Water Pump Recall

[seafish]

Pretty sure that this IS a "global" recall (based on WP bearing suppliers), but FCA and the various regulatory agencies are simply announcing the news in different countries at different times.

That being said, I am mostly wondering if THIS bearing failure issue is the root cause of the 4th gen WP failures that I keep reading about...Heres hoping that a longer lasting water pump becomes available eventually becomes available through all of this.

 

[gsbrockman]

I was driving down the road with my low mileage 2013 3500 Longhorn Lariat... and lost power steering... pulling over and lifting the hood I had water pouring out of the front of the engine... of course what had happened is that in a heart beat, the front bearing seized, and snapped the shaft... front pulley dropped down and stopped before dropping to the ground,. ruined the belt, and of course had to have both the truck and RV towed... Chrysler and the local dealer were no help, and really didn't seem to care... the Dealer was 3 weeks behind and didn't care that I was passing through and had just had the truck and RV towed 75 miles... so I paid those bills out of my pocket, and knew from looking at the front of the OLD water pump that it was a failure.... I dropped it in a bag, and have it saved with the bills... close to $800.00 with the tow...

So today, after getting a email from another web site I dropped by a dealer... the Dealer had NO CLUE of the PROBLEM and no information as to which trucks were in the recall...

I can only assume that if the shaft snaps and the pulley bounces around more damage could occur and cause damage that might start a fire...

Of course just my thoughts...

Open a case with FCA. Submit copies (retain the ORIGINALS) and you should be reimbursed as long as it is within the 5 year / 100k mile in-service date.

Been there / done that / got the reimbursement check.

 

[Flash1034]

I’ve checked the Ram website and the NTSA website. No recall indicated on my 2017...

 

[JR]

More likely the belt frys on the pulley.

Not saying this isn't possible, but I've seen a handful of belts burn up due to seized/frozen accessories, and every one of them was rather uneventful. The smoke show they put off is good for a wow factor, especially to the average consumer, and I can see how it could be assumed there was a fire due to the direct correlation of smoke = fire, but generally they will get hot, weak, and pop before they catch fire.
Just my experiences, and as an owner I certainly would not want this happening to me on a newer vehicle no matter if I'm around the corner or 3 states away. Hopefully they have a legitimate fix soon.

On a side note, what's the difference between the early 6.7 water pumps and the 13+?
They must have changed manufacturers? Are these water pumps still sourced by Cummins?
Kinda sad to see them cheap out like this, when I sold my 98 in April it was still on the original water pump, fan hub bearing, alternator, PS pump, vac pump, and damper. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come in the accessories dept.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Are there any specifics on why this bearing seizes when it does? Environment, heat, cold? Is there any inspection that can detect possible failure ahead of time? If I remove the belt tension and spin the water pump by hand, will there be drag or roughness on a bad bearing?

This is the kind of information I've been searching for and can't seem to find. If anyone has found more specifics about the failure or how to detect it ahead of time, please share it with the rest of us. I hate driving a possible time bomb into some of the remote areas I go to.

 

[BigPapa]

I don't know about the fire hazard, but I GUARANTEE FCA didn't implement a Safety Recall without a reason. There's a big difference in a Safety Recall and a Warranty Campaign, ESPECIALLY when FCA is covering it because our engines have no Cummins warranty.

 

[SnoKing]

I was driving down the road with my low mileage 2013 3500 Longhorn Lariat... and lost power steering... pulling over and lifting the hood I had water pouring out of the front of the engine... of course what had happened is that in a heart beat, the front bearing seized, and snapped the shaft... front pulley dropped down and stopped before dropping to the ground,. ruined the belt, and of course had to have both the truck and RV towed... Chrysler and the local dealer were no help, and really didn't seem to care... the Dealer was 3 weeks behind and didn't care that I was passing through and had just had the truck and RV towed 75 miles... so I paid those bills out of my pocket, and knew from looking at the front of the OLD water pump that it was a failure.... I dropped it in a bag, and have it saved with the bills... close to $800.00 with the tow...

So today, after getting a email from another web site I dropped by a dealer... the Dealer had NO CLUE of the PROBLEM and no information as to which trucks were in the recall...

I can only assume that if the shaft snaps and the pulley bounces around more damage could occur and cause damage that might start a fire...

Of course just my thoughts...

"Longhorn Lariat", does this have something to do with Ford owning Cummins.

#ad

 

[Cummins2014]

"Longhorn Lariat", does this have something to do with Ford owning Cummins.

#ad

Couldn't help yourself ,again

 

[jhenderson]

Not saying this isn't possible, but I've seen a handful of belts burn up due to seized/frozen accessories, and every one of them was rather uneventful. The smoke show they put off is good for a wow factor, especially to the average consumer, and I can see how it could be assumed there was a fire due to the direct correlation of smoke = fire, but generally they will get hot, weak, and pop before they catch fire.
Just my experiences, and as an owner I certainly would not want this happening to me on a newer vehicle no matter if I'm around the corner or 3 states away. Hopefully they have a legitimate fix soon.

On a side note, what's the difference between the early 6.7 water pumps and the 13+?
They must have changed manufacturers? Are these water pumps still sourced by Cummins?
Kinda sad to see them cheap out like this, when I sold my 98 in April it was still on the original water pump, fan hub bearing, alternator, PS pump, vac pump, and damper. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come in the accessories dept.

Concentric has manufactured water pumps for Cummins for many years. They have at least 9 manufacturing facilities around the globe. America, England, Sweden, South America, India, and China included. Where Cocentric got the bearings, who knows? What strikes me is these motors are in a lot of stuff. Everything from construction to logging to mining, as well as med duty trucks. I haven't heard anything about a recall for anything but our trucks.

 

[AH64ID]

You can bet the 1500 was mentioned because of the Megacab 1500 model that was built with the 6.7.

Interesting. I've only ever seen Hemi 1500 MC's, and never seen a 1500 MC after 2009 either.

IIRC they are simply a 2500 MC with 1500 badgeing for whatever reason.

EDIT: So I just went thru the Dodge/Ram spec sheets and can only find the 1500 MC from 2006-2008 and only with the 5.7 HEMI. In 2009 the 1500 went to the new body style and had 3 cabs but none are MC and I can't find where they did a 1500 MC after 2008, and never with a Diesel.

 

[JR]

Concentric has manufactured water pumps for Cummins for many years. They have at least 9 manufacturing facilities around the globe. America, England, Sweden, South America, India, and China included. Where Cocentric got the bearings, who knows? What strikes me is these motors are in a lot of stuff. Everything from construction to logging to mining, as well as med duty trucks. I haven't heard anything about a recall for anything but our trucks.

Thats basically where I was going with my questions, I've been around and operated many QSB 6.7s and QSC 8.3's in Grove/Manitowoc equipment with thousands of hours on them and never heard of a water pump failure. It's odd for sure.

 

[BigPapa]

The 1500 megacab diesels were jusy like the 2500-never did figure out what the diff was

Interesting. I've only ever seen Hemi 1500 MC's, and never seen a 1500 MC after 2009 either.

IIRC they are simply a 2500 MC with 1500 badgeing for whatever reason.

EDIT: So I just went thru the Dodge/Ram spec sheets and can only find the 1500 MC from 2006-2008 and only with the 5.7 HEMI. In 2009 the 1500 went to the new body style and had 3 cabs but none are MC and I can't find where they did a 1500 MC after 2008, and never with a Diesel.

I was wondering about that. I've never heard of a Dodge or Ram 1500 with a 6.7 Cummins. I thought the only 1500 diesel they offered was the EcoDiesel.

 

[Newsa]

The media always releases recalls before the oem;s.

If I remember correctly, the SCR recall (and the 220 amp alternator) took about 6-10 months to reach my truck after the initial media announcement. I would hope this recall campaign would be quicker because it is a safety recall. Actually, the alternator was also a safety recall.

With the alternator, they didn't have parts available. Don't know how long the parts will take for this one. Usually, they send out an initial notification to alert customers of the problem, and another later when parts are available.

They didn't do this with the SCR, tho. Probably because it wasn't a safety issue?

 

[SnoKing]

SCR was a campaign, not a recall. SnoKing

 

[Newsa]

SCR was a campaign, not a recall. SnoKing

Yeah. I noticed that on my Ram App.

Does a campaign expire, where a recall doesn't? There must be a difference other than the verbiage and the fact that one is safety, the other is not?

 

[SnoKing]

Yeah. I noticed that on my Ram App.
and the fact that one is safety, the other is not?

I think this! SnoKing

 

[Bob4x4]

I was wondering about that. I've never heard of a Dodge or Ram 1500 with a 6.7 Cummins. I thought the only 1500 diesel they offered was the EcoDiesel.

The trucks were badged 1500 but they were hd chassis no 1/2 tons

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Hi Bob,any ideas on the redesign water pump from Cummins Inc.Will it be a improved inner race track assembly,meaning a coated surface where the bearings roll on.Nothing wrong with the impeller shape and angle was cooling just fine ?.So far checked with 2 service managers and they have not received any paper work on the scope of the recall.But on the FCA Media website after I showed him he stated that it look like the procedure would be relax belt tensioner,then inspect water pump pulley shaft side load deflection,reinstalled belt if no side load deflection was noted at that time.Isn't this something TDR members could do right now for a little peace of mind if they are daily driving or towing right now.And I am not looking for you to say something and then all hell break lose,and everyone blames Bob,but it looks to be quite simple,as far as moving parts,and what is failing.And I say this if we are in total agreement that the race housing is failing or the bearings themselves are,or do you think the shaft is under stress from the tension the belt is causing on the shaft itself.Because I say this because the tensioner gives and takes as A/C Clutch engages and cycle's off and on during a set auto temp mode selection.And in the manual temp setting as well.Throughts.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have no reliable info to share.The recalls have to go through a few steps before it will be released.The actual repair will also depend on how much info they have on the bad pumps,vin range,dates mfg plants etc.If they know the replacement pumps in the system are known to be ok,those already replaced under warranty would not need the recall performed.Many things will be considered.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Concur Bob,Thanks.