http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gifI started my truck this morning, and heard the ummistakeable sound of the belt shredding. Half of it was wrapped around the fan spindle, had to spend 1/2 hour with dykes cutting it off.

Truck is not driveable - even at idle, it continues to shred.

Tow truck on it's way to take to the dealer, whose service isn't open on Saturdays. 5400 miles. I'm NOT happy.


A word for those of you with duallies - NO ONE wants to tow them.
DC's Roadside Service was a joke - even though I SPECIFICALLY told them dually, the lady was "having trouble". I told her to keep trying. Finally, they found a service (a company near me who I know), but when he got here, his flatbed couldn't handle the truck, because DC hadn't told him it was a dually.

Long story short, my dealer was open by this time, I called and got the name of the local company they used. Flatbedded me 6 miles - $70.00.http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/images/smilies/shocked.gif

How do I go about submitting a claim for reimbursement?

And, I'll post on Monday after I hear the diagnosis from my dealer. I'm sure they'll have to order part. So, right now, I'm driving the Neon (which, by the way, I drive into the ground, don't maintain NEAR as well as my trucks, and in four years has never failed me).

I'm becoming WELL acqainted with tow truck drivers this year. First my Ford, now my Dodge.Edited by: deezlwex

That sucks, I probably would have bought a Goodyear Gaterback replacement belt at the local Autozone and then try to get the dealer to pay me for it. You should be able to put it on with just a wrench to compress the tensioner.

I doubt it's the belt. I pretty sure it's going to be a defective tensioner or idler pulley. That's why it's at the dealer. I looked at what's left of the belt, and it looks fine. You can SEE how it is walking on the pullies. If I had had a spare, it would have eaten the new one just as quick.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gifEdited by: deezlwex

Scott... let us know the final outcome. Bearing failure ???

"Bearing failure"





It's those danged muffler bearings, I know it!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif . I'll post what I find out. Just REALLY REALLY pissed, because I was going out to Kauffman's today. I guess better here than on the PA Turnpike. Even so, this should NOT happen on a vehicle with 5400 miles - Dodge, Ford, Chevy, no one.

I'm not kidding... idler bearing.

No it should not happen but machines aren't perfect. My brother had a Honda Civic that was in the shop more than he would have liked.

I guess the reason I'm more pissed than I should be is that the very REASON I dumped my Ford PSD was because it was one warranty issue (and tow or would-be tow, had I not been a mile from the dealer) after ANOTHER, in only 35,000 meticulously maintained, non-abusive miles. I know alot of guys running modded, hot-rodded trucks who use them for work and play, and nothing ever goes wrong with them. I'm jinxed.


I wanted peace of mind that I wouldn't be stranded. Yes, when miles get HIGH, no vehicle, Hondas/Toys included give you that. But not well maintained 35,000 milers, and now, my BAD LUCK has followed me to the new rig, and in less than 5 months of ownership. THAT is why this "little thing" is bothering me so much.


Issues that require a trip to the shop (leaks, computer issues, etc) but DON'T require a TOW, are a nuisanc. But stranding issues worry me. With as much trouble has I had getting a tow truck here in a town with a garage on practically every corner, it REALLY concerns me were I out in the middle of nowhere. Again, that's why I got rid of the Ford. I guess I'm not cut out for this hobby.


I think the Neon is going to become the daily driver, and the truck will be for "fun". It will not venture far from home or the dealer, or not venture where there will not be fellow diesel heads.








Edited by: deezlwex

That's it Scott... trust the Neonhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Get the truck fixed and forget it. Carry on, have fun and use those experiences as something to BS about... like my headgasket job on my Dmax. I've been fortunate though with the GM's I've owned. Never had to get towed and very few real issues. I think it's the tow issue that has you aggrivated as it would anyone.

"That's it Scott... trust the Neon"





Don't laugh - Kerry's 2000 was up to over 40,000 abusive, oil changed once a year Route 202 stop and stop commuting miles, with not ONE warranty issue. She traded it on an Intrepid only because she wanted something bigger with an automatic. Mine is 4 years old with 21,000 miles - only issue was a slight water pump leak, nothing to leave me stranded, and Videon replaced it under warranty.


So yes, my $15,000 vehicle (in 2000) has NEVER failed me, while almost $80,000 worth of supposedly overbuilt trucks are problematic. So, YEEEESSS, I am HOT.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif Edited by: deezlwex

definatly an allignment problem, we had the same problem after installing a supercharger on a grand cherokee, it was the tensioner, definatly look into that.

"definatly an allignment problem, we had the same problem after installing a supercharger on a grand cherokee"


I had the same problem after installing a supercharger on my V10 too. THe point is, that's a problem caused by an aftermarket part, NOT a factory fresh stock vehicle with 5400 miles.

Four other 04.5 owners have replied to my duplicate post to this over on TDR that they have experienced the shredding too. So what is causing this on the 04.5s?

As an update:


My dealer hasn't even LOOKED at my truck yet. Towed in on Saturday, now Tuesday evening. It's a friggin' belt, not an engine rebuild. This is the dealer from whom I have bought a car and two other trucks (but not this one). Always treated me right, and never dragged their feet; they have made ALOT of service $$ off of me over the last eight years. I'm thinking that since this is warrranty work, PLUS I didn't buy the truck from them, they're dragging their feet. Plus, the KNOW they have me by the short hairs, because the truck is not driveable. LUCKILY I have a spare car, and LUCKILY I do not depend on this truck for my livelihood.

My relationship with the legendarily reliable Cummins engine is NOT starting out on the right foot

Go get your truck and put a friken belt on it. Send a letter to the dealer and D/C.

That is what I would do.

Do NOT judge an engine over a belt issue.Edited by: hoot

UPDATE:

Finally got truck back today. All they did was replace the belt, said original "defective". Told me the tech test drove three miles, then they let it idle 1.5 hours http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/images/smilies/eek.gif , and all appears ok.

I drove it hard the six miles home, and inspected it. There *appears* to be about a millimeter or so "wobble" of the belt on the pullies, but it appears to be tracking. I cant see that the pullies themselves are wobbling.

You know, as you look at the routing of these belts, it is not hard to envision even a teeny tiney stone kicking up from underneath and getting sucked in between the belt and a pulley - enough to make it ride off.

There are also a couple of rough spots at the edges of the belt. I'm will say I'm going to be paranoid for a couple days, and check this thing out after any lenghthy drive.

Guess you should have just replaced it yourself initally. Instead you ended up without your truck for a couple days with the same result. What happened with the $70?

I am NOT mechcanically inclined. It would have taken me two hours to replace it myself - it's a bit tricky in there. Besides, I wanted them to VERYIFY (and have in the official record) that there was no issue. Hence their test drive and idling. I'm glad they did, to make sure there was no mistracking.


Besides, I didn't have a belt, and neither did they - they had to order it yesterday (I found that out this morning when I called).


Now it is documented. IF it happens again, I'll take it back. And get it documented again. Third time - lemon.


I will get a spare to carry with me. The tow fee - I'll have to call DC tomorrow to fight that battle.


"There *appears* to be about a millimeter or so "wobble" of the belt on the pullies, but it appears to be tracking. I cant see that the pullies themselves are wobbling" -





This has me a bit concerned. Hence, the documentation in the official record.





Edited by: deezlwex

Makes sense. Probably just a bad belt.

So far, so good. One observation - this new belt does not have the Cummins "chirp" upon shutdown. The old one did, and it was quite loud.

Perhaps it is a Goodyear Gatorback belt, it has been said they do not chirp.

It is Mopar branded. Don't know what the original stock one was.

I am NOT mechcanically inclined. It would have taken me two hours to replace it myself - it's a bit tricky in there. Besides, I wanted them to VERYIFY (and have in the official record) that there was no issue. Hence their test drive and idling. I'm glad they did, to make sure there was no mistracking.


Besides, I didn't have a belt, and neither did they - they had to order it yesterday (I found that out this morning when I called).


Now it is documented. IF it happens again, I'll take it back. And get it documented again. Third time - lemon.


I will get a spare to carry with me. The tow fee - I'll have to call DC tomorrow to fight that battle.


<font size="2">"There *appears* to be about a millimeter or so "wobble" of the belt on the pullies, but it appears to be tracking. I cant see that the pullies themselves are wobbling" - </font>


<font size="2"></font>


<font size="2">This has me a bit concerned. Hence, the documentation in the official record.</font>







In the end Scott, you did the right thing. It's documented.