P0101 MAF/VAF Circuit Range/Performance

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Quote:

Take it to a 5 Star dealer that sells plenty of Sprinters & Cummins powered trucks, you are by law allowed to do this by the way

Ah yes, I did just that on the torque converter, and the egr, and the failed glow plugs and the leaking rear passenger window. Large dealership that services lots of Sprinters, Dodge diesels and CRD's. Reason I didn't go back? They wrote on the service order that the "reason for torque converter failure was incorrect transmission fluid - smells like Dexron."
No matter that the tranny cooler was plugged, as was noted on the service repair order and it overheated, no matter that there was lots of metal debris in the tranny pan and tranny cooler as noted on the repair order, why it must have been the wrong tranny fluid! Tech said he based that on the smell of the burnt fluid.

This on a CRD with 19K miles, with only factory tranny fill, and Lake Norman is the only establishment that ever serviced it. Not too hard to see where that was going. I contacted the owner, who had the GM call me - best they would do is put a note in my file that this was only the mechanics opinion based on the tranny fluid odor. End of story with Lake Norman Jeep 5 Star dealership.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:06 pm

Yes sounds like they have a management problem and maybe no reliable tech's, it happens. The little dealership here has diesels coming in for service and warranty from about 100 mile radius around and that includes one large 5 Star dealer that does not have a diesel tech. This dealer has 3 certified Cummins & CRD, and one MB certified tech.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Thanks for the offer.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:24 am

oldnavy wrote:

Yes sounds like they have a management problem and maybe no reliable tech's, it happens. The little dealership here has diesels coming in for service and warranty from about 100 mile radius around and that includes one large 5 Star dealer that does not have a diesel tech. This dealer has 3 certified Cummins & CRD, and one MB certified tech.

Yep, these are the same guys that told me I needed a new air filter housing to fix my MAF sensor, didn't say anything about the two other codes for the EGR, and then wanted to charge me $160 for a $40 air filter cover, and overheard their little smartass tech making a comment I won't repeat concerning the owner of the vehicle.

Got a little card from Lake Norman the other day, saying my air filter housing had come in, and wanted me to come pick it up. ROFLMAO. It'll be a cold day in hell before I set foot on their dealership again. This was the third time I've tried using them for service, three strikes and you're out.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:04 am

Called Abernethy today at 2 PM to see what was up, figured they were waiting on parts.

Talked with Alice, they had already finished the EGR replacement, all the codes had gone away (including the MAF sensor code), and had just finished bringing it back in from a road test.

On the road test, the tech reported experiencing what felt like a misfire condition around 60 to 65 mph. She asked if I had experienced anything along this line, saying she had asked the tech to check out this new problem.

I told her yes, I had experienced it, usually after running thru 2 to 3 tanks of fuel, and that after draining down the aftermarket filter I'd added and repriming the system, the problem would disappear for another 2 to 3 tanks. I offered that the tech should try venting and repriming the fuel filter, see if he got any air, and after it was reprimed see if the problem had disappeared. I ventured that if this cured the problem, he should check for an air leak, and failing that, that it might simply be entrained air in the fuel coming from the tank for whatever reason.

I didn't get a chance to call back and find out anything else, being at work. I'll give them a call again tomorrow, unless they call first.

Off to bed now, got to get up early and go check out that '87 MB. Will probably head over Friday morning to pick up the CRD if they finish running down this new wrinkle.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:19 pm

Here's the latest update on my EGR replacement.

Last Thursday at 2 PM called them up. Alice apologized for not giving me a call back the day before, she clean forgot before she left. Tech had reprogrammed the ECM and was at that time out on a road test. She promised to leave me a voicemail on my cell (I work 2:30 to 10:30 PM) with an update.

She did just that, I checked at 7:45 PM during lunch. She said the road test had come out good, all the codes were gone and it ran fine, was ready for pickup whenever I could make it over there.

Due to my father making another hospital visit, I wasn't able to get over there until yesterday morning (Monday). I tried finding some of the powers that be to have a talk with them, both about Ranger1's experience and give them some feedback from my end on how to help others prevent some of these recurring problems, but they were tied up in a meeting that I was told would be quite some time.

Having an eye on the clock, needing to get back home and proceed to work later on, I had to cut it short. After taking care of the paperwork and thanking Alice and the others involved for their efforts, I went out and got in the Jeep.

Engine would crank over just fine, but the bloody thing wouldn't start. Tried this 4 or 5 times, letting it rest for a minute in between each time. Checked to make sure it was in park, checked all the indications on the dash, checked under the hood to make sure all the electrical and hoses were reconnected, no joy.

Only thing I did notice out of the ordinary was a prolonged high-pitched whine coming from the area of the AFC valve. Wasn't very loud, you had to have the hood up to notice and put your head down in the area to locate the source. Went on for at least 2 minutes before it stopped.

Went back in and told Alice it wouldn't start, related to her all I'd tried and found. She immediately went back and checked with the tech. Unfortunately, they had 2 other CRD's in back now also needing service, and it would be Wednesday or Thursday before a spot was open again to troubleshoot this new wrinkle.

Poor woman was embarrassed and apologetic almost past words. She immediately filled out the paperwork for a free rental to get me back home, and printed out a new work order for the CRD, promising she would let me know ASAP as soon as she got any word on when they could get it resolved. At least I got a PT Cruiser to drive and not a minivan, reminds me of the old '40 Fords one of my uncles had back when I was a kid.

Later last night, got a voicemail from Alice, saying they'd managed to get the vehicle back inside their secured area, but it would be at least Wednesday afternoon before they would be able to get it inside the shop.

It did help me decide one thing. When I got to work a little early, I called the dealer up in High Point with the '87 MB 300D I'd checked out. Told him I'd be up there Saturday with checkbook in hand. I decided that if I was going to be driving diesels, at least one of them was going to be one I could rely on and could work on myself if need be.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:39 pm

retmil46 wrote:

It did help me decide one thing. When I got to work a little early, I called the dealer up in High Point with the '87 MB 300D I'd checked out. Told him I'd be up there Saturday with checkbook in hand. I decided that if I was going to be driving diesels, at least one of them was going to be one I could rely on and could work on myself if need be.

Hehehehe finally got smart did you.

Hey be sure to send pictures.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Quote:

I decided that if I was going to be driving diesels, at least one of them was going to be one I could rely on and could work on myself if need be.

Retmil46, I am sorry to hear this. I figured if anyone would get a good user experience from Abernathy, you would with your past history with them. What a shame. I found a survey form on the floor of my CRD when I left Abernathy. I filled it out. I let them know that even if they weren't going to fix it, the least they could have done was keep the grease off the seat.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:28 pm

As far as the personnel there, and their efforts to get it fixed, in my book it was a good experience. From my past experience with them, both with the '04 Dakota I had and the CRD, if they said the beast was running fine last Thursday, I have no reason to doubt them.

It was the vehicle causing the problems, not the dealership. Another gremlin, as yet unknown, has popped up with the beast. If it follows the usual EGR Train of Events, the AFC valve or glow plugs.

I pulled off the Permacool fuel filter before dropping it off, as a courtesy to the tech, not to have any extra junk in the way. If it's another bloody clogged fuel filter, I'll be hitting the roof.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:49 pm

Checked my voicemail tonight at 7:50 PM, had one from Abernethy.

They'd found what was wrong with the CRD and had it running again.

Ready for this one?

ALL THEY DID WAS VENT AND REPRIME THE FUEL FILTER AND THE $#^% THING STARTED RIGHT UP!!!!! :shock:

My guess is the tech actually took my advice last week and tried repriming the fuel system to cure the 65 mph misfire, but forgot to tighten the #$%^ vent fitting when he was done! :evil:

Then when left sitting for 4 days before I tried to pick it up, the fuel system gradually bled back down to the tank.

Can you say lift pump? Because that's the next item up for bids on the Price Is Right.

What was that old knuckledragger term we used for booster pumps? Oh yeah, "Net Positive Suction Head", NPSH.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:17 am

retmil46 wrote:

Checked my voicemail tonight at 7:50 PM, had one from Abernethy.

They'd found what was wrong with the CRD and had it running again.

Ready for this one?

ALL THEY DID WAS VENT AND REPRIME THE FUEL FILTER AND THE $#^% THING STARTED RIGHT UP!!!!! :shock:

My guess is the tech actually took my advice last week and tried repriming the fuel system to cure the 65 mph misfire, but forgot to tighten the #$%^ vent fitting when he was done! :evil:

Then when left sitting for 4 days before I tried to pick it up, the fuel system gradually bled back down to the tank.

Can you say lift pump? Because that's the next item up for bids on the Price Is Right.

What was that old knuckledragger term we used for booster pumps? Oh yeah, "Net Positive Suction Head", NPSH.

I guess that answers my question of whether or not there is a check valve in the main fuel line.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2006 2:46 am

Discovered that they really didn't do that good a job of venting the fuel filter after they caught on to what the problem was.

When I picked it up, the two times I started it I noticed the cranking time until it fired was twice as long as before. I initially attributed this to the reprogramming they did and/or the upgraded design EGR valve.

However, the next morning I went out and reinstalled the Provent and the Permacool fuel filter. After I'd reprimed the fuel system, I cranked it up.

Lo and Behold, the cranking time before firing was back to normal.

Perhaps that's another tidbit of info to file away. If you're experiencing longer than normal crank times, with the same fuel and weather conditions, try checking your fuel system for air and repriming the filter.

P0101 MAF/VAF Circuit Range/Performance

Who is online