While driving down the road light came on telling me to look a gauges, temp gauge was at max. Took vehicle to mechanic, he said might be thermostat and in very rare cases the water pump. Replaced thermostat, did not fix problem, replaced pump. Problem with pump, the PLASTIC IMPELLER inside the large casting broke at the hub where it is mounted on the shaft. The plastic sheared around the center where it is mounted to the shaft. I see this as another poor performance of a Dodge product. I only have a little over 90,000 miles on this vehicle. My guess is that Dodge used the plastic impeller because it was cheaper (cheaper for who) than the metal ones I have had in most of my other vehicles for the last 55 years or so. As the Dodge pickups get more expensive their quality continues to go down hill. This is the second Dodge pick up I have owned over the last 10 to 15 yrs I am thinking it will be my last one.
BEARING WENT OUT ON THE WATER PUMP, REPLACED WATER PUMP, FAN, AND THERMOSTAT. THE RESERVOIR ON THE RADIATOR STAYED FULL ALL THIS TIME. 3 DAYS LATER ENGINE WENT TO PUTTING OUT A LITTLE SMOKE. ADDED ABOUT A GALLON OF WATER. THE NEXT 32 DAYS .THEN THE COMPUTER TELLS ME I AM MISSING ON 3 CYLINDERS.THE RESERVOIR HAS GAINED WATER .THIS ENGINE HAS THE THERMOSTAT ON HE BOTTOM OF THE RADIATOR.
My water pump went bad leaving me stuck on the highway. Had it replaced at a local shop. One week later the new pump went bad, same shop replaced it for free. 3 months later 50 miles away late at night the pump went bad. I let it cool off (dumped all fluid again), drove it off the highway to a very close shop, had them put a new pump in, told them this was the 3rd time. Another $400.00. Two weeks later, pump went bad in the same place, drove to shop again, replacement for free, plus replacement of pulley (?). Pump went again 5th time again replaced for free. then my heater core went bad and leaked from all the additives. Got rid of this truck because of transmission problems These pumps were from the dealer and are mechanically driven, not a problem with the engine.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
While driving down the road light came on telling me to look a gauges, temp gauge was at max. Took vehicle to mechanic, he said might be thermostat and in very rare cases the water pump. Replaced thermostat, did not fix problem, replaced pump. Problem with pump, the PLASTIC IMPELLER inside the large casting broke at the hub where it is mounted on the shaft. The plastic sheared around the center where it is mounted to the shaft. I see this as another poor performance of a Dodge product. I only have a little over 90,000 miles on this vehicle. My guess is that Dodge used the plastic impeller because it was cheaper (cheaper for who) than the metal ones I have had in most of my other vehicles for the last 55 years or so. As the Dodge pickups get more expensive their quality continues to go down hill. This is the second Dodge pick up I have owned over the last 10 to 15 yrs I am thinking it will be my last one.
- David D., College Park, MD, US