More bad luck

[MileHighRam11]

Driving home from work last night and hear a squeal noise from under the hood. I get home and the serpentine belt constantly whined. Figured it was from being damp or loose, but I decided to be safe and get it checked out.

Shop called back and stated I had a transmission fluid leak, causing the belt noise. On top of that, they recommended a full transmission and coolant service as well as replacing the belt itself, radiator cap, thermostat, air filter, and transmission condenser. Warranty covering everything besides the coolant and trans service (about 60% coverage or so)

This is all just 2 months after I got my camshaft, lifters, and exhaust manifold bolts replaced. Oh yeah and I’ve only had the truck for 4 months... I knew going in that buying a used truck would result in some maintenance costs, but I never could of imagined this.

Sigh. Can’t say that I’m happy with my first Ram experience.

 

[chrisbh17]

2 months after cam and lifters replaced, something that needs to be removed during the cam/lifter replacement starts whining? Was the belt related stuff (idler pulley, belt itself, etc) all replaced with new during the cam/lifter replacement, or did they put the old stuff back on?

I think I would look there first, not the trans fluid (did they show you proof the trans leak was the issue?)

 

[grizzstang]

It looks like you bought a truck that someone just drove and didn't do a whole lot of maintenance on it. It is now 8 years old with unknown miles so all the things you listed would probably need replacing on any truck of similar age/miles with the exception of the cam and lifters. Cam and lifter failures are definitely a Hemi problem and it is more prevalent in the earlier Rams like your 2011. It sounds like most of it has been covered under warranty so it could be a whole lot worse.

 

[Jrod]

60% coverage?? What kind of warranty are you using?

 

[MileHighRam11]

Yes, all the above mentioned were replaced after cam/lifter issue. They showed me while I was still at the shop there was a bit of fluid on the belt and under the front of the truck. Of course my phone was dead so I was unable to take pictures. Do I know for sure this is the cause of the issue? No, but I don’t really see what else I can do at this point.

 

[MileHighRam11]

60% coverage?? What kind of warranty are you using?

It’s an extended warranty. The only reason it’s 60% is cause the trans and coolant coverage don’t fall under the warranty. When it came to the cam/lifter issue, it covered 99%.

 

[chrisbh17]

Im not totally familiar with 2011 but does the trans cooler exist in the radiator?

Is it possible just hoses leaking that need new clamps and/or new hoses?

 

[Jrod]

It’s an extended warranty. The only reason it’s 60% is cause the trans and coolant coverage don’t fall under the warranty. When it came to the cam/lifter issue, it covered 99%.

I hear ya, to be more specific, is it maxcare, added care, or a third party warranty?

 

[MileHighRam11]

I guess I mistyped. The warranty is covering all they’re supposed to cover. I meant there covering 60% of the total cost of everything. The trans and coolant payment come out of my pocket.

 

[MileHighRam11]

I hear ya, to be more specific, is it maxcare or a third party warranty?

Third party. It’s through Carite. They’ve already covered 3 times the amount than what I paid for it so I guess I can say I won that battle.

 

[MileHighRam11]

Im not totally familiar with 2011 but does the trans cooler exist in the radiator?

Is it possible just hoses leaking that need new clamps and/or new hoses?

I’m not 100% sure on that. At least when I first looked at everything I didn’t see anything that looked loose or leaking.

 

[Jrod]

Third party. It’s through Carite. They’ve already covered 3 times the amount than what I paid for it so I guess I can say I won that battle.

Gotcha, ok, that makes sense. If you don't mind me asking, what's your mileage at? I know I'm not being very helpful to you, but you are actually being very informative for the rest of us.

 

[MileHighRam11]

It looks like you bought a truck that someone just drove and didn't do a whole lot of maintenance on it. It is now 8 years old with unknown miles so all the things you listed would probably need replacing on any truck of similar age/miles with the exception of the cam and lifters. Cam and lifter failures are definitely a Hemi problem and it is more prevalent in the earlier Rams like your 2011. It sounds like most of it has been covered under warranty so it could be a whole lot worse.

Yeah I bought it with 110k. Now with 117k. I didn’t realize the cam/lifter issue until it actually happened so I’m can definitely take some lack of research blame for that one.

Agreed it could always be worse. I wouldn’t be driving this truck if it weren’t for the warranty.

 

[MileHighRam11]

Gotcha, ok, that makes sense. If you don't mind me asking, what's your mileage at? I know I'm not being very helpful to you, but you are actually being very informative for the rest of us.

I bought it with 110k and now have 117k. Had it for about 4 months now.

 

[Jrod]

I bought it with 110k and now have 117k. Had it for about 4 months now.

Thanks,

Regarding the work, is it already underway, or do you have the opportunity to take it to another dealer? The reason I ask is because I've had what I thought was a shady diagnosis before with my car, took it to another dealer, and sure enough the problem was not what the first dealer had pitched me.

 

[MileHighRam11]

Thanks,

Regarding the work, is it already underway, or do you have the opportunity to take it to another dealer? The reason I ask is because I've had what I thought was a shady diagnosis before with my car, took it to another dealer, and sure enough the problem was not what the first dealer had pitched me.

It’s already underway. Crazy enough, this dealer seems to be the most honest out of the ones I’ve been to in the Colorado Springs area. The first two shops I took it to before the cam/lifter issue were a bit clueless, rude, shady, etc.

 

[Jrod]

It’s already underway. Crazy enough, this dealer seems to be the most honest out of the ones I’ve been to in the Colorado Springs area. The first two shops I took it to before the cam/lifter issue were a bit clueless, rude, shady, etc.

Right on, in all honesty like grizzstang stated, everything you're knocking out now are things that would normally go bad by your year / mileage. It's a tough pill to swallow but hopefully this will eliminate any gremlins that were left and you'll get another 100k out of it!

 

[MileHighRam11]

Right on, in all honesty like grizzstang stated, everything you're knocking out now are things that would normally go bad by your year / mileage. It's a tough pill to swallow but hopefully this will eliminate any gremlins that were left and you'll get another 100k out of it!

Cheers to that haha

 

[FF1899]

The coolant should have been drained when the cam and heads were done. Maybe not a full flush but you should have new coolant in it I cant see why flushing it right now would be recommended

 

[Burla]

It’s an extended warranty. The only reason it’s 60% is cause the trans and coolant coverage don’t fall under the warranty. When it came to the cam/lifter issue, it covered 99%.

well ****, you basically have a new ram, you should be happy, wtf.