Auto repair shop in Whitmore Lake, MI

Diesel service shop in Ann Arbor, MI

Light Duty Diesel Truck Repair near Ann Arbor, MI

State Street Auto Service specializes in light and medium diesel truck repair service near Ann Arbor, MI. Your best choice for automotive diesel service near Ann Arbor. Our ASE certified diesel technicians have the experience, education, and expertise to repair your light and medium diesel truck properly.

Customer service is our priority. We have dedicated ourselves to making sure we always have a direct link with our customers. It doesn’t matter if that is through frequent communication or simply keeping the situation of the client in mind while we manage the repair of your vehicle.

Typically, diesel truck service is not known to be convenient. We want to make things as easy as possible for you. We encourage our customers relax and wait in our comfortable and clean waiting area, during your medium & light diesel truck service appointment.

If you are looking for honest and thorough light & medium diesel truck repair near Ann Arbor, you have come to the right place. We are located in Whitmore Lake, just 12 miles north of Ann Arbor, MI.

NOTE: we also have a separate page for Medium-Duty truck repair service and Light-Duty truck repair service.

Magnuson-Moss Act buyer beware

Having State Street Auto Service work on your vehicle in NO way limits or restricts your new truck warranty. All that is important is that you service your vehicle. By law, having your vehicle serviced by the dealer is not required.

Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975 - Federal Law Prohibits any auto dealer from implying or denying routine warranty service because scheduled routine maintenance was performed at an independent facility. Title 15 Chapter 50 sections 2301-2312 US Federal Code.

Chevy Duramax repair and service

Dodge Ram Cummins repair and service

Ford Powerstroke repair and service

Nissan Titan XD diesel truck repair and service

Sprinter Van diesel repair and service

What is a "Light Duty" Diesel?

A light-duty diesel vehicle is a passenger vehicle with a diesel drivetrain. This could include anything from a small fuel-efficient sedan up to a full-size pickup truck with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 10,000 pounds or less. Typically these vehicles are class 1, 2. There are medium-duty diesels with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 14,000 pounds and Class 3 rating.

US truck class Duty classification Weight limit [1][8] Examples
Class 1 Light truck  0–6,000 pounds (0–2,722 kg) Dodge Dakota, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger[9]
Class 2 Light truck 6,001–10,000 pounds (2,722–4,536 kg) Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150
Class 3 Light truck 10,001–14,000 pounds (4,536–6,350 kg) Ram 3500, GMC Sierra 3500, Ford E-350, Ford F-350, Hummer H1

[from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_classification ]


General Light Diesel Truck Problems

Turbocharger Cool-Down and Diesel Exhaust Fluid Management

Two problems that affect all light and medium duty diesels are turbocharger cool-down damage and DEF/SCR Diesel Exhaust Fluid management.

Turbocharger Cool-Down

To get maximum turbocharger life make sure to let your diesel engine idle for a few minutes before engine shut down. Your turbocharger will last much longer!

Diesel turbocharger overheating problems affect all diesel makes and models. Ford diesel, Dodge Ram Cummins, GMC Duramax, and Sprinter diesel all have turbocharger overheat damage problems.

Replacing an overheated turbocharger is a very expensive repair but there is a very easy way to prevent turbocharger overheat damage.

Turbo-diesels require a period of idling for the turbocharger to cool down before you shut off the engine. Shutting your diesel vehicle off without a cool-down prevents the turbocharger lubricating oil from lowering the turbocharger temperature.

Turbochargers are cooled by circulating engine oil through the turbo bearing chamber. The turbo need a few minutes of idling to allow the oil to transfer the excessive heat to the engine cooling system and radiator.

A turbocharger can reach +1,000 degrees Fahrenheit under load. Pulling off the highway into a roadside stop and immediately shutting off the engine will cause the oil in the turbocharger to burn, ruining the turbocharger bearings and seals, and causing the turbocharger to quickly fail.

Using the correct engine oil for turbo diesel use is also very important. Turbocharger lubricating oil is the most severe duty use any oil could experience!

DEF/SCR* Regeneration cycle

Hate seeing DEF SCR warning lights?

Always make sure to allow the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DPF) DEF SCR regeneration cycle to complete before shutting your diesel engine off.

Not letting the regeneration cycle to complete a full cycle will shorten the life of the DPF. This will cause your truck to display a warning light much sooner than it should.

Another tip is to use high quality, correct DEF fluid that is fresh. DEF fluid has an expiry date and using old DEF fluid will cause problems.

*Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is an advanced active emissions control system that injects a liquid reductant agent through a special catalyst into the exhaust stream of a diesel engine. The reductant agent source is usually automotive grade urea known as DEF.

DEF Problems

The worst thing that can happen to an SCR system is being filled with contaminated or incorrect fluid. This can cause thousands of dollars in damage to the emissions system and leave you stranded with an inoperative vehicle.

The second worst is running the DEF tank dry. This can cause a significant decrease in vehicle performance and speed, or the vehicle will not start until the fluid is refilled. Vehicles are designed so they cannot run without DEF fluid.

Vehicles provide a DEF level warning in different ways. Some have a DEF fluid level gauge, and some have a simple DEF level warning light.

Generally when the DEF tank level drops below 10 percent a warning light will be displayed on the dash, indicating it’s time for a DEF refill.

If the vehicle is allowed to run out of fluid, one of two things will happen:

  1. engine power and vehicle speed will be decreased to essentially a limp-home mode;
  2. or the vehicle will not start until the fluid is replenished.
     

DEF FAQ

What is the shelf life of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)?

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) has a shelf life of two years. However, this can be reduced if the fluid is exposed to direct sunlight or if the temperature of the DEF remains above 86°F (30°C) for sustained periods. All DEF packaging should be labeled with an expiry date.

Do I have to worry about the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system or DEF solution freezing?

In short, there is no reason to be concerned about using your SCR truck in cold weather. If DEF freezes you do not need to take any action. Use your vehicle as you normally would.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) freezes into a crystalline slush at 12°F (-11°C). Trucks use a variety of heating methods to thaw frozen DEF tanks. While the thawing process is taking place the vehicle's performance will not be affected.

What is Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)?

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is a non-hazardous solution, which is 32.5% urea and 67.5% de-ionized water. DEF is sprayed into the exhaust stream of diesel vehicles to break down dangerous NOx emissions into harmless nitrogen and water. This system is called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and can be found on 2010 and later model year diesel trucks and SUVs. DEF is not a fuel additive and must never be added to or mixed with diesel. DEF is stored in a separate tank, typically with a blue filler cap.

What is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)?

SCR is an diesel emissions reduction technology that converts dangerous NOx emissions produced by diesel engines into harmless nitrogen and water. The chemical reactions used in SCR systems require a constant feed of ammonia gas provided by a urea solution called Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). DEF is sprayed into the exhaust stream and where it is converted into ammonia.