DPF Warning Light in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
A DPF warning light means your diesel's exhaust filter is filling with soot faster than the truck can burn it off.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) traps the black soot a diesel makes and cleans itself by getting very hot, which is called a regeneration, but a week of short hops between the house, the school and the grain elevator never lets it get hot enough. A steady run up I-135 sometimes clears it, and if it does not, something is making too much soot or stopping the clean-out. Bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
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DPF warnings, decoded
Tap the ones that sound like yours.
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Text us which onesHow we fix a DPF warning light at Moxie
We clear the filter and find out why it filled. A regeneration on its own can put the light out for a few weeks, but if an injector or EGR valve is making extra soot, the light will be back.
We clean it the right way for what is inside. Soot burns off with a forced regeneration here in the shop. Ash does not burn, so that filter goes out to a professional cleaning service and is usually back in a day or two.
We repair the emissions system so it works the way the manufacturer built it, and we explain what we found in plain words. You see the price and approve it before any work begins.
Why Hillsboro brings a DPF warning light to Moxie
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Dealer-level diagnostics
We can read the filter's soot level and run a forced regeneration, the same kind of work a dealer does.
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Free pickup and delivery
Within 40 road miles, from McPherson to Newton and Hesston, we collect the truck so you do not have to push a clogged filter further.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
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Warranty in writing
Most repairs carry the NAPA 24/24 nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles, and engine and transmission work carries Moxie's own one-year warranty. We tell you which one covers your repair before any work starts.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
DPF myths we hear at the counter
Hover or tap a card to flip it.
Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Can I keep driving?
Yes, for now, and a steady highway drive may even clear it.
When the light first comes on, many trucks only need 20 to 30 minutes at steady highway speed to finish a regeneration, and your owner's manual will say what yours needs. If the light stays on, flashes, or the truck limits its power, stop relying on that. A filter left to clog can become too full to clean itself, and then it needs a forced clean at the shop or a replacement.
Stop driving and call us if
- The truck has gone into limp mode or reduced power
- The check engine light comes on or flashes as well
- You see heavy black smoke or smell something burning
- The light keeps returning after a highway drive
Paying for it
This is one of the repairs people put off because of what it costs, and putting it off usually makes it worse. You can split it into payments and get the vehicle back on the road now, with Affirm, Sunbit, Synchrony Car Care, NAPA EasyPay and more, including options for credit that is still being built.
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What sets off a DPF warning light around here
- Mostly short trips around town, so the filter never gets hot enough to regenerate
- A regeneration that keeps getting interrupted when the engine is shut off at the next stop
- An engine problem making too much soot, such as a leaking injector or a sticking EGR valve
- A failed differential pressure sensor, which measures how full the filter is and can report the wrong thing
- A failed exhaust temperature sensor that stops a regeneration from starting
- A filter packed with ash, which builds up over many miles and does not burn off
How we diagnose a DPF warning light in Hillsboro
- We ask how the truck is driven, because a lot of short trips can explain the light by itself.
- We read the stored codes and the soot level the computer thinks the filter holds.
- We check the pressure and temperature sensors that tell the computer when to regenerate, since a bad sensor can trigger the light on a clean filter.
- We look for the upstream cause, such as an injector or EGR valve making extra soot, so the problem does not simply come back.
- We run a forced regeneration in the shop where it is safe to, and if the filter is full of ash that will not burn, we send it to a professional cleaning service, usually back in a day or two.
What we check
- DPF soot and ash levels
- Differential pressure and exhaust temperature sensors
- EGR valve and cooler
- Fuel injectors
- Exhaust leaks before the filter
- Stored codes and regeneration history
What the repair usually is
- A forced regeneration done in the shop
- Replacing a faulty pressure or temperature sensor
- Fixing the injector or EGR problem that is making too much soot
- Professional DPF cleaning to remove built-up ash
- DPF replacement when the filter is damaged or cannot be cleaned
DPF service across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
DPF warning light questions we hear every week
How do I clear a DPF warning light?
On many trucks, 20 to 30 minutes of steady highway driving lets the filter regenerate and the light goes out. Check your owner's manual for what your truck needs. If the light stays on or keeps coming back, the filter may be too full or a sensor may have failed, and it needs a diagnosis rather than another drive.
Why does my DPF keep clogging?
The two usual reasons are driving habits and engine problems. Lots of short trips never let the filter get hot enough to clean itself. An engine that makes too much soot, from a leaking injector or a sticking EGR valve, fills the filter faster than it can keep up. Fixing the cause keeps it from happening again.
How much does it cost to fix a DPF?
It ranges widely, from replacing a sensor or running a forced regeneration to cleaning or replacing the filter itself. We find out which one you need before quoting. Call or text (620) 416-0008 and we will explain the options, and you approve the price before we start.