Cummingeddon
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I didn't find much on DTC P244A when I was searching, other than short mentions in passing. So, I'm posting a solution to my situation in case helpful to others. If this is better posted elsewhere, someone can move it (or tell me where it belongs and how to move it). TLDR: I replaced the DPF Pressure Differential Sensor (68312096AB), and I now have much more stable readings and haven't had the code re-appear yet. I picked up a new sensor at a RAM dealer for under $60, which is as good a price or better than what I found elsewhere with shipping (that has been extremely rare for me). [UPDATE JUN 17 : After just replacing the pressure differential sensor, the P244A code came back after a few hours of driving (towing heavy), along with a new code of P2453. So, the new sensor alone wasn't the issue. The solution appears to be cleaning the electrical connections. I disconnected the wire harness to the differential sensor again, gave it and the sensor contacts a good spray of CRC contact cleaner. After allowing things to dry, I then sprayed both with some canned air on all contact surfaces before re-attaching. I also used a pipe cleaner to probe the hoses and the tubes to the DPF, but really didn't find any obstructions or pull out any soot. Over 800 miles later, both towing and disconnected, no codes or EVIC messages have shown up, and I am pretty comfortable that the connection was the main, if not only, issue. As a side note, it may just be my imagination, but the truck does seem to be registering a much slower filling of the DPF on the EVIC gauge when unloaded. So, it is possible that this connection has been working loose for a while, and recent rains have just pushed it over the edge, impeding the signal voltage and triggered the out-of-range readings and the codes. At any rate, recommendations to check and clean connections as an initial step in troubleshooting are all over this and other forums. For some reason, I insist on learning things the hard way... I should have started with just cleaning the connections.]
I got the "Service Exhaust System - See Dealer" message (or something close to that) on my EVIC after a few hours towing our fifth-wheel on the highway. I scanned for codes after getting to our destination and found only the P244A code. After adding the DPF Outlet Pressure and the DPF Delta Pressure PIDs to my BlueDriver screen, I saw that my Delta number was going negative at times, which if correct would indicate that the Input pressure is less than the Output. After clearing the code, it and the EVIC message kept reappearing, usually when just cruising at a stable speed or when slowing down. I called the local dealer I've never contacted before (we're on vacation with the RV), telling them the code and they were already hinting at a new DPF without even looking at the truck. I figured I could throw parts at the problem a bit more cheaply than they could, and from my research saw that the DPF Pressure Differential Sensor is not an uncommon failure. Luckily, I found a replacement sensor at a dealer for "just" $60, but was prepared for a much higher price, so I just bought it. The sensor is mounted just above the DPF (under passenger side, just behind front passenger door on a crew cab), and, as usual, it's tight enough to make it a bit of a pain to detach and replace. But, the whole replacement process took about 40 minutes, and really no more difficult than most of the other maintenance items, like the chassis fuel filter. It was much easier with some ratcheting hose clamp pliers to get spring hose clamps off the input hoses. The angles were a bit too tight for channel locks, at least for me. The sensor is mounted with two nuts requiring just a 5/16" wrench to remove.
At any rate, the initial test drives showed Output pressures (and Differential pressures) more stable and reasonable, without any negative Differential pressures. Comparing Output pressures at similar speeds between the old and the new DPF Sensor shows that the readings on the old sensor seemed more erratic and stayed high for longer even when dropping speed, which could explain negative differential pressures if the output pressures were erroneously reported as elevated. I'll report back after a few more miles. The truck is at 102k miles, so an ash-clogged DPF isn't outside the realm of possibility. But, I think I would have gotten different code(s) other than a differential pressure being too low if the DPF was truly clogged.
I got the "Service Exhaust System - See Dealer" message (or something close to that) on my EVIC after a few hours towing our fifth-wheel on the highway. I scanned for codes after getting to our destination and found only the P244A code. After adding the DPF Outlet Pressure and the DPF Delta Pressure PIDs to my BlueDriver screen, I saw that my Delta number was going negative at times, which if correct would indicate that the Input pressure is less than the Output. After clearing the code, it and the EVIC message kept reappearing, usually when just cruising at a stable speed or when slowing down. I called the local dealer I've never contacted before (we're on vacation with the RV), telling them the code and they were already hinting at a new DPF without even looking at the truck. I figured I could throw parts at the problem a bit more cheaply than they could, and from my research saw that the DPF Pressure Differential Sensor is not an uncommon failure. Luckily, I found a replacement sensor at a dealer for "just" $60, but was prepared for a much higher price, so I just bought it. The sensor is mounted just above the DPF (under passenger side, just behind front passenger door on a crew cab), and, as usual, it's tight enough to make it a bit of a pain to detach and replace. But, the whole replacement process took about 40 minutes, and really no more difficult than most of the other maintenance items, like the chassis fuel filter. It was much easier with some ratcheting hose clamp pliers to get spring hose clamps off the input hoses. The angles were a bit too tight for channel locks, at least for me. The sensor is mounted with two nuts requiring just a 5/16" wrench to remove.
At any rate, the initial test drives showed Output pressures (and Differential pressures) more stable and reasonable, without any negative Differential pressures. Comparing Output pressures at similar speeds between the old and the new DPF Sensor shows that the readings on the old sensor seemed more erratic and stayed high for longer even when dropping speed, which could explain negative differential pressures if the output pressures were erroneously reported as elevated. I'll report back after a few more miles. The truck is at 102k miles, so an ash-clogged DPF isn't outside the realm of possibility. But, I think I would have gotten different code(s) other than a differential pressure being too low if the DPF was truly clogged.
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