Failed water pump - apparently

[GKulp]

The vehicle: 2004, 2500 RAM, HO engine, 6 sp manual trans, 36,000+ miles.

Today, as I was driving home from work (~18 miles), I noticed a new noise from the engine, especially at idle. It seemed to be some sort of a rattle. The further I drove, the louder it was. Two other items I noticed: there was a noticable, but not a lot, amount of water vapor coming from the front of the truck (which I initially thought was from the exhaust of the vehicle just in front of me), and the temp gauge was pointing to the middle mark of its range (whereas it usually is about 1/16" inch just below that). After arriving home, I opened the hood and found coolant sprayed over most of the engine compartment, and coolant leaking from the front of the engine. After shutting off the engine, coolant continued to leak from the front of the engine. My diagnosis is a bad water pump. Coolant leaking onto the rotating water pump pulley is flinged all over the engine compartment, and after shutting down the engine, the pressure caused the leak to continue. I will call the dealer tomorrow morning since they were closed when I arrived home. My question is: Has anyone else experienced a water pump failure (which I believe it is, given the observations) at a mere 36500 miles? That seems to me a manufacturing problem, not a wearout problem. Your opinions???

 

[juicedcummins]

I had a water pump go out @ aprox 15k on my 05. To this day I would not believe it unlees I had seen it myself.

 

[rbattelle]

There are a few failed water pumps around here, but they're rare. Seems to be sort of a freak accident.

Ryan

 

[Bob4x4]

I have changed more water pumps on 3rd gens in the short time they have been around than all the others since Dodge took on the Cummins.



Bob

 

[AMassaro]

Any other symptoms we should look for in a failing water pump?

 

[Semicrazy]

My water pump is wet underneth it on top of the gear cover and it is running down and the side by the A/C and dripping on the ground.



I did not realize the weep hole was on the top/side of the water pump. (just saw a thread about it yesterday) They said if it leaking on the gear cover it is more likely the seal than the water pump.



But I am going to probably do the pump since I am over 100K and it is so easy to change.

 

[Prairie Dog]

If your not under warranty I'd suggest calling Cummins with your Eng data (s/n, etc) . They will be cheaper and faster for a new pump.

 

[JVolpe]

Mine just went out and was replaced Wednesday at 65,120 miles. Mine was quick in the dealer and out $100 deductible drive train warranty. Dropped it off at 10:30am and picked up free rental (Extended Warranty), got to work about 11:00am, got a call at 12:15 that the truck was done and I could pick it up.

 

[jray]

My pump started leaking at the weep hole at around 60,000 miles. Rather than taking it to the dealer I bought a Napa water pump with a lifetime warranty for about $60. 00. About a 20 minute install and the easiest pump I've ever replaced. There was some talk here in the past about sand from the block casting causing premature wear of the seals.