"Deleted" trucks

[SusanO]

So the big whiteFord F250 lemon is having yet another DES problem. I managed to get it to a dealership before it put me in shut down mode and after looking at it they figured out it needed a new sensor for the DE system. Ka-ching! But do-able since when it is happy it tows like a beast. BUT when they got in there to replace the sensor they discovered that the whole filter is corroded and might go and potentially this repair could involve replacing the filter to the tune of 10 to 12k. ( I may have some of the terms wrong but you get the gist of this). I am NOT putting that much money into this truck because I just don’t trust it mechanically any more. Everytime I need it the check engine light comes on. It just hit 100k miles and is a 2014 so this shouldn’t be happening since I don’t drive it a lot and it has been well maintained since I bought it.

So… I am getting a second opinion but am working on Plan B. Especially marketing it to be sold. Lots of the good ole boys around here have “deleted” trucks and now I see why. I know you aren’t supposed to do that but would doing that enable me to make one more hay run? I am out of decent hay and the $30 Grab and Go Standlee bales at TSC aren’t cutting it. I just need it that once and I can buy a new truck.

Anybody bought a new truck online and had it delivered? I wouldn’t do that with a used truck but with a new one under warranty I am really considering this option. I don’t know delivery costs but new ones at dealerships farther away cost less than used ones in my market. I don’t need a pristine truck but I am really burned out with problems created by a former owner of a truck. So many of the dealerships buy used cars at the auto auctions not knowing the history of the truck and then sell it and the truck craps out like this one. My guess is that this one came from up north somewhere and has corrosion problems because of salt on the roads. I even had problems with corrosion on some of the wiring that went to the trailer plug. I am going to call others to get ideas but I need to get something for it and the only problem ( right now) is the DE system. Truck runs great.

[LCDR]

“Anybody bought a new truck online and had it delivered?”

Yes, I have, at least the first part. II was a really good experience. I built, priced, and ordered a GMC 2500HD online. It had to be delivered via my local GMC dealer though, so I took my cashiers check to them, signed the paperwork, and picked up the truck when it came in. It took about 4 months for the truck I ordered to go into production, be built, transported, and then delivered for pickup. Everything was online except the final delivery, which was smooth and took about 10 minutes.

This was a learning experience though. I at first built a Ford online, but was required to go to the dealership to sign the order paperwork. At that point they tried all the usual dealer tricks to get me to buy one they already had in stock, including “you don’t really need a long bed, we can get you a bed extender for this great short bed truck right here on the lot.” Yeah, right - I just walked out.

[Viranh]

No advice on the current issue, although I can commiserate since my older Tundra recently crapped out on me. We did buy our replacement, a 2017 F150, via Carvana, and it was just delivered yesterday. I’ve only hooked it up once, but it seems to be as advertised, and this is the second positive experience we’ve had with them. I don’t know that I ever want to have to use a salesman at a dealership again.

[deweydee]

If your plan is to sell it after, I would try to borrow a different truck first. So you can do it, yes, but it wouldn’t be my choice in your situation.

It’s not free to delete it either. Deleting would limit how marketable it is in states that have to have vehicle inspections and you probably couldn’t trade it in anywhere. Sounds like your warranty isn’t implicated if it’s already run out? Removing the DPF also changes the back pressure of your system and can have negative impacts on turbo lifespan. My job has me very close to these topics, so I’m probably a bit biased to stock set ups, but the complexity is tough on repairs (or tuners trying to work around it).

[SusanO]

Thanks for the good advice! Probably need to rent a truck to get hay then. No decent hay available locally. Also probably better to sell as is and buyer can make that decision. Except for the DES it is in good shape except for a few dings.

[SusanO]

I can’t make it 4 months with no truck. I just need a basic work truck with a class 5 hitch and 4wd. I am finding quite a few but not close by. Everything at close by dealerships is loaded with foo foo and quite expensive.

[endlessclimb]

@SusanO

Lots of the good ole boys around here have “deleted” trucks and now I see why. I know you aren’t supposed to do that but would doing that enable me to make one more hay run? I am out of decent hay and the $30 Grab and Go Standlee bales at TSC aren’t cutting it. I just need it that once and I can buy a new truck.

There is a LOOOTTTT more to this than just taking the exhaust off.

You’re talking minimum $3500 in parts, and trying to find a tuner to do it (person). I was recently looking into this for a newer truck and man-oh-man have things gotten hush hush since Anarchy Diesel got popped for 100K+ in fines.

[SusanO]

Ok the COTH hive has talked me out of a bad decision. How can squirting out a little water mixed with urea onto the exhaust be such an expensive mechanism and prone to breaking as much as it does??? And are other diesel trucks as bad as the F 250’s?

[clanter]

@SusanO

And are other diesel trucks as bad as the F 250’s?

the question really is not if the diesel is bad but is it worth the extra cost? Can the additional extra cost be justified?

[deweydee]

@SusanO

How can squirting out a little water mixed with urea onto the exhaust be such an expensive mechanism and prone to breaking as much as it does???

It’s a continuous improvement experience!

I think the long running frustration with the after treatment system mainly stems from the fact that it’s not “value add” to the customer in their goal of moving from A to B. It’s purely driven by regulatory limits - which have an admirable goal of environmental safety, but that doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies when you’re hit with a 12k bill to fix it…

I haven’t owned a newer Ford (we bought a pre DEF '06), but ATS technology has changed a lot over the years. While the system is more complicated now, it has also had many more years of field feedback applied to production.

[endlessclimb]

Well, this is a bit of a tricky question.

The new EPA-laden trucks are designed to 1) not sit 2) not idle and 3) work hard. If you do (or don’t do) any of the aforementioned things, the likelihood of it failing goes up. The system is extremely complex. Side note - that same system is recycling your soot-filled nasty exhaust into your intake to contaminate your oil. FUN!

Everything on a diesel is going to be mucho $$.

[TheJenners]

@deweydee

If your plan is to sell it after, I would try to borrow a different truck first.

Yeah this. Just borrow something and junk your current one if you have already made the decision to buy a new truck.

@endlessclimb

Side note - that same system is recycling your soot-filled nasty exhaust into your intake to contaminate your oil.

Yeah, awesome right? Like oil changes are cheap?

My truck went on the sawzall diet (still loving that @endlessclimb) because my DEF system started throwing code and would have been $8-10k to fix, or less than half that plus higher fuel economy more comparable to my 1995 diesel was.

[clanter]

@TheJenners

comparable to my 1995 diesel was.

last year my son bought a 1995 F250 four wheel drive for about $5k… he knew at the time of purchase the 7.3 engine needed some work… took truck to his preferred garage who just told him it is cheaper to replace the engine with a factory rebuilt 7.3 then try to repair the one in the truck, That is what he did, factory rebuilt was about $6500 then he had some other stuff updated ending up spending a total including the cost of the truck just under $15,000…shop told him please pick this thing up as people keep coming buy trying to buy it

He went this route after trying to find a new truck which was in the $80,000 range that was only going to be used to plow his long driveway

[SusanO]

Probably still going to sell it but I am taking it to an independent mechanic to get a second opinion. Not going to pursue the “delete” option. Easier to sell if it is fixed but I still don’t trust it. I like having the power from the diesel when I am hauling 2 fat horses to the vet and pulling the hills. And pulling a flat bed trailer loaded with hay. But I am not sure it is worth it.

[NancyM]

Older trucks, especially diesels, with less electronics, and no fuel additive. More likely to be trouble free. Dodge, with cummins diesel motor.

[FromTheGalaxy]

Oh man, this thread may be talking me out of replacing my 2010 Ram 2500 with another diesel. I bought this truck used a few years ago at about 200k miles, and it has had multiple problems since, mostly related to a crap job someone did deleting it and then funky wiring. It actually caught fire on me this past weekend while I was towing the horse trailer and I’m pretty sure I’m officially done with it lol. Have been looking for a replacement and was considering an F350 with the 7.3L gas engine instead of a newer diesel. My truck does sit for long periods without being used, so a diesel may not be the best option for my needs.

[endlessclimb]

What type of crap job did the previous person do?

Was the fire electrical, or engine?

[endlessclimb]

@SusanO

Easier to sell if it is fixed but I still don’t trust it.

I hear you. But my GOD are new trucks expensive.

[trubandloki]

Oh the things I learn on COTH.

Doesn’t stuff like Carfax tell you where the (state, clearly not street) vehicle has been registered?

[clanter]

@endlessclimb

But my GOD are new trucks expensive.

do not price a horse trailer unless setting down… more than few are now hitting $200,000 plus.