My 99 Ram overheats when pulling a load up the hill now. I just replaced the exaust manifold that was cracked. I had the problem starting before the change and it stayed the same. I replaced the thermostat and it made no difference. My next thought is the water pump. I have had some problems with the back or engine side of the belt ripping apart. The last two ribs wil not stay and just shread. I was assuming the water pump bearing is out and causing excess pressure on the belt in the back and with it getting worse the water pump is not flowing corectly. There is no water leakage at the weep hole on the water pump. The fan seems to have good tension and pulls air well through the radiator at idle. The coolant is full and it seems the trans cooler is totally seperate from the radiator.

Any ideas outside mine and anyone else had the belt tear on the back ribs?

219,000 on engine. New oil, trans flushed, K&N filter cleaned, radiator fins washed clean.

 

My overheating was caused by dirt, grass and oil from the engine bypass hose. Some folks pull their radiators and clean them, but I rigged up this little gadget and it worked just fine. If you have oil all over the back side, spray it with degreaser and rinse it real good, the flush it from the front side with gadget. If your careful, you can get in between the intercooler/AC and the radiator.

 

Does your truck have the puke bottle down by the harmonic balancer where the crankcase oil waste vents? If so I'd point to that first. They love to spew junk all over the back of the radiator which = clogged vanes on intercooler and sky high EGT's when towing.

 

If you're eating belts there's definitely potential for a bigger problem. I'd pull the belt and start wiggling pulleys to see if one wobbles, particularly the water pump. I agree with your diagnosis, so far, about the pump pulley being a problem, and possibly the impeller being messed up. I have seen the tensioner go South and cause the belt to get cut up also.
I don't discount the others' diagnosis either though, as I have heard of that happening more than once.


Chris