Codes, check engine and mods on new (to me) 07 6.7L. Need education/help.

[handforgedworks]

I just purchased an 07 2500 6. 7L 6spd QC SB with 61k miles from a dealership (after recently selling my 99 2500 5. 9L 5spd QC SB w/ 165k)... hoping it was a good call. The 99 was super rusted out and needed 'some work'.



Anyway, unbeknownst to me, the 07 has some mods and came with the MADS Smarty S67 programmer. I want to make sure I know what I've got here and need a little education. I'm leaning on the side of efficiency and fuel economy with this truck. Not looking for a hot rod and only haul a couple thousand lbs of steel/wood every few weeks, if that.



I ran the Smarty, set the settings to 'stock' (from setting #1) and found that it is throwing some codes (P0031, 0037, 144E and 2345C). AND the check engine light just came on after only driving it for about 45min today. AND there is a 'jerking/slight shuddering' at slow speeds and light throttle...



Aftermarket exhaust is 4" stainless (no name visible). See attached photo. Has the exhaust filter been removed? Is this good? What does this do for performance/economy?



It has an AFE cold air intake (see image). How do I know which model it is? Does that matter? More air is always a good thing, right?



There is a mystery toggle switch on the dash which is obviously connected to the yellow line that goes into the exhaust manifold(?) above the turbo. (see image) Any idea what this switch is?? Does this have anything to do with the disconnected sensor/cable I found tucked in behind the top of the engine? (see image) Given how dirty this cable connection is, it's been off for a little while...



There are pillar mounted EGT and Boost gauges. I'm assuming I need to monitor the EGT carefully? Will I need to worry about this if I'm not running anything above stock or setting #1 on Smarty?



Any thoughts? I have two top notch diesel mechanics locally. One is a cummins specialist. This is my first vehicle with a warranty, so of course I'll want the dealership to do whatever work they can. But, as with previous cummins (and VW TDI) vehicles I've owned, the specialists seem to have a better handle on the finer points of their maintenance and repair. Correct?



Thank you.

Jonathan

 

[handforgedworks]

the 'jerking/shuddering' seems to happen only upon deceleration around 1800-1400rpms...

 

[Cosmo]

It looks kinda like your DPF has been removed. That bulge in the middle might be a catalytic converter, or maybe just a resonator.

Your EGR hardware looks to have been removed.

AFE intake? Probably fine. My local shop highly recommended the S&B intake as opposed to AFE, K&N, or the others. In theory, it flows about as well and filters better. Take it with a grain of salt, ymmv, yadda yadda. Take the filter off and check the intake tube. If there's any evidence of dust in the intake tube, CLEAN IT and either replace the filter or wash it and oil it properly, and keep an eye on it. Dust is serious, and Dodge/Cummins WON'T pay for engine repairs if they determine it's been dusted. Of course, you're missing federally required emissions components, so they'll probably tell you to pound sand for any claims anyway. Oh, that and the Smarty programmer.

I hate to say it, but you bought a truck with no warranty.
I'm surprised that a dealership actually sold that truck. Was it a small used car lot, or a major dealership? When we get stuff like that in, it goes straight to the auction for someone else to deal with.

You might want to talk to a lawyer and see what your options are - get your money back, force the dealer to buy the $10k+ worth of missing equipment, etc.

 

[handforgedworks]

Lovely... not exactly what I wanted to hear. I won't even tell you how long it took to have it shipped from Seattle to Boston...

The 'no warranty' potential is what I was afraid of. It seemed a little strange that they never tried to sell me on the aftermarket stuff. It came from a large multi-location, multi-brand Seattle dealership. (Larson ChryslerJeepDodge)

The DPF and EGR are worth $10k?! Is there any benefit to removing them? (I realize they void the warranty- that's a whole other issue for me to discuss with lawyer/dealership) OR was the previous owner a bonehead??

 

[HBarlow]

Its very unlikely that you will have any claim to a factory warranty if you have engine problems.

Your truck may have been run pretty hard by the previous owner. Trucks with all those modifications are worrisome.

 

[Hoefler]

You might check with your DMV. Here in Missouri, it is illegal to sell any vehicle with out the factory installed emission equipment, dealer or private. My friend had sold a Chevy 1/2 ton pickup to a couple, they had it inspected, it failed due to the missing catalytic converters when his son had dual exhaust installed. My friend wound up paying to have convertors installed or faced legal action.

 

[HBarlow]

I suspect that what Hoefler stated above about MO is also the law in other states as well. I would confidently make a bet that it is illegal and enforceable for a dealer in any state to sell a motor vehicle with altered or removed federally required emissions equipment. The dealer would probably be subjected to major like $100,000 fines for selling that truck to Johnathan, the original poster here.

Johnathan, when I initially read your post last night I considered then decided not to say anything more about your truck that would disappoint you with your purchase but the facts are beginning to trickle out and will probably reach full bloom by the end of the day as other TDR members read and comment.

A modified and altered truck like the one you have purchased has no factory warranty. A check of its VIN in a dealer's computer may show a cancelled warranty and also may reveal evidence of some repairs and parts replacements.

Not in all cases certainly but in some cases a relatively new and low mileage truck like the one you have bought with modifications was very likely to have been owned by a younger person who drove it pretty hard. The fact that it was modified then traded off (or repossessed) early might be an indication of problems and more problems in your future. If the previous owner ran it with the highest power setting selected on the magic black box it would have stressed components like injectors.

I know of an older man who purchased a clean 2005 or 2006 SLT dually Cummins automatic from a dealer several years ago. He has very modest means and wanted to use the truck to earn a living. Within a month or two of his purchase an injector failed and wiped out a $15,000 engine. He was stuck with borrowing the money to replace the engine. I've heard he is struggling to pay the truck payment and note at his bank and is late on his note at the bank and close to having the truck repossessed.

You can't even legally register the truck you have bought if the emissions equipment has been removed or disabled.

If I were you, I would return that truck to the dealer immediately and tell him you want a full refund or you will hire an attorney and pursue them for he knowing sale of an altered vehicle.

 

[handforgedworks]

Wow. Thanks for being so frank, Harvey, Hoefler and Cosmo. This is exactly why I posted here... Like your friend, I am dependent on my truck to help run my business and do not have the $, time and/or patience to deal with an abused vehicle. The bottom line is that it was misrepresented and may have a future riddled with problems...

I'm going to get on the horn with my lawyer and local Cummins specialists and ask them what I should do. Good thing I'm a mellow guy with a fair amount of resources in my network. I'm sure some folks would be freaking out right about now...

What if the dealership offers to pay for all the mods to be set back to stock, somehow gets my local dealer to honor the warranty and I can get it inspected/registered?

Should I just consider this truck to be tainted and do everything I can to get rid of it? Or do I work through all of this and hope for the best??

 

[HBarlow]

I apologize for being so negative on your purchase but your word, "tainted" perfectly describes that truck in my judgement.

I wouldn't take it unless the price was discounted enough to pay for a complete new engine installed by a trusted and competent dealer along with all new emissions equipment.

 

[handforgedworks]

No worries. Bring on the negativity! I wanna get to the bottom of this! Anybody else wanna chime in and confirm all of this??

 

[Motorhead]

You might check with your DMV. Here in Missouri, it is illegal to sell any vehicle with out the factory installed emission equipment, dealer or private. My friend had sold a Chevy 1/2 ton pickup to a couple, they had it inspected, it failed due to the missing catalytic converters were missing when his son had dual exhaust installed. My friend wound up paying to have convertors installed or faced legal action.

I STRONGLY agree with Harvey and Hoefler

I am surprised that this truck wasn't "caught" by Washington state smog laws. They have done regular smog checks on Diesels BEFORE Calif did!
Go online and check Washington state smog laws. Here in California, a vehicle has to be smogged BEFORE it can be sold.

I think that the dealer that sold you the truck has a serious problem on their hands. DON'T WAIT!!! Pursue this on MONDAY!

 

[handforgedworks]

I'm on it. A good friend is a MA consumer protection lawyer. And I have already heard back from the salesman at the dealership. He returned my call (to his cell phone on his day off) within an hour early this morning. I missed this call but expect to speak with him today or tomorrow AM.

 

[HBarlow]

Be firm and determined. Don't buy any bs or false promises. IMO nothing but a refund is going to make that purchase right.

I wish you success. Please let us know how it turned out.

 

[handforgedworks]

Ha! I'm firm and determined in all that I do! That's just my style.
Hand Forged Works | Architectural and Scuptural Metalwork ~ Fine Woodwork ~ Design & Build

I'm either getting my money back (+ shipping costs) OR they are going to seriously overhaul the rig/fully guarantee that it will live a good life.

 

[handforgedworks]

Just spoke with the salesman. He is a very reasonable guy and wants to work with me in whatever way possible. I'm having the truck inspected tomorrow by a specialist. We will go from there...

Thanks again for all your quick commentary! I've certainly already gotten my $$ worth outta this TDR subscription!

 

[Motorhead]

Just spoke with the salesman. He is a very reasonable guy and wants to work with me in whatever way possible. I'm having the truck inspected tomorrow by a specialist. We will go from there...



Thanks again for all your quick commentary! I've certainly already gotten my $$ worth outta this TDR subscription!

The "Salesman" ISN'T the person you should talk to. He is the one that sold you down the river in the FIRST PLACE!

A car salesman is about as trust worthy as a fox guarding a HEN house!



My best opinion is to have ALL legal requirements (smog) and a written estimate to refit it back to STOCK from a reputable DEALER and talk to no lower on the totem pole than the dealer general manager or owner.



Dang it..... AGAIN I agree with Harvey... (quote)"Be firm and determined. Don't buy any bs or false promises. IMO nothing but a refund is going to make that purchase right. "

 

[handforgedworks]

I've spoken with the MA and WA attorney general's offices and am awaiting results from the inspection. No matter what the result, the dealership has the opportunity to work with me and make this right or receive a call from the AG and face legal action. I'm thinking they will opt for the prior...

 

[Cosmo]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'd rather give it to you straight.

EGR - designed to reduce NOX.

However, it WILL fill your intake with carbon, requiring the EGR cooler to be cleaned out. That's why the previous owner removed it. IMHO, removing this is illegal but good for the life of the truck. GM dropped the miles before overhaul on the duramax by something like 100k miles when they added an EGR system.

DPF - designed to remove soot from the air

However many people have reported major oil dilution due to the regen process which injects a bunch more fuel to raise EGTs.

Less tailpipe soot requires dumping more fuel?

The DPF will hurt fuel economy and potentially destroy your engine due to fuel dilution, which is why many people remove it. It too is illegal to remove.



The Smarty is there to make the ECM overlook the fact that it's got missing emissions hardware. It can also be used to crank up the rail pressure and create major power. With what you've got done to that truck, 500 hp and 1100 lb-ft isn't unheard of. My 7500 lb truck has repeatedly run 13. 8 second 1/4 miles.


However, would I buy a truck that was modified as yours or mine is? Noooooo. Definitely not. Mine was bone stock when I bought it at 45k. Knowing what I know now, I'd have looked for an 03-05 3500 6-speed manual instead. Oh well.

It's really up to you with what you do.

According to Alldata, which isn't always the most accurate but it gives a ballpark, the major pieces are:
Catalytic converter = $3960
DPF = $2160
EGR Cooler = $1230
EGR Valve = $507
EGR Tube = $205

Plus a bunch of gaskets, covers, maybe some sensors, bolts, hoses, what-have-you.

It gets expensive.

 

[handforgedworks]

They gave me a FULL refund, including all shipping, towing and inspection expenses. It would have been interesting to see if the truck passed inspection. But, I didn't want to risk it and then get stuck with an uphill battle. Bye bye sketchy hot rod. Thanks again for all your prompt posts. I'll have another one real soon.

 

[Augustarborists]

Good to hear. Did you ever find out what that yellow wire was? Just curios.