mine died at 90k no big deal it was covered under warranty. the shop manager tried to tell me there was a 100 deductible he was wrong...this is the 1st water pump i have changed on 4 different dodge diesel that i have owned. just a reminder to check under your hood everytime you fill up

 

well yours made it further than anyone I know personally with an 03 or 04. mine went at 55,000 and I got the same "100 please" and I said "you might want to read the warranty book", oh yeah, you are right. Sorry.

I know of 3 others that didn't even make it to 55,000 as mine did.

 

Mine was still going at 77k
Haven't heard from the guy I sold it to lately though.

KO

 

80k on my 03. Nothing to worry about yet.

What causes them to go so soon? Poor design?

 

The manuel talks about cleaning the water pump weep hole. Darned if I can see the thing to clean it.

 

So what is the story on this $100 deductable, they showed me on there paper work after 36000 miles it comes into play. I just told them never mind and did my own work, but i would like to get better educated on this, just incase.

 

The manual (atleast mine does) says plain as day that the water pump is a covered part on the cummins engine. the engine is 5year or 100,000 miles. they tried that same 36,000 garbage on me as if it was then under the powertrain warranty. Most of the dealers don't even know what the warranties are, but yet they are supposed to be briefing the new owners when they purchase. LOL
yeah right.

 

Just hit 100k, still running strong... no leaks...

 

I had a discussion with the owner of the dealership I bought mine from and I showed them the warranty book. They said that they go by what's in the computer and it said $100 deductible after 3year 36,000. I showed them that the Cummins engine warranty is only $100 deductible after 5 years, up until then it is covered 100% no deductible. They refused and told me to take it up with Chrysler. I took my business elsewhere.

 

I was curisous about this as well. Anybody know what this is?

 

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/coo.../weep_hole.htm

 

My water pump went south at 104XXX on my 2004. It did not have a weep hole anywhere on the casting. When it failed the coolant was pressured out the end of the casting around the shaft when running and the drive pulley fanned out the coolant all over the engine compartment. The new one I bought from Cummins did not have a weep hole either. My 2000 CTD water pump had the weep hole just like in the picture in the link above that Stacked97 posted. Traded the 2000 in on the 2004 at 137XXX with the origional W/P. I think the w/p generally is a very reliable part on these engines.
Wayne

 

I just went out there and took a quick peek, if there is a weep hole, they sure hid it well! I even tried to feel around a bit, nothing, if there was one I dont think youd be able to fit your hand in there anyway

I never had a problem with my 12valve either, even after the headgasket blew and got plenty of oil in the coolant

 

I haven't touched mine or looked at it for 68,000 miles. So far so good. What am I supposed to look for besides the "weep hole"? I printed off that link Stacked97 posted and will take a look at that this weekend. Anything else I should do?

I drained and replaced (but did not flush) my coolant with 50/50 Zerex G-05 (http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...asp?product=10 ) and distilled water. My plan is to start draining and refilling every 20k when I do a host of other maintenance items............diffs, tranny etc. I figure this will keep new or almost new addititives in my cooling system all the time with a minimum of maintenance hassle.


Is there anything else I can do to prevent a water pump failure? Or is it just one of those things...it is either going to go bad or not go bad beyond my control?

 

I just changed the coolant at 65k miles with 50/50 Zerex G05, and the engine sounds like there is a bit less whine. Maybe the water pump is quieter ?