[Fsmith246]

As I have posted, my truck broke down in Dallas, TX with a Tone Wheel and starter failure. Finally got the truck repaired and towed my TT back to Charleston, SC.
Seemed to tow ok and engine/oil temps as before with as much as 30 degrees delta between water and oil temps.

While in the dealership in TX, the EGR was replaced also.

After getting back on Friday night, did not disconnect or move the truck until this morning. Checked the radiator and.....DOWN OVER HALF A GALLON of ANTIFREEZE!

WHAT??
Check for leaks...nothing to be seen.
Filled the radiator back up to mark and ran the engine down the highway watching for temps and thermostat openings. Seemed to be same as usual with thermostat opening around 200 degrees and delta between water and oil increasing.

Soooooooooooooo...... Three way value? Water pump? Hose to turbo? Radiator hoses?

No leaks showing up either on the truck or on the ground.
Currently waiting for engine to cool down to see what the overflow tank will show for coolant.

 

[StuartV]

Are you sure it was full when the dealer in TX gave it back to you?

 

[Fsmith246]

Checked the overflow tank when I picked up the truck and also ran it for the next day, around Dallas, to make sure it was holding up. It did with no signs for any problem(s).
Checked it again before pulling out of Dallas and it was right on.
Note: even on the repair statement, dealer noted they filled the radiator with antifreeze.

 

[MR. TED]

Strange you haven't seen a leak or smelled coolant

 

[Fsmith246]

I hope that is the case for sure. Time will tell.

 

[StuartV]

Pulled the oil dipstick and checked that? Make sure the coolant didn't go into the crankcase...

 

[Fsmith246]

Yup. No water/oil mix in either crankcase/dipstick nor the overflow tank.

Thinking the line to the turbo for coolant may be suspect?

 

[Brokedownbutgood]

Probably just an air bubble the cooling system on these have lots of places for air pockets to happen. They really should drain and then vacuum fill them but most dealer techs are lazy and just let it leak then maybe top it off.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

I would warm up the truck then make sure to put the heater on full blast, to make sure coolant was fed into the heater core. That usually "burps" the cooling system.

 

[Fsmith246]

Forgot about running the heater. Will do that.
Thanks

 

[Another]

I had lots of coolant leaks on my truck over the miles. One of the hardest to find was the radiator. Finally over time the leak got big and then I found it but I was doing the same as you adding a gallon a week for about 5 weeks. They put a new radiator in it and it solved the leak.

 

[Fsmith246]

So, after driving the truck for a while, letting it get up to normal operating temps, came back home and found a damp floor under the passenger front seat mat. Carpet is damp.

Soooo,
1. Heater core
2. hose issue to heater core
3. A/C evaporator
All are located in the dash, passenger side.....I think???

Anybody done any work in this area or had any problems with this?
I search youtube but didn't find anything specific to our trucks.

 

[MR. TED]

Check the connections to the heater core from outside the firewall first. On "other" vehicles ive seen the hose loose and spray "leak" into the cabin area. You dont want to pull that heater core unless you have to. Book time is 8-9 Hrs.

 

[Fsmith246]

Appreciate the heater hose check. Will do.
I'm glad I'm still under the 100K warranty from fca. They can fix it and not me.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

The silver lining is it's not in the dead of winter... Sorry for your troubles, let us know how it shakes out.

 

[biodiesel]

I'm glad I'm still under the 100K warranty from fca. They can fix it and not me.

What year is your truck? You posted in the 2020+ section of the forum, but I assume you have an older truck due to the tone wheel failure.

 

[Fsmith246]

2015
Yes, wrong forum. I can't seem to keep these straight for some reason. Keep getting into the wrong one. I see "general discussion", but don't see the delineation between years.
Sorry.

 

[biodiesel]

2015
Yes, wrong forum. I can't seem to keep these straight for some reason. Keep getting into the wrong one. I see "general discussion", but don't see the delineation between years.
Sorry.

No worries. I just like to know what to look out for, so knowing the model year helps. I also have a 2015, so I'm watching your thread. Looking forward to updates.

 

[Fsmith246]

IF your following this thread, the SAGA continues for sure!

Well,..............believe it or not, the truck failed to START!!
As you may know, I was in TX on the 22 nd. of July, the truck failed to start. LONG story, but the dealership was able to get a new starter and a EGR and a Tone Wheel replaced. Got the truck back and all seemed well.

As this thread started, finally got home on Aug. 5th. only to discover on Aug 6 that I have an antifreeze leak somewhere, with antifreeze both leaking outside close to the firewall and inside front passenger cabin.

NOW, today, the truck is AGAIN FAILING TO START! WHAT!!!>>>?????
Same symptoms as before, out in Texas.
I ran the truck for 200 miles yesterday with 5 starts and stops. No problem
Today, went 60 miles with 3 starts with no problems.
On the fourth stop, after sitting for maybe 2 hours, push start...just a grunt.
Waited about a frustrating 10-15 sec., no start just a grunt.
Waited about a min., no start just a grunt.
Waited another frustrating 3-4 mins.................. STARTS RIGHT UP LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG!!

As you know, I replaced the battery, the started, EGR and TWheel as a result of this "symptom" before.

When it "grunts", its all the world like a discharged battery. Wants to think about starting, but can't even turn the engine over one time. No "clicking" of the solenoid, like you might get with a dead battery. Just the grunt try to start.

The only thing I can see that has changed in all this time of challenges, is the voltage display on the dash. As I've mentioned before, all the 4+ years of having the truck, the display on voltage would read 14V. Never changed .

When I first started having a problem, I noticed that the voltage readout has changed to 13 volts. When I start it up, it show 12v and very quickly jumps back to 13v. Does not change with A/C, Lights, heater, radio, everything I can turn on.....just stays at 13v.

ANY ideas what the heck is going on??

 

[97hmcs]

Possibly a weak alternator. The battery should read above 12V when fully charged. AGM's should be above 13V