We are over 2800 miles from home and about 1/2 of the way into the trip, had the P20BA CEL pop. This codes to: Reductant Heater “A” Control Circuit Performance. We are now in upper Wisconsin for the Christmas holidays. We finished the trip to the great white north without any further issues. It popped a couple of times, but I have a code reader and was able to clear the code...it didn't pop for about the last 600 or so miles, but the permanent code hasn't had a proper driving sequence yet performed, but I will be doing this during the next few days. But, in that we are only here until 2 days after Christmas, not sure if we can even get a service appt before it is time for us to leave.

Anyway, in that I wasn't speed limited for any DEF issues, and the code is clearable (but not the permanent code which must be cleared with a proper driving cycle), so still not sure if it will be able to be cleared), just wondering where this leaves me if I have to leave without being able to get the heater replaced before then. Since I wasn't speed limited, seems this is telling me the DEF was still functioning and unless I encounter super low (20º or lower) temperatures, I should be able to get back home to AZ...does this sound right? I will then be in my own shop and should be able to drop the DEF tank and replace the heater.

Or should I ABSOLUTELY NOT undertake the return trip until I get the heater replaced?

Not sure if at all related, but have also been having right rear turn signal issues and these are throwing code B132C-11. I can clear that code, but still not getting rear light to function. I will be playing around with that to see what I can make happen. Any chance these two issues might share any type of wiring harness or be related in any way?

 

My truck threw that code early last year. I remember the message that gave me X amount of miles until reduced power. I was able to get it to the dealer before reduced power. Mine is a '15 F350. As I recall it needed a firmware upgrade to correct the issue. There was a tsb on the issue. The down side was the dealer had the truck for a week waiting on its turn to get serviced. I needed it to make a trip to New Orleans to pick up another F350 and trailer it back home to the KC area. I told them I needed a truck that could haul the trailer for the trip and that's when they decided to look at mine and discovered the firmware issue. Haven't had a problem since and I put about 7k miles on it including the New Orleans trip.

I'd be willing to bet once you are on the road back home you will get the reduced power message.

 

Thankfully there won't be any super cold weather in this area (Northern Wisconsin) soon.

Running like that won't hurt your engine. The DEF system (SCR) injects DEF into the exhaust system post turbo. You get power reduction and speed limited because you're out if compliance with the law, not because you're going to melt a piston or something.

 

I haven't received any notice about speed reduction after X number of miles. Just the CEL and then me using my OBD-II scanner to read the code. We easily put another 500 or more miles on the truck after the code first popped. So, I'm hoping you are wrong...sure don't want to have to drive 2,800+ miles at around 50MPH max.

 

you can drive it. Be sure to check ford pass but a lot of the trucks are under an extended warranty for the heater.