sounds like maybe a quality sensor issue and need the go to a dealer man. def stuff is supper supper sensitive. go to autozone and get a quality test tool so you can knock that out out because your def may be too diluted. 99% of def issues are trouble shot with some type of software though just a heads up.

 

What year truck, it is my understanding that I think it was in 2016 forward there is a sensor that can tell if your DEF is not within the required range, so putting distilled water into the DEF tank on the newer trucks is a huge no no as it will trigger this sensor and you will have problems.

Now for the required lecture:

You can purchase DEF at almost any place you can buy diesel fuel, auto parts stores all carry DEF as well, Walmart carries DEF, plus there is a DEF gauge in the truck. So yes you get the lecture one because DEF is so readily available and two because others learning about these systems need to know they can't just pour distilled, deionized or tap water into the DEF tank of these trucks, there is no option in this matter.

You're not wanting to be lectured in your last sentence shows your lack of wanting to take responsibility by using the excuse if you had the option of using DEF you would have but you did not have any DEF so you used distilled water instead. There never was an option to not use DEF. It is like you changing the oil in the engine but you did not have access to engine oil so you used cooking oil instead and now the engine is knocking.

 

What year truck, it is my understanding that I think it was in 2016 forward there is a sensor that can tell if your DEF is not within the required range, so putting distilled water into the DEF tank on the newer trucks is a huge no no as it will trigger this sensor and you will have problems.

Now for the required lecture:

You can purchase DEF at almost any place you can buy diesel fuel, auto parts stores all carry DEF as well, Walmart carries DEF, plus there is a DEF gauge in the truck. So yes you get the lecture one because DEF is so readily available and two because others learning about these systems need to know they can't just pour distilled, deionized or tap water into the DEF tank of these trucks, there is no option in this matter.

You're not wanting to be lectured in your last sentence shows your lack of wanting to take responsibility by using the excuse if you had the option of using DEF you would have but you did not have any DEF so you used distilled water instead. There never was an option to not use DEF. It is like you changing the oil in the engine but you did not have access to engine oil so you used cooking oil instead and now the engine is knocking.

I can see I wasn't clear in my question:
How do I reset the Service Engine light short of going to the dealer?

I have already solved the bad DEF problem, just need to get rid of the error message.

What year truck, it is my understanding that I think it was in 2016 forward there is a sensor that can tell if your DEF is not within the required range, so putting distilled water into the DEF tank on the newer trucks is a huge no no as it will trigger this sensor and you will have problems.

Now for the required lecture:

You can purchase DEF at almost any place you can buy diesel fuel, auto parts stores all carry DEF as well, Walmart carries DEF, plus there is a DEF gauge in the truck. So yes you get the lecture one because DEF is so readily available and two because others learning about these systems need to know they can't just pour distilled, deionized or tap water into the DEF tank of these trucks, there is no option in this matter.

You're not wanting to be lectured in your last sentence shows your lack of wanting to take responsibility by using the excuse if you had the option of using DEF you would have but you did not have any DEF so you used distilled water instead. There never was an option to not use DEF. It is like you changing the oil in the engine but you did not have access to engine oil so you used cooking oil instead and now the engine is knocking.

Once again, sorry for the la k of clarity: I have a 2016, and yes, I know about the DEF sensor. I dont know, however, where you live, jack is, but out here where I live, diesel fuel, DEF, groceries, and damn near everything else is a long drive, and through poor planning I just ran out of the urea. But thanks anyway for the gratuitous, useless, BS lecture, asswipe.

 

Use any scan tool to reset the code, any autozone, or other auto parts store that offers code reading service can do it.

You are not the only one with one of these trucks so like I said it also serves to educate others who are new to diesels, with a gauge and a message alerting you to being low on DEF there is no excuse to ever run out of DEF. Once your DEF gauge dropped into the red and your dash display started warning you that you only had X amount of miles to go before you would be out of DEF before the truck can then go into limp mode should have been enough warning for you to have gotten some DEF for the truck, hopefully this will help others from making the same mistake.

You're welcome.

 

Nice reply.... Nice to see that you didn’t take the bait and respond to the ungrateful guy. Obviously he knows a lot, even if he doesn’t know where to get a code reader.

 

Should've just pee'd in it ... I 😎

 

Good thing you weren’t low on fuel and pulled into a gas station and thought well I’ll just put in gas because the the station that sells diesel is to far away.

 

The same DEF message stranded me in the middle of TN on Easter Sunday while pulling a 5th wheel camper. Dealer couldn’t find the problem and it took me forever the limp the truck home.
Best way to solve the problem......delete the stupid DEF!

 

The same DEF message stranded me in the middle of TN on Easter Sunday while pulling a 5th wheel camper. Dealer couldn’t find the problem and it took me forever the limp the truck home.
Best way to solve the problem......delete the stupid DEF!

Me too.... dealer wanted $2500 to replace part.... good thing still under warrantee at 17,000 mi. Now at 33,000 mi NoX sensor code keeps popping up.... another $1000 part at dealer plus labor. I keep deleting code.