Water Pump Recall

[bednar1320]

I changed the water pump on my truck today just to hopefully keep from having problems. It was the OEM pump, there was no play in the bearing and it turned smoothly however the weep hole passage had lots of what looked to be dried up grease/lube, not the normal very slight coolant leakage that lubes seal. Possibly if the grease that is in the sealed bearing is coming out of the bearing and exiting through the weep hole passage this is what is causing the bearing to seize and lock up. My truck has only 23,000 miles on it, but it appears that it was on the way to failure.

Now let me qualify this observation. I have been an automotive technician and have owned my own shop since 1975. So I have seen probably 1000's of failed water pumps in my lifetime.

 

[BigPapa]

A friend of mine with a '15 just had to replace his at 45K miles. He's holding on to everything to see about the recall.

 

[gsbrockman]

A friend of mine with a '15 just had to replace his at 45K miles. He's holding on to everything to see about the recall.

Was it taken care of under warranty at a dealership...or did he do it himself?

 

[16longhorn]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCLRPT-17V562-4418.PDF

 

[16longhorn]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCMN-17V562-6036.pdf

 

[Cummins2014]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCMN-17V562-6036.pdf

Thanks, looks like if we have a truck thats effected by this recall we should start seeing a recall notice early November.

 

[bednar1320]

Why wait, if you use your truck daily, or tow long distances just have it replaced. Much less Hassle and expense than having a breakdown on the road........

 

[16longhorn]

NHTSA Recall ID Number : 17V562 Manufacturer : Chrysler (FCA US LLC) Subject : Water Pump Leak may cause Fire

Make Model Model Years

RAM 2500 2013-2017
RAM 3500 2013-2017
RAM 4500 2013-2017
RAM 5500 2013-2017

 

[Dieselnerd]

So, according to the NHTSA document, it looks like some Concentric pumps were made without a weep hole and those are the ones that fail. If you have a weep hole you are OK.

I looked and looked with flashlight and mirrors and couldn't find a weep hole. Where is it located? If it's on the bottom edge like the Gate's pump, that would explain why it's so hard to find and why I could have missed it.

Can anyone tell me where the weep hole should be? Thanks in advance...

 

[bednar1320]

The weep hole on my OEM and aftermarket pump was a "weep passage" kind of a cast in channel that exits at the surface where it bolts to the engine. It's almost inpossible to see when it's on the engine.


This shows it https://partbull.com/auto-part/gate...MI7vv0qtHI1gIVxEOGCh3kZAwpEAYYCCABEgLKTvD_BwE

If you click on another picture it shows one without the weep passage.

 

[16longhorn]

Ron,

I'm glad you asked about the weep hole. I was wondering the same thing.....

 

[Bob4x4]

So, according to the NHTSA document, it looks like some Concentric pumps were made without a weep hole and those are the ones that fail. If you have a weep hole you are OK.

I looked and looked with flashlight and mirrors and couldn't find a weep hole. Where is it located? If it's on the bottom edge like the Gate's pump, that would explain why it's so hard to find and why I could have missed it.

Can anyone tell me where the weep hole should be? Thanks in advance...

well that sucks I know replacements I have installed did not have the weep holes. The ones that do not show from the front had passages that opened into the sealing flange area. Well have to see the FCA document to know for sure

 

[gsbrockman]

Some images of my old pump......

 

[Dieselnerd]

The weep hole on my OEM and aftermarket pump was a "weep passage" kind of a cast in channel that exits at the surface where it bolts to the engine. It's almost inpossible to see when it's on the engine.

I know what it looks like when it's not on the engine. I'm looking for the orientation when it's mounted on the engine. If it's on the bottom edge it would be almost invisible. Looking at a lot of pictures online, I believe it's on the bottom. There is a lip on the engine there that would almost cover it up.

 

[bednar1320]

The pictures posted by gsbrockman look very similar to what mine looked like, the black stuff in the weep passage appears to be bearing grease/lube, not coolant.
Again, I would just replace the pump, weep hole or not, why take the chance? If the bearing siezes and takes the belt with it, you are dead in the water wherever you happen to be when it happens. Not worth the chance in my opinion..................

 

[BigPapa]

Was it taken care of under warranty at a dealership...or did he do it himself?

Yes, he had it replaced under warranty at a dealership.

I misunderstood what he told me. I thought he said he'd done it himself which didn't really make sense to me.

 

[NIsaacs]

Here is a picture of my OEM Concentric pump made in England and the CarQuest spare. This is off my '01 but probably very similer. The OEM went 264k miles, the first CarQuest went 13 months and 24k miles. I changed it out with a Napa then got a new replacement from CarQuest later. At least they are easy to change.

Nick

 

[Bob4x4]

Not quite so easy in the 4th gens.The air filter boxes are more complex and the shrouds are more intrusive.Not like the old 2nd and early 3rd gens.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Interesting note:On NTSHA Part573 Safety Recall Report,it states on page 3 "Description of Remedy FCA will request that customers send in original receipt and/or other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the expense.FCA will reimburse said owner effected by this recall.So dealer's notification was on 9/12 and owners by 11/01.Model year 2013-2017 RAM 2500/3500/4500/5500.A letter faxed to FCA Auburn Hills states on pg 2 states under U.S.C 3011(a)(3) it is illegal for a manufacture to sell said vehicle once a manufacture has been notified by NHTSA about a safety defect.So I wonder if a stop/hold is in effect for Ram 2500/3500/4500/5500.

 

[Flash1034]

I changed the water pump on my truck today just to hopefully keep from having problems. It was the OEM pump, there was no play in the bearing and it turned smoothly however the weep hole passage had lots of what looked to be dried up grease/lube, not the normal very slight coolant leakage that lubes seal. Possibly if the grease that is in the sealed bearing is coming out of the bearing and exiting through the weep hole passage this is what is causing the bearing to seize and lock up. My truck has only 23,000 miles on it, but it appears that it was on the way to failure.

Now let me qualify this observation. I have been an automotive technician and have owned my own shop since 1975. So I have seen probably 1000's of failed water pumps in my lifetime.

From what I read on the NHTSA website, only waterpumps without a weep hole are defective. You may have replaced a good water pump. Also, in light of the fact Ram isn’t supposed to sell a vehicle with a pending recall, I wonder what the cutoff build date was when no further defective pumps were used?