CAT · aftertreatment

SPN 4094 FMI 31NOx conversion inducement - severe derate active

Speed limited; the truck will crawl until the SCR fault is fixed. Severity is rated stop with a red lamp, shown on some service tools as SPN 4094 FMI 31.

Written and reviewed by Christopher Scott Sneed, 30+ year diesel technician, founder of TruckCommanderPro.com.

What this code means

SPN 4094 identifies the parameter the control module is monitoring — nox conversion inducement - severe derate active. FMI 31 is the failure mode the module logged against it. Both numbers matter: the same SPN with a different FMI is a different repair.

Symptoms you will see

Speed limited; the truck will crawl until the SCR fault is fixed.

Common causes

  • An unresolved SCR, DEF quality or dosing fault
  • Tampered or bypassed aftertreatment
  • Repeatedly ignored warnings

What to test first

  • Fix the underlying SCR fault first
  • Verify DEF quality and dosing operation
  • Clear the inducement only after the root fault is repaired

Work the list in order and record the readings. Confirm the fault with live data before any part is ordered — a code names a circuit, never a failed component.

Is the truck safe to drive?

Park it — do not drive

Common mistakes on this code

  • Replacing the sensor named in the SPN before checking its wiring, connector and ground.
  • Clearing the code and handing the truck back without reproducing the operating condition that set it.
  • Reading one code out of a set instead of finding which fault occurred first.

When to get professional diagnosis

Get a shop involved when the fault comes with a red lamp or a shutdown timer, when the checks above all pass and the code returns, or when the repair needs an aftertreatment service tool, a forced regen, or engine internals. Nothing on this page is a substitute for OEM service literature or a qualified technician on the truck.

How Truck Commander helps

Enter this code in Truck Commander Pro AI diagnostic support with the engine and the symptoms and you get the test sequence in order, per-truck history so repeat faults are visible, and a printable work order. Aftertreatment codes are covered in depth in the Aftertreatment Mastermind training. It is all in Truck Commander at $14.99 a month.

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