P20BA Code Question
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4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
P20BA Code Question
I keep getting a P20BA code on my 2016 F250. From what I understand, it is a DEF heater. My question is, how does it now the heater is bad?
Instead of replacing right now, is there a way to trick the system into knowing the voltage or ohms or whatever causes the code besides a tuner? Looking for a cheap fix until it gets warmer so I can fix it.
it’s not cold enough to freeze here. And I reset it daily, but it comes right back on and it causes the truck to drive sluggish. So I’m looking for a quick cheap fix until it’s summer and I can drop tank and replace. I want to delete yes. But they want around $3500 for that at the moment. So that needs to wait.
Instead of replacing right now, is there a way to trick the system into knowing the voltage or ohms or whatever causes the code besides a tuner? Looking for a cheap fix until it gets warmer so I can fix it.
it’s not cold enough to freeze here. And I reset it daily, but it comes right back on and it causes the truck to drive sluggish. So I’m looking for a quick cheap fix until it’s summer and I can drop tank and replace. I want to delete yes. But they want around $3500 for that at the moment. So that needs to wait.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
It would take more effort to find the proper range the PCM is looking for and actually accessing those connectors atop the DEF module to make the hack than it would to just drop the tank and replace the heater.
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4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 13
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According to ford, I am not covered under that. It is 1000 to fix these. If I do it, it is around 300. I just want to make sure it can be fixed with the heater and it isn’t something else too. Not sure what the P207F is.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
P20BA is most likely the heater, it is a very common failure. It could also be a defective line heater which is not as common. To know for sure if the tank heater is faulty is to check the resistance of the heater. If it's good anything under 2.5 ohms is acceptable anything higher it's defective.
A good video to help with the heater concern.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 950
Likes: 6
From: Waco, Texas
How many miles is on the truck. The DEF heater is covered under the emissions warranty of 50k or 5 years,
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
When my heater failed, I only had P20BA. Heater replacement fixed the issue.
It would be neat if you could trick the GPCM. However, you'd likely have to open the tank to mess with a few wires (that aren't part of the vehicle harness because you don't want to add electrical issues) and at that point, just fix the issue.
It would be neat if you could trick the GPCM. However, you'd likely have to open the tank to mess with a few wires (that aren't part of the vehicle harness because you don't want to add electrical issues) and at that point, just fix the issue.
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4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2019
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I’m not covered under warranty unfortunately. I’m going to bite the bullet and replace the heater. I decided to check the battery voltage. They are sitting at 12.2. When started they move to 14.4. When I shut it back off, it goes to 12.9 and drops to 12.0 with in 10 seconds and stops. I think I have a battery issue too. WAHOO
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
I’m not covered under warranty unfortunately. I’m going to bite the bullet and replace the heater. I decided to check the battery voltage. They are sitting at 12.2. When started they move to 14.4. When I shut it back off, it goes to 12.9 and drops to 12.0 with in 10 seconds and stops. I think I have a battery issue too. WAHOO
12.6v is fully charged and 11.9v is fully discharged.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 166
Likes: 22
Got the P20BA on my truck about a week ago. Not under extended warranty for the heater but replaced today under the ESP warranty. No other codes, 6 years old and 86,000 miles so the heater failure was not unexpected.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 166
Likes: 22
I have the top end ESP package. Replacement of the DEF heater was covered. Cost me the $100 deductible.
I was not covered under the extended warranty specifically issued for the DEF heater.
I was not covered under the extended warranty specifically issued for the DEF heater.
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4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2019
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It's possible and that code is one the techs dislike the most. Of all the literature I have read, it states to always address Reductant Heater DTC's first. Then if the other codes are still present then address them second.
P20BA is most likely the heater, it is a very common failure. It could also be a defective line heater which is not as common. To know for sure if the tank heater is faulty is to check the resistance of the heater. If it's good anything under 2.5 ohms is acceptable anything higher it's defective.
A good video to help with the heater concern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VpmPzNLqmM
P20BA is most likely the heater, it is a very common failure. It could also be a defective line heater which is not as common. To know for sure if the tank heater is faulty is to check the resistance of the heater. If it's good anything under 2.5 ohms is acceptable anything higher it's defective.
A good video to help with the heater concern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VpmPzNLqmM
Can you tell me where you are finding this information? I am going to replace the heater. On the off chance I get the Exhaust Fluid System Fault Code and the truck goes into 50 miles until XXX mode, I would like to know how to reset it. I believe I understand what a drive cycle is, but what is the procedure to reset the code if you are unable to drive the vehicle?