Working on Truck

[SJGUSMC21]

Been having some overheating issues with my 2014 RAM 1500 3.6 LS which just went over the 100K point. Decided to take today and tomorrow off to swap some fluids and parts. After today, I can honestly say that whoever the engineer was that designed this engine and/or the various parts on it, sincerely needs an ass whooping. Today I did this:

1. Oil change
2. Radiator drain and change of fluid (more of a half way job as I needed to drain it some...did the flush last month)
3. Change the thermostat
4. Change the idler pulley
5. Change the serpentine belt
ATTEMPTED..
6. Change the oil pressure sensor
7. Replaced top and bottom gaskets on the intake manifold

Tomorrow, I have to remove bank one valve cover and replace the gasket and spark plug gaskets as well (oil leak on top front coil pack).

I am no mechanic, but one for one swap stuff, I can do. However, though I do not consider myself old (59), this shit kicked my freak'n ass today. Took me 8.5 hours to get this done, and I could barely walk when it was done. I cannot believe how hard it is to just GET TO THE MOTOR now on these trucks. I had to use a step stool and in some instances, the step stool ON the side walk as well. I'm 5'9", so I don't consider myself short, just average.

And, AND, how they place parts on these damn things is criminal. If you are familiar with the 3.6 Pentastar, then you know the oil filter is on top of the engine, and the entire oil filter/cooling housing sits in a valley below the upper manifold. Yeap, to get at it, you have to take the entire intake manifold off...MOF, if you want to change the spark plugs on bank 2 (right side of engine), it has to be removed as well, which also includes the camshaft sensor. And the PCV? You have about 1 inch between the back of the valve cover and the fire wall to get a special small wrench with at 25 star on it to remove the two screws that holds it on. And I am not even going to mention how these Engineers designed the electrical connections...I couldn't even get one disconnected today...how to work around it.

Yes, I am very grateful I can still do this...but still blows my mind that they designed this the way they did. Apparently, the Hemi has pretty much everything on the front of it, easy access.

Doesn't matter, not planning on buying anything new for a VERY LONG TIME...if ever. Going to keep with this truck for as long as it is economically feasible. And with the price of new trucks now, even replacing the motor in this thing is a better deal. Hope you all have a great New Year and be safe. Just don't pay my ramblings any attention...time for a 800 motrin.

 

[rolibr24]

And this is why I only drive old vehicles....... Someone who doesn't know me may think that I live in the local budget trailer park, but my vehicles are easy and cheap to work on.

I am THE maintenance guy at the facility I work at. I keep the machines, 10 robots, hi-lo's, pallet jacks, refrigeration and boilers all running. I consider myself a dumb farm boy, although everyone at our place say's I am the one who can fix anything. If it can be fixed with a wrench, welder or my Fluke I can generally fix it. But generally if something is on 4 wheels or made out of wood I can't open my wallet fast enough.

I would rather tear a robot down and rebuild one than work on any vehicle made after the mid 2000's

 

[David L]

Been having some overheating issues with my 2014 RAM 1500 3.6 LS which just went over the 100K point. Decided to take today and tomorrow off to swap some fluids and parts. After today, I can honestly say that whoever the engineer was that designed this engine and/or the various parts on it, sincerely needs an ass whooping. Today I did this:

1. Oil change
2. Radiator drain and change of fluid (more of a half way job as I needed to drain it some...did the flush last month)
3. Change the thermostat
4. Change the idler pulley
5. Change the serpentine belt
ATTEMPTED..
6. Change the oil pressure sensor
7. Replaced top and bottom gaskets on the intake manifold

Tomorrow, I have to remove bank one valve cover and replace the gasket and spark plug gaskets as well (oil leak on top front coil pack).

I am no mechanic, but one for one swap stuff, I can do. However, though I do not consider myself old (59), this shit kicked my freak'n ass today. Took me 8.5 hours to get this done, and I could barely walk when it was done. I cannot believe how hard it is to just GET TO THE MOTOR now on these trucks. I had to use a step stool and in some instances, the step stool ON the side walk as well. I'm 5'9", so I don't consider myself short, just average.

And, AND, how they place parts on these damn things is criminal. If you are familiar with the 3.6 Pentastar, then you know the oil filter is on top of the engine, and the entire oil filter/cooling housing sits in a valley below the upper manifold. Yeap, to get at it, you have to take the entire intake manifold off...MOF, if you want to change the spark plugs on bank 2 (right side of engine), it has to be removed as well, which also includes the camshaft sensor. And the PCV? You have about 1 inch between the back of the valve cover and the fire wall to get a special small wrench with at 25 star on it to remove the two screws that holds it on. And I am not even going to mention how these Engineers designed the electrical connections...I couldn't even get one disconnected today...how to work around it.

Yes, I am very grateful I can still do this...but still blows my mind that they designed this the way they did. Apparently, the Hemi has pretty much everything on the front of it, easy access.

Doesn't matter, not planning on buying anything new for a VERY LONG TIME...if ever. Going to keep with this truck for as long as it is economically feasible. And with the price of new trucks now, even replacing the motor in this thing is a better deal. Hope you all have a great New Year and be safe. Just don't pay my ramblings any attention...time for a 800 motrin.

Had a 2000 RAM that needed upper and lower control arm bushings, so grinding and hammering the factory heads off to replace with bolts/nuts were much fun. I did this in my early 50s. What got me is I only had around 60k on that truck, seemed awful early to me to have to replace them.

Had a 2008 Jeep that had an alternator not on top of the engine like 90% do, no they had it in the middle with the engine turned sideways, front wheel drive. Normally an altnator takes an hour tops to replace, well this on required removing bottom skid plate, breaking loose the compressor, had to use all kinds of extended tools, hands could barely get to it, had to come out at only one angle, same angle to install, took forever to get nut back on and tighten for positive cable, etc. etc. etc. took me 8 hours, with driving to turn in core and getting replacement about 1 1/2 hours to finish the job. I would like to met the engineer on that Jeep in a back alley I was in my mid 50s then.

I still do my own brake jobs and maintenance, plugs, filters, etc., well plugs last much longer these days. Just for me to break down a tire is hard work for me at 60 but I still do my own. Trust less and less people now a days...

Speaking of overheating, think you did right on all you did. Gaskets were the key back in the day, if you ever overheated a vehicle it seemed no matter what you did it would always still run hot, or hotter than normal. We found gasket replacement to make a big difference...

 

[TonyR]

I haven't been under a car since circa '65 which is about that time forward I could only get my head under sideways if i was on a creeper...now the rest of me won't fit!
Heck, I don't think I could get up nowadays if I laid on a creeper!

Think of that commercial "...I've fallen and I can't get up!"

 

[SJGUSMC21]

My father was a master mechanic...could literally fix ANYTHING back then. But he had one hell of a temper, and I stayed far away from him. He did give me one bit of excellent advice: don't be a mechanic...too hard of a life. So, he was right...I listened, then became a career infantryman. ha, ha, on me.

 

[Jim I.]

My father was a master mechanic...could literally fix ANYTHING back then. But he had one hell of a temper, and I stayed far away from him. He did give me one bit of excellent advice: don't be a mechanic...too hard of a life. So, he was right...I listened, then became a career infantryman. ha, ha, on me.

I've been an auto technician specializing in automatic transmission repair for over 40 years, and have been working at Ford dealerships since 1977. I don't regret my choice in careers, but your Dad gave you the same good advise I gave my son. Don't follow in my footsteps! lol!

 

[Mike A.]

Yeah, kids learned some new words when I was working on vehicles at times. I can do pretty much anything but I wouldn't want to have to do it every day. I'd be kicking the cat when I got home.

My newer F150 is kind of a mess. As you say have to take half of it apart just to get to some things. The old F250s I had were great. So much room under the hood you literally could crawl into the engine bay when you needed to. Only got like 8 MPG though and more power out of the newer ones.

 

[SJGUSMC21]

Another 6.5 to 7 hours today to removed the valve cover, replace the gasket and the spark plug gaskets as well. OMG...the PCV on the back of the valve cover...again, an Engineers wet dream. Took me about 2 hours to remove and put back on alone. Just blows my mind how they make this shit so 'owner-unfriendly'. But done for now, I hope.

 

[VorlonFrog]

. . . they make this shit so 'owner-unfriendly'.

Isn't that ever the truth? It's not even like they try to be difficult, they simply don't freaking care one whit about the owner OR the poor mechanics who have to work on them.

 

[TonyR]

Isn't that ever the truth? It's not even like they try to be difficult, they simply don't freaking care one whit about the owner OR the poor mechanics who have to work on them.

The best traffic engineers and civil engineers I ever worked with were the few that started out in the field as techs, and had their hands on it....up to their elbows.

Those without any field and/or maintenance experience rarely, if ever, design anything with a future repair in mind....as long as it works initially most of them seem to care less if some poor bastid has to try and fix it some day.

 

[Smilingreen]

Been having some overheating issues with my 2014 RAM 1500 3.6 LS which just went over the 100K point. Decided to take today and tomorrow off to swap some fluids and parts. After today, I can honestly say that whoever the engineer was that designed this engine and/or the various parts on it, sincerely needs an ass whooping. Today I did this:

1. Oil change
2. Radiator drain and change of fluid (more of a half way job as I needed to drain it some...did the flush last month)
3. Change the thermostat
4. Change the idler pulley
5. Change the serpentine belt
ATTEMPTED..
6. Change the oil pressure sensor
7. Replaced top and bottom gaskets on the intake manifold

Tomorrow, I have to remove bank one valve cover and replace the gasket and spark plug gaskets as well (oil leak on top front coil pack).

I am no mechanic, but one for one swap stuff, I can do. However, though I do not consider myself old (59), this shit kicked my freak'n ass today. Took me 8.5 hours to get this done, and I could barely walk when it was done. I cannot believe how hard it is to just GET TO THE MOTOR now on these trucks. I had to use a step stool and in some instances, the step stool ON the side walk as well. I'm 5'9", so I don't consider myself short, just average.

And, AND, how they place parts on these damn things is criminal. If you are familiar with the 3.6 Pentastar, then you know the oil filter is on top of the engine, and the entire oil filter/cooling housing sits in a valley below the upper manifold. Yeap, to get at it, you have to take the entire intake manifold off...MOF, if you want to change the spark plugs on bank 2 (right side of engine), it has to be removed as well, which also includes the camshaft sensor. And the PCV? You have about 1 inch between the back of the valve cover and the fire wall to get a special small wrench with at 25 star on it to remove the two screws that holds it on. And I am not even going to mention how these Engineers designed the electrical connections...I couldn't even get one disconnected today...how to work around it.

Yes, I am very grateful I can still do this...but still blows my mind that they designed this the way they did. Apparently, the Hemi has pretty much everything on the front of it, easy access.

Doesn't matter, not planning on buying anything new for a VERY LONG TIME...if ever. Going to keep with this truck for as long as it is economically feasible. And with the price of new trucks now, even replacing the motor in this thing is a better deal. Hope you all have a great New Year and be safe. Just don't pay my ramblings any attention...time for a 800 motrin.

Certain brands of vehicles were designed to expedite the initial assembly of them, hence propelling profit margins for the car maker. After people bought them, they quickly realized that general maintenance was almost impossible for the average shade tree mechanic, due to the obstructed location of everything. Other vehicle manufacturer's spend time in designing cars and engines so that the consumables are easy to access and replace.

Best car I have ever seen for ease of access for maintenance and repair is my Audi A4. From oil changes to filter replacement, oxygen sensors to belt replacement, everything has been totally accessible to repair and replace without raising the car off the floor. I have a 09 F250 SD truck, that is ok to work on, with the exception of the damn thing is so high in the air, with the factory tires and suspension factory. Sounds like Fords 5.4 liter V8 is much easier to work on than the Dodges are.

 

[Mike A.]

...Sounds like Fords 5.4 liter V8 is much easier to work on than the Dodges are.

Problem is you'll probably have to. I don't like those 3-valve 5.4 motors. The variable cam timing deal on them is a mess. I've had to tear mine apart twice to fix it. No fun at all.

 

[SJGUSMC21]

Just an update. The over heating has seemed to stop for now. No more oil leaks either, and the squeaking sound from the pulley is gone as well. Will not fully know if I 'fixed' the over heating issue until spring or summer here. When it reaches 'hell' hot here, I will know.

 

[SJGUSMC21]

I'm back. Was driving home from taking my daughter to HS....and my temp hit 241. Luckily, its a very short drive, so was about home. If you remember back in this thread, I had already replaced the thermostat, etc. Both hoses had very little pressure in them as well (upper and lower rad hoses) and I was a gallon low on antifreeze! What the heck? No puddles, no spots, notta. My truck now has 105K on it, so did my troubleshooting and now figured it was the water pump that needed replacing.

Spent about 6 hours doing this on Wed this week. I also replaced the lower radiator hose. Drove around, cooling like it hasn't done in a long time (198). But...when i got home, oh yes, radiator leaking from the top hose area. Damn. As far as I could see, it was from the upper radiator hose, on the neck. So yesterday, replaced upper radiator hose....still a leak. SOB. There is a small crack in the neck of the hose valve, and yes, it is freak'n plastic. It only starts leaking once the thermostat opens up.....swell. So, ordered a radiator that will be here on Sat. Woohooo. Yes, I know about the JB Weld trick, but not going that route. I have to depend on this truck to carry my family and myself around so not going that way.

Never claimed to be a mechanic, but by doing it myself, have saved tons and have replaced many new parts that are due to be replaced regardless. Trying to keep this truck for another 100K miles....will see. Dodge wanted $300+ just for the water pump and gasket, and I was told it would be around $800 if I took it in and over a week wait. Ha. A new radiator, plus water pump, plus gasket, plus upper radiator hose and coolant, I have about $375 invested at this point.

At least I can still do this. May not walk right for a day or so....but that's OK.

 

[David L]

I'm back. Was driving home from taking my daughter to HS....and my temp hit 241. Luckily, its a very short drive, so was about home. If you remember back in this thread, I had already replaced the thermostat, etc. Both hoses had very little pressure in them as well (upper and lower rad hoses) and I was a gallon low on antifreeze! What the heck? No puddles, no spots, notta. My truck now has 105K on it, so did my troubleshooting and now figured it was the water pump that needed replacing.

Spent about 6 hours doing this on Wed this week. I also replaced the lower radiator hose. Drove around, cooling like it hasn't done in a long time (198). But...when i got home, oh yes, radiator leaking from the top hose area. Damn. As far as I could see, it was from the upper radiator hose, on the neck. So yesterday, replaced upper radiator hose....still a leak. SOB. There is a small crack in the neck of the hose valve, and yes, it is freak'n plastic. It only starts leaking once the thermostat opens up.....swell. So, ordered a radiator that will be here on Sat. Woohooo. Yes, I know about the JB Weld trick, but not going that route. I have to depend on this truck to carry my family and myself around so not going that way.

Never claimed to be a mechanic, but by doing it myself, have saved tons and have replaced many new parts that are due to be replaced regardless. Trying to keep this truck for another 100K miles....will see. Dodge wanted $300+ just for the water pump and gasket, and I was told it would be around $800 if I took it in and over a week wait. Ha. A new radiator, plus water pump, plus gasket, plus upper radiator hose and coolant, I have about $375 invested at this point.

At least I can still do this. May not walk right for a day or so....but that's OK.

Be glad you were are not burning your water through your exhaust (Head gasket or cracked block), not good...

I tried telling a family member, he even took it to 3 shops, losing water but no puddles. I told him you are burning it. Sure enough he called me one day to rescue him on the side of a freeway, he burnt up (over heated) his engine. Cracked block. He could of replaced possibly a head gasket and saved his engine. Price of repairs were too much, he scrapped the car.

 

[SJGUSMC21]

Yes sir, I had Escort Station Wagon that blew a head gasket...might have been a cracked block as well...don't remember, it was in the late 80's, early 90's and was a DI at the time. Sold it for scrap....didn't matter though, it was my 'hoopty' mobile.

Again, I am no mechanic, and I know what I can and cannot do. One for one replacements, I can do. I will get it fixed, just takes time.

 

[David L]

Yes sir, I had Escort Station Wagon that blew a head gasket...might have been a cracked block as well...don't remember, it was in the late 80's, early 90's and was a DI at the time. Sold it for scrap....didn't matter though, it was my 'hoopty' mobile.

Again, I am no mechanic, and I know what I can and cannot do. One for one replacements, I can do. I will get it fixed, just takes time.

Too funny, I had a 1994 Escort Station Wagon for 14 years, then sold it for $500 to a young co-worker. Never had major issues with it. When I sold it was still running great, think the A/C might of been giving me issues, can't remember, but that was it. I use to work out of it, it was my cheap SUV back then, LOL. Man that thing got 41MPG on the Highway. One of the best cars I have owned. It was a basic model, no power doors or windows.



Man I miss those prices...you can almost triple that now a days...

 

[David L]

 

[SJGUSMC21]

Well, I ordered a fan. That hurt. But it is the last piece to the puzzle. My fan only comes on, at low speed and then shuts off very quickly. It kind of 'stutters' then spins up. Some posters on the RAM forum think it might be my head gasket, but, other then getting hot, I have none of the typical signs of a blown head gasket. And even if it is, that still doesn't explain why my fan is only coming on at low speed.

 

[The Automation Guy]

The problem with overheating your engine is that if it warped the heads at all, it will likely cause a head gasket failure in the future. It doesn't happen right away, but the warped area causes that part of the gasket to not seal as well and eventually it can fail there.