plugged heater core

[Matt Luken]

Ive had an on going issue with a plugged heater core. Lost heat fall of 21. Took in to dealer and was told it was a plugged heater core cost to replace 2500.00 Truck had 55k on it and was less three years old. I was told it was not under warranty. I took it to a local shop and they flushed it for $75.00. Mechanic knew all about the issues of casting sand plugging the heater cores. Across the FCA offerings.
Today is the third time Ive backflushed. Reservoir also had a bunch of sand in it and was cleaned out.
I brought my findings back to the dealer and nothing was done. I will be contacting Chrysler cares or whatever it is now to file a claim.
I almost had the core replaced but the mechanic that flushed it said to wait because they've seen it take several trys before clean. And I dont want to repeat the process in replacement. Even if it would be replaced under parts warranty it takes two days in the shop.
There's an issue here that the Ram doesn't want to deal with. 2500.00 replacement cost that you could likely have to repeat again. Regardless of cost is the down time.
Ill update when I get an answer from the Cares team.

 

[jawzs2]

I'd find a different dealer - for 2500 - hopefully they buy you dinner and a movie first

 

[Rlaf75]

Casting sand from where? How much sand is actually in there to cause a clog after 55k miles?

 

[gofishn]

Wish you the very best but if FCA didn't give a crap about failed lifters and camshafts that cost a whole bunch more, to their customenr, and was far more rampant a problem....I wish you well.

 

[Matt Luken]

Casting sand from where? How much sand is actually in there to cause a clog after 55k miles?

I believe from the motor. Why it took 55k to show up could be to the timing. It was November and I started needing heat. Could have been plugged before. On low fan you will get some heat. Low outdoor temps will negate that even. Ive seen what has come out. Last week they cleaned the reservoir. That had about an inch of sand in it.
I had the oil changed that early fall and noticed a coolant drop. Told dealer that, and nothing was done. Are the two related?

 

[Matt Luken]

Ive had an on going issue with a plugged heater core. Lost heat fall of 21. Took in to dealer and was told it was a plugged heater core cost to replace 2500.00 Truck had 55k on it and was less three years old. I was told it was not under warranty. I took it to a local shop and they flushed it for $75.00. Mechanic knew all about the issues of casting sand plugging the heater cores. Across the FCA offerings.
Today is the third time Ive backflushed. Reservoir also had a bunch of sand in it and was cleaned out.
I brought my findings back to the dealer and nothing was done. I will be contacting Chrysler cares or whatever it is now to file a claim.
I almost had the core replaced but the mechanic that flushed it said to wait because they've seen it take several trys before clean. And I dont want to repeat the process in replacement. Even if it would be replaced under parts warranty it takes two days in the shop.
There's an issue here that the Ram doesn't want to deal with. 2500.00 replacement cost that you could likely have to repeat again. Regardless of cost is the down time.
Ill update when I get an answer from the Cares team.

Update

Call customer service ( Chrysler Cares) or Stelantis. No help.
They referred me back to the dealer Broadway Chrysler in Yankton SD 57078. I could have the district manager get involved is the suggestion. Dealer originally said that I would have to call the service line and get a case number before I did that. 30 min on the line produced no case number and no help. It is the run around.
So far after the third flush I have heat. How long? I would have replaced the heater core by now but would it have lasted? Customer service said 2 year warranty.

 

[crash68]

I believe from the motor. Why it took 55k to show up could be to the timing.

Have to wonder if it's a water quality or coolant issue as it seems the HD trucks with either engine has been effected by the heater core plugging. My buddies '14 CTD had to have the heater core replaced due to lack of heat and there been a bunch more reported here.
The 6.4L and Cummins engines are built at two different factories.

 

[Octane]

My '13 ram 1500 core has been partly plugged for years. Flushed it to no avail several times. Now it leaks. Nothing a 2k bill won't fix....if I use a shop

 

[Ram bo]

make friends w/a tech at dealership. i used shop facilities where i work and it took me about 7hrs..... including time to defunk my nasty ass center console & all the crap that dripped down into it. hardest part was disconnecting the vents to under front seats (forgot they were there, then forgetting to reconnect them cause i was so happy center console was clean).

 

[shock]

Had the same issue with no heat. My diesel mechanic flushed it out 3 times before coolant would flow like it should. When I went to pick it up he had a 16,17, and and 19 there with no heat. Got to be a coolant issue

 

[06 Dodge]

Had the same issue with no heat. My diesel mechanic flushed it out 3 times before coolant would flow like it should. When I went to pick it up he had a 16,17, and and 19 there with no heat. Got to be a coolant issue

One has to wonder if people are using the wrong coolant type (HOAT with OAT) mixing different types of anti freeze can cause problems over the years...

 

[shock]

My diesel mechanic said when mixing different coolants together causes them to gum up which restricts coolant flow. Just glad it wasn't a heater core

 

[bobdett]

One has to wonder if people are using the wrong coolant type (HOAT with OAT) mixing different types of anti freeze can cause problems over the years...

Heard about this recently from a former mechanic I work with

 

[nlambert182]

Nope.... it's casting sand. Mine is literally in the shop right now having the core replaced. Always ran Mopar coolant.

 

[Octane]

Nope.... it's casting sand. Mine is literally in the shop right now having the core replaced. Always ran Mopar coolant.

I had my plugged core replaced.Approx 1.5 later heat issue again.Flushed core with 75 gallaons water.Worked great.Run truck thru summer and now the heat is getting a little less again.I'll flush it again soon.Mopar is crap.Those cores are oriented in a position that accumulates debris.What is needed is a coolant filter,like on my commercial truck

 

[markabby]

casting sand?? where is all that sand coming from? are you guys saying the sand was left in the engine cooling systems? If so, would that not disintegrate the water pump impeller as well?

my brain is having a hard time with that much sand in a heater core, especially after being flushed several times

if the heater core is blocked, wouldn't they have to do a reverse flush?

 

[Octane]

casting sand?? where is all that sand coming from? are you guys saying the sand was left in the engine cooling systems? If so, would that not disintegrate the water pump impeller as well?

my brain is having a hard time with that much sand in a heater core, especially after being flushed several times

if the heater core is blocked, wouldn't they have to do a reverse flush?

Not sure what the clog material is.But something is doing it

 

[Wild one]

If you guys do a search on here.There's lots of threads on plugged heater cores,and there's also a few threads on installing an inline coolant filter to capture the casting sand

 

[markabby]

i did a quick search on the "casting sand" issues, seems a lot of jeeps had the same problem.

one guy said his true cure was a reverse flush of the heating core. that was the third time he had it flushed but this time they reversed it.

another forum claimed a Jeep representative claimed it was from mixing coolants (i'm not buying that) If whoever is making radiators for Ram/dodge/ Jeep must not be cleaning them.

another forum claims using the Orange coolant is causing the problem, said to switch to Yellow coolant.

another guy claimed all three Fords owned by his family had blocked heater cores.

so, what is actually going on? Is it really sand or bad coolant?

 

[nlambert182]

It's casting sand. Well known issue and a lot of the 6.7 Cummins had the issue. There are photos showing the actual sand as it was pulled from the core. I don't know if the 5.7s had the issue but some of the 6.4s also had problems with it.

I've reverse flushed my system 5 times now. It will temporarily resolve the issue as it stirs up the sediment but once it all settles back in it clogs again. Some folks have had decent luck with it, but not all. I believe there was a class action lawsuit filed for the Wranglers using the 3.6 Pentastar engine as well. Don't know if it ever went anywhere.