2005 Puking coolant this morning.

[rashwor]

I am having a Monday. Started to work this morning and got about 3 miles from home. Lost power steering and power brakes. Got it stopped on the side of the road safely thank goodness. Popped the hood and got out. Coolant sprayed all over everything and a small stream running down in the front of the truck. Serp belt is off the pullies. Limped it back to the house (did not overheat but coolant was still leaking when I got home) and got the hoopy to head to work. I will look at it in the dark tonight when I get home (I hate loosing daylight savings time every year....).

Thoughts so far. I will replace the tensioner assembly as part of the repair as it has been a while and is time. Oreilly has a gates tensioner assembly for $99.99. The Mopar assembly at the local dealership is $230.00 and is Mopar. Is the Mopar worth it? I had bad luck with a gates replacement water pump on the truck a couple of years ago (lasted 6 months) and I won't put another gates water pump on it. Left a very bad taste in my mouth for gates.

I really have no idea what the problem is. I was dressed for work and did not have time get coolant all over me before work. I am hoping it is a lower radiator hose or water pump. I just had the upper radiator hose replaced a couple of months ago because it split. The upper and lower radiator hoses were replaced June of 2016; just over a year ago and 120k miles ago. What hoses are you guys using? How are they lasting and holding up for you? Think I am getting cheap stuff... maybe gates... will check.

Thoughts on what else you would do while it is apart appreciated. Thanks. Hope your Monday is going better than mine.

 

[GrantP]

I've never had any problems over the years with either Dayco or Gates tensioners so I'd say no, the Mopar price isn't worth it. Never had a problem with Gates hoses either but I've never used one of their water pumps.

Back to your problem, I'll take a WAG and say one of the accessories locked up or maybe the tensioner itself to kick the belt. I suspect you'll figure it out real quick once you have a chance to look at it. Water pump is a likely culprit given the coolant leak. Good luck and happy monday.

 

[mwilson]

Cummins will offer the water pump and tensioner. I used the ESN from my '06 which should be the same...

Tensioner is 3947574. Should sell for about 95.00.

Water Pump is 2881805. Should sell for about $165.00

I see some Cummins affiliates in Lufkin such as Rush Truck Center and Cleveland Mack. Geno's should have the stuff as well.

 

[rashwor]

Thanks GrantP and mwilson.

Very good information gentlemen! mwilson, I called Rush here in Lufkin and they need my ESN. I don't have it, but I want to look for it this evening and get it in my records. Can you tell me where to look to find it?

 

[mwilson]

Thanks GrantP and mwilson.

Very good information gentlemen! mwilson, I called Rush here in Lufkin and they need my ESN. I don't have it, but I want to look for it this evening and get it in my records. Can you tell me where to look to find it?

Do you have your VIN handy??? I can get the ESN that way as well....PM it to me if you have it..

 

[rashwor]

PM sent.

Do you guys think it could be the oil cooler located under and behind the oil filter leaking? Would that leak externally?

 

[mwilson]

You will probably find the water pump locked up or at least has a catch in it along with the seal blown,,,,the oil coolers are pretty much trouble free on these with a few weird exceptions over the years...

Spin all pulleys by hand, pay close attention to the fan hub bearing. You are at the mileage where that may need attention. The bearing is available by itself.

 

[rashwor]

Not to worried about the fan hub bearing... it was replaced December 2014 at 303000 miles. But I will check all the pulleys while the belt is off.

Rush priced the water pump at $179 and tensioner at $150 plus tax and freight. Will probably replace both if it turns out that one of them needs replacing. I noticed last week that the serp belt was riding closer to the front of the AC pulley than normal and every time that has happened in the past, replacing the tensioner has resolved the issue. I can't wait to get home and look at it.

 

[mwilson]

Not to worried about the fan hub bearing... it was replaced December 2014 at 303000 miles. But I will check all the pulleys while the belt is off.

Rush priced the water pump at $179 and tensioner at $150 plus tax and freight. Will probably replace both if it turns out that one of them needs replacing. I noticed last week that the serp belt was riding closer to the front of the AC pulley than normal and every time that has happened in the past, replacing the tensioner has resolved the issue. I can't wait to get home and look at it.

I don't under stand why the tensioner is so much higher but the water pump is in line with my pricing...but that's how it is. If you can wait a few days then have Rush add it to their daily freight paid stock order from Cummins. Save that freight money at least.....

I assume that they came up with the same part numbers that I did, if they did not offer part numbers get them before ordering to make sure they match the ones I provided. Still concerned about the tensioner....

 

[cerberusiam]

The tensioners rarely wear out, not so much the pulley on them. That is almost always the failure point when it start shredding the belt or squalling. Dayco makes a replacement pulley but it is plastic and not sure one can source the updated cast pullet for the tensioner. If not the NAPA version is a good choice for a replacement. Make sure the idler pulley is tight also, it doesn't take much play there to start the belt walking and scuffing.

 

[jgillott]

I don't want to bring this thread off topic, but what do you all do to make it a little easier to work in that area? Do you remove the fan shroud?

I did the belt on my '07 the other weekend and just had a nightmare trying to get it around the tensioner. I simply couldn't get my arm in there. I ended up having to have a buddy of mine stop over to help me get it looped correctly from the top while I worked from the bottom.

 

[AH64ID]

The shredded belt could have cut a hose as well.

 

[mwilson]

I don't want to bring this thread off topic, but what do you all do to make it a little easier to work in that area? Do you remove the fan shroud?

I did the belt on my '07 the other weekend and just had a nightmare trying to get it around the tensioner. I simply couldn't get my arm in there. I ended up having to have a buddy of mine stop over to help me get it looped correctly from the top while I worked from the bottom.

I take the air cleaner assembly out. Also thread the belt over everything (including the tensioner) and make the water pump last . Much easier as you can run the bar with one hand and slide the belt on over the water pump pulley with the other hand.

I cannot do it from underneath as the Steering Box Brace Kit is right in the way not matter what I try to use......

 

[mwilson]

The shredded belt could have cut a hose as well.

Yes, for sure....

 

[jgillott]

I take the air cleaner assembly out. Also thread the belt over everything (including the tensioner) and make the water pump last . Much easier as you can run the bar with one hand and slide the belt on over the water pump pulley with the other hand.

I cannot do it from underneath as the Steering Box Brace Kit is right in the way not matter what I try to use......

Thanks Mike. I'll try it that way the next time. I don't remember having that much difficulty when I replaced the AC compressor on the 04.5. But, that was a while ago.

 

[rashwor]

Update: Got home yesterday and grabbed the water pump. Clank, clank! No doubt about where the coolant went or that the water pump is bad. New parts including water pump, tensioner assembly, and belt will be here today. The tensioner does not show any obvious signs of wear, but while I am in there and the belt is off couldn't be better timing. I will keep the old one for a side of the road change-out if necessary. Also the old belt is still together and not shredded at all, but since it ran off, a new one goes in. No other pullies show any slack or wobble so everything else appears good at this time.

Mileage and time on the old parts:

Tensioner last changed 12/12/2014 at mileage 303,982 miles
Water pump last changed 11/12/2013 at mileage 271,733 miles. Current mileage is 395,900.

I will update as I get into the repair and make progress. I hope to get it done Wednesday or Thursday as it has to work this weekend.

 

[GrantP]

Sounds like a good plan. I'm beginning to think replacing the water pump at 100k intervals is just preventive maintenance on these trucks. I'm getting close at 82k. I think I'll just replace it next time I do a coolant flush.

 

[rashwor]

The tensioner and water pump going in are from Cummins. We will see if that works any better than the gates stuff. The last gates water pump I put in lasted less than 6 months and that put a bad taste in my mouth for gates stuff.

GrantP, I agree in general that about 100k is what you will get on a water pump. I always change the pump and coolant together.

 

[rashwor]

Update: Went to get the parts since they came in. Monday continues... both parts were wrong. Both look like they were for a ISX. 10 pound 3 bolt water pump. Wouldn't even start to go in the little hole on my 5.9. Tensioner was a little bigger than ours and had a grooved pulley instead of the flat pulley.

Parts reordered and scheduled to be in by lunch tomorrow. I verified the part numbers with them this time. Don't know what happened as they had my ESN.

Questions for the install: 1. Do the bolts of the water pump or tensioner need to be locktited? 2. Should I oil or grease the gasket on the water pump prior to installing?

TIA.

 

[mwilson]

Update: Went to get the parts since they came in. Monday continues... both parts were wrong. Both look like they were for a ISX. 10 pound 3 bolt water pump. Wouldn't even start to go in the little hole on my 5.9. Tensioner was a little bigger than ours and had a grooved pulley instead of the flat pulley.

Parts reordered and scheduled to be in by lunch tomorrow. I verified the part numbers with them this time. Don't know what happened as they had my ESN.

Questions for the install: 1. Do the bolts of the water pump or tensioner need to be locktited? 2. Should I oil or grease the gasket on the water pump prior to installing?

TIA.

That explains the price difference on the tensioner.....I should have pressed you to double check the part numbers with them, I had a bad feeling...

Counterman did not clear the ESN from his previous parts look-up.....SMH...

They better be paying the freight this time....