‘18 2500 Cummins no cooling fan

[dstryr]

16,000 miles on this thing and twice recently got hot. One 95 degree day and let it idle 4-5 minutes after it was warmed up. Jumped in and temp was iirc around 235 degrees. Got on the highway and a temp warning flashed and then within minutes the temps were back to around 194.

Most recently 81 degrees and let it idle and temp went to 215, came right back down when I started moving.

One thing I notice is the a/c always blows warm at idle. Not just a little less cool. No cool.

I don’t remember ever hearing the cooling fan run. No check engine lights have ever come on.

Anyone have this issue before?

Thanks!

 

[thethrillofspeed]

Sounds like a bad fan clutch. I've been through three at 20K miles. I did have the opposite problem, mine stuck on and it sounded like a vacuum cleaner.

 

[RamCares]

16,000 miles on this thing and twice recently got hot. One 95 degree day and let it idle 4-5 minutes after it was warmed up. Jumped in and temp was iirc around 235 degrees. Got on the highway and a temp warning flashed and then within minutes the temps were back to around 194.

Most recently 81 degrees and let it idle and temp went to 215, came right back down when I started moving.

One thing I notice is the a/c always blows warm at idle. Not just a little less cool. No cool.

I don’t remember ever hearing the cooling fan run. No check engine lights have ever come on.

Anyone have this issue before?

Thanks!

Hi dstryr,

We certainly understand why this would be concerning. If you decide to address this with your dealer, please let us know via PM. We’d like to have this documented and connect you with a case specialist who will be able to provide an additional layer of assistance during that process.

Mark
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[SouthTexan]

I believe the fan is set to come on at around 220F, but I don't believe you have a fan issue. Have you checked your coolant level or if there is any air in the system? The old water pumps tended to leak a little which was why they were recalled last year. If that it s good then I would suspect a bad thermostat or worse case scenario blown head gasket. It is highly unlikely that the head gasket is blown.

 

[dstryr]

SouthTexan, Yep, everything looks right, fluids are good. I do have a dealership appointment for next week on the steering linkage recall so added this to the ticket. I started the truck yesterday and the fan cycled with the ac on. Strange though that for a good share of the summer- as long as I can recall anyway, the a/c blows warm after a minute or so of idling, at a light, where ever, and it has heated up 2x on warm days. 235 the first time, 215 and climbing the second time. These things should never heat at idle with the size and capacity of the radiators.

Mark @ Ram Care, I'll let you know. In August 2016 I lost the engine in my '13 1500 due to the lifter problem that plagues the hemi and I'm still not over what it cost me at 112,000 miles.

 

[SouthTexan]

Hmm, did you make sure there were no air bubbles in the system? I generally squeeze the upper radiator hose on the driver's side of the engine several times to get them out.

I would also try to take off your grille and clean the radiator the best you can with low pressure water. A friend of mine has to do this on a routine basis because he has to travel down dusty back roads all the time.

 

[RamCares]

SouthTexan, Yep, everything looks right, fluids are good. I do have a dealership appointment for next week on the steering linkage recall so added this to the ticket. I started the truck yesterday and the fan cycled with the ac on. Strange though that for a good share of the summer- as long as I can recall anyway, the a/c blows warm after a minute or so of idling, at a light, where ever, and it has heated up 2x on warm days. 235 the first time, 215 and climbing the second time. These things should never heat at idle with the size and capacity of the radiators.

Mark @ Ram Care, I'll let you know. In August 2016 I lost the engine in my '13 1500 due to the lifter problem that plagues the hemi and I'm still not over what it cost me at 112,000 miles.

Thank you for the follow up, dstryr. I definitely understand your sentiments expressed here. Please know that our team is always just a PM away if you do move forward with visiting the dealer.

Mark
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[dstryr]

Sounds like a bad fan clutch. I've been through three at 20K miles. I did have the opposite problem, mine stuck on and it sounded like a vacuum cleaner.

Good call. Yesterday the dealer replaced the fan clutch and for the first time since I bought the truck I can actually hear the fan coming up to speed. 16,000+ miles and it only gets hot when idling. I pulled a car on a flat trailer to Carlisle PA in July and the engine never got over 205 degrees and usually was in the 195-198 range, even in the hills of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Only a 6000lb +/- load so I didn't expect it to get too warm. Just shows that the cooling systems in these trucks have a great capacity to shed heat even without the fan working.

 

[SouthTexan]

That is a little odd since the fan does not generally come on at idle unless you are above 220F and that is when your temps would rise. Mine hardly ever spins at idle and I never have an issue with the high coolant temps.