The first fake problem for my Class A company truck was a faulty DEF quality sensor. I knew the DEF was just fine, so I ignored it, not knowing the computer would derate me. I needed a tow. Lesson learned.
The second fake problem required two tows and almost a third. Each time, there was no warning before it suddenly derated. The truck was convinced that I had absolutely no coolant in the truck and derated me. I got towed to a Kenworth and got the coolant sensor replaced. I drive for a week or so and the truck derates again. I get towed to a Kenworth, and they replaced some wiring on the coolant sensor. I drive a couple more days, and get derated a third time. This time, I’m a few miles from a Kenworth, so I can limp there. They replaced the entire coolant tank, which did the trick.
Not even a week later, the check engine light comes on again. This time I drive to a Kenworth. They tell me it’s an electrical problem, but if I ignore it, the truck will derate.
What gives? My company truck has never properly broken down. It only thinks it has, and the stupid computer stops me from driving a perfectly functional truck to somewhere that can fix it or even to somewhere safe. I had to get towed off the side of the Interstate once because of these fake problems.
Is this common for trucks, or is it specific to Kenworth? It never happened at my old company.
