Serpentine Belt Shredded

[presch52]

Well, I guess I am the latest victim of this problem. Bought my truck last Monday, a 2005 3500 CTD 4x4, and went out today to run errands. Started the truck and heard a very strange sound coming from the engine. Opened the hood and the truck was spitting rubber at me from my belt.



I immediately came in and read about the problems everyone has been having with this. From reading all of the threads, I beleive I may hold the record at 267 miles... . could be wrong.



Just thought I would pass on the info. I hope this gets fixed sometime soon. I am waiting for the tow truck to get to my house to have it towed to the dealer. ARRRRR!!! Brand new vehicle and it's getting towed in... . I hate when that happens!

 

[67guzzler]

Hang in there Paul. Mine was at 700 miles so you got me beat. After I shredded the 2nd belt they replaced the Power Steering Pump. All's been well so far.



Patriot Blue Rules!

 

[swexlin]

I immediately came in and read about the problems everyone has been having with this. From reading all of the threads, I beleive I may hold the record at 267 miles... . could be wrong.

I think you are correct. Sorry to hear that you hold this dubious record. Mine lasted 5400 miles.



Let's see what your dealer says, but he'll probably say "installed wrong" or "defective belts. In 25 years of driving, I've never seen so many "defective" belts on NEW vehicles of the same model.



I really wish Dodge would issue some kind of TSB on this issue. There has GOT to be a reason these things are shredding belts. I now carry a spare, and check my belt weekly - something I've never had to do with any other stock vehicle.

 

[presch52]

Just got back from towing the truck to the dealership where I bought the truck from. I parked my other car and as I got out of it, the onslaught of salespeople came running to find out what I was looking for. As they did, my truck pulled up on the tow truck and I told them I was looking for a new truck and laughed. I explained to them what had happened and of course they all claimed ignorance and looked surprised.



As the truck was unloaded, I ran into the original salesman that had refused to help me because I wanted to much for my trade. He asked me if I was there to buy a truck and I told him I already had. Should have seen the look on his face. I told him what happened and he ran as fast as he could from me.



So, my truck is sitting in front of the service department waiting to be looked at. I was supposed to be getting a Line-X installed tomorrow but will have to scrap that plan. Will see what happens.

 

[swexlin]

So, my truck is sitting in front of the service department waiting to be looked at. I was supposed to be getting a Line-X installed tomorrow but will have to scrap that plan. Will see what happens

Please keep us posted on the diagnosis and fix from your dealer.

 

[swexlin]

Any update for us?

 

[JL penner]

My girlfriends 05 F350 4x4 6. 0 tossed the serpentine at around 6000 miles. Hmmm belt manufacturer?

 

[presch52]

Hi guys,



Just got back from the dealership and they called it a defective belt. I asked them to check all of the pulleys and other parts for me and they told me everything looked good.



I asked the service guy if they have had a lot of these issues with the belt and he told me they haven't had a problem with them. I am sure if they did, he would not admit it to me. He told me he called Daimler and they told him they don't seem to think there is a problem. Hmmmm, I would have to disagree.



Anyway, I drove it home and it seemed fine. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Makes me kind of nervous having a new car and have to watch something to see if it is going to shred again. I would hate to be pulling my horse trailer when it happens.



Thanks for all the support and the advice. I really enjoy this forum and learn a lot from it.

 

[swexlin]

Just got back from the dealership and they called it a defective belt. I asked them to check all of the pulleys and other parts for me and they told me everything looked good

Almost EXACT quote, word for word, what my dealer said when it happened.

Makes me kind of nervous having a new car and have to watch something to see if it is going to shred again.

Yep, I felt the say way, and still do, which I why I check it once a week, or anytime I might be out of convenient cell and/or tow truck range. I also carry a spare, along with a breaker bar.

 

[presch52]

Good advice Scott. However, I am not the most mechanically inclined and wouldn't know how to change one unless someone showed me how.

 

[67guzzler]

Good advice Scott. However, I am not the most mechanically inclined and wouldn't know how to change one unless someone showed me how.

If it happens again, have them check the power steering pump. A couple of people including myself had them changed due to alignment trouble and it's not obvious to the dealers the first time... .

 

[swexlin]

However, I am not the most mechanically inclined and wouldn't know how to change one unless someone showed me how

Me too. But someone will know, and you won't have to wait 2 days for a dealer to get one in stock (like mine did).



However, most of us (except the two with the power steering pulley issue) have not had this crop up again..... so far... ... .....

 

[swexlin]

A couple of people including myself had them changed due to alignment trouble and it's not obvious to the dealers the first time... .

IN my case, I DID specifically ask them to check all pullies and the tensioner, which they SAID they did, and all check out OK.



What more could I have done, really? They already don't like it when you know more than they do because of TDR. :-laf

 

[67guzzler]

IN my case, I DID specifically ask them to check all pullies and the tensioner, which they SAID they did, and all check out OK.



What more could I have done, really? They already don't like it when you know more than they do because of TDR.

Dude! I'm sorry -- I didn't mean to imply you should have asked them anything more. I did the exact same thing you did -- I asked them 8 times -- I said "belts don't spontaneously shred" -- something must be wrong with the pulley's -- alignment / burrs something. I got the same answer over and over. It's the belt. 400 miles later it showed up again on the flatbed and another shredded belt. Then they had it for a week before they decided to change out the power steering pump. Sorry man -- didn't mean to imply you should have done more. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

 

[presch52]

Scott,



It's funny you brought up the TDR thing. When I was speaking with the the Service Advisor today, I told him that I read a lot of the information about the fan belt problem on TDR. He paused and told me, "You can get some good information off of the internet. That's why I called Daimler and checked with them about the problem. "

 

[swexlin]

Sorry man -- didn't mean to imply you should have done more. Just wanted to give you a heads up

No sweat , I didn't take it that way. I just meant that I hit a brick wall with my dealer.