally fixed this problem. To start, I was checking the wrong connector! This code is for #9 in the images posted in this thread, and it’s known as the DEF metering unit “heater.” Pin 1 of the heater connector (step 5) did not pass a continuity test to pin 16 of the ACM2 120-pin connector. In other words, there is a broken/corroded wire.

    So I followed the wire from the heater connector as much as I could to the ACM2, while checking for continuity along the way. I traced it to the center of the truck for now as it was getting dark. I inserted a new wire from there to the pin 16 wire of the ACM2. Sure, I still need to find where exactly the corrosion is as it can damage other wires in the future. Adding this new wire immediately took off the amber check engine light, leaving me with the amber solid light, which should remove itself after 3 driving cycles (as well as the other codes I accidentally triggered while turning the key on with the ACM2 120-pin connector off).
     

    Attached Files:

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