OH well, 1st Cummins repair . . .
OH well, 1st Cummins repair . . .
Just got home after breaking down with 142k on the clock. I'm eastbound and just about to crest the Somerset mountain on the PA Turnpike with a 37' 15k lb. 5'ver on the back, cruise control set at 70 m.p.h. The beast is holding steady and strong at the set speed when I hear bamm, dings, my idiot guages go south and I find it's a little hard to steer around the winding curves. Yepp, I already know the fanbelt is history. Of course no power steering AND no brakes as I wind down the mountain. I'm not stopping to pay for a road call, tow and leave a brand new $100k camper on the side of the turnpike. I know there's a service center at the bottom of the hill so I coast on down the mountain and right thru the toll booth to park in a hotel parking lot. Turns out the water pump impellar shaft sheared off. Thankfully the pulley got caught between the fan blades and didn't go right thru the radiator. $300.00, a night at the local flea bag and a day later I'm back on my way. Once again though, I have to wait a day to get the repacement part. How is it that Dodge and Cummins can sell all these engines and trucks but never have any parts in stock to fix them?? Called a couple Dodge dealers and a couple Cummins shops to no avail but good ole' NAPA came thru with the pump when the others failed.
New pump, can't believe it's that small, new fan belt and some antifreeze. The pump was pretty easy to get off. It sits right above the tensioner pulley, on the passenger side, not behind the fan. NOW getting to it is a different story. Two bolts on the fan shroud gives ya a little more room. BUT, can you believe there is no diagram on the truck or in the manual for the serpentine belt!!?? Getting the belt back on took longer than replacing the pump.
Not mine, I just transport them. Right now the 2009 models are coming out and my dealers are stocking up. This was a high-end, loaded KZ model.
06RAM - Gotta read the commas too. The repair cost me $300.00, the night at the flea bag hotel was $59.00.
06RAM - Gotta read the commas too. The repair cost me $300.00, the night at the flea bag hotel was $59.00.
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If you ever need a water pump again and the dealer doesn't have it, if you are in farm country find your nearest Case IH dealer. A lot of their tractors have Cummins engines. They will have the water pump. 5.9 and 6.7 have the same water pump.
Cummins Guru


Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 65
From: Sunny Southern California Land of Fruits and Nuts
Had the same problem but belt stayed on installed new pump from Dodge and it leaked worst then the old pump. Took it off and found out there was no seal installed! Returned to Dodge store and they said they never had seen that before. So remember even though it's new you better check it before installing. Made in Mexico should have been my first clue. Just had new Ram 3500 6.7 diesel with 5 miles on it. Check engine lite came on running rough. Found #3 cylinder intake valve bridge off and rocker arm cup off. Reinstall bridge and found valve clearances out of spec's. Set all valve clearances and running good now. This is not the first time I've seen this problem with Cummins engine's, that are assembled in Mexico.
Thanks for the tip about checking with a Case dealer. I'll have to remember that if I ever find myself in the same situation again.
Water Pump Went Out
My water pump started leaking on my 2003 after I changed out the anti-freeze with the go-5 Hoat recommended replacement. I called the local Dodge Dealer and they said 5 years or 100,000 miles so mine would not be covered, as it was 5 years old in march of this year. In the warranty book page 10 section 2.3 b it shows the water pump was covered with the engine for 7 years or 100,000 miles. I called the service manager back and he looked my vin number up and said it is covered under warranty with a $100 deductible. It is in the shop now for the replacement. I appreciate this forum for valuable information like that. They said without warranty it would cost $325.00.
My water pump started leaking on my 2003 after I changed out the anti-freeze with the go-5 Hoat recommended replacement. I called the local Dodge Dealer and they said 5 years or 100,000 miles so mine would not be covered, as it was 5 years old in march of this year. In the warranty book page 10 section 2.3 b it shows the water pump was covered with the engine for 7 years or 100,000 miles. I called the service manager back and he looked my vin number up and said it is covered under warranty with a $100 deductible. It is in the shop now for the replacement. I appreciate this forum for valuable information like that. They said without warranty it would cost $325.00.
Probably the belt. The pump only cost $73.00. After screwing around for about an hour by himself, the poor guy asked his co-worker for help so it took 2 techs to get the belt back on. As I mentioned earlier, NO diagram on the truck or in the manual showing how the belt runs.


