So my 2013 Express has developed a loud lifter tap over the last few weeks that I'm pretty sure is the start of the dreaded lifter/cam failure. The truck only has 83k miles on it and is in excellent condition so I would like to fix it right and drive it for many more years. I've recently heard that Hellcat lifters are engineered better and don't experience the same failure issues, and that some camshafts are better than others. I want to keep the truck as close to stock as possible so as to not affect fuel mileage and drivability. I'm looking for suggestions on the best parts to use for this fix.
No warranty. Debating on just trading it as is or fixing it. From everything I've read it seems there's no fix that can be considered permanent as this appears to be a design flaw in the oiling of the cam/lifters.
Yeah, you're options are pretty limited then. I would hope you plan to take care of it. It wouldn't be right to "pass it off" for someone else to fix after laying out their money, too. But that's only my $0.02 worth. Good luck with whatever you decide.
If it were me and I wanted to keep the truck I think I would check with a local rebuild shop and see what they say. I would think they could rebuild it with old style parts getting rid of the eco system that disables the 4 cylinders.
Well, you'll definitely spend less money rebuilding the top end or even putting in a reman than you'd spend on a new truck. I think either Comp or Crower has a line of GIII Hemi cams for the 5.7 that support VVT, but you'll still have to delete MDS IIRC. I think one of them is only mildly warmer than stock, but unless you get a custom grind done I don't think anyone is building replacement billet cams with the stock grind or anything.
I'm also going through the dreaded cam lifter failure on my 2014, 5.7 1500 Outdoorsman. My odometer had just rolled over 100k when it started. It was pretty obvious as when I was passing and hit 4k on the tach she started running really rough and the check engine light came on. Yep the old P0303 code showed up. Luckily my extended warranty had a little over 1,500 miles left before it expired. I still had to pay $725 up front before the dealer would start the tear down per the warranty company's request... Even though the service manager confirmed what the issue was with them. So I'll end up eating that, but it's better than paying out 4k out of pocket.
I am hoping to keep the lifter from failing by using MotorKote oil additive every 3K miles... motorkote dot com... popular additive with truckers, called a hyperlubricant... so far with 89K I have not had a problem
The roller bearings in the lifter roller fail, the roller seizes and ends up sliding on the cam lobe rather than rolling. Happened to mine a few months ago (96,000 miles). Checked prices for used motor swap ($4500) and Jasper rebuild ($5500), parts and labor. Decided to do the work myself, Installed the 2500 VVT Mopar cam, melling lifters and oil pump. Removed the MDS and deleted it with a tuner and 4 plugs, added ceramic shorty headers. Cost less than $1500.
Just catching up on this subject I have a 2013 Ram got it used and from a little research it seems to me if you use a tuner to disable the MDS system then you really have no reason to tear down the engine and put in dummy plugs as the port valves are controlled by the MDS and will not operate to shut of the Oiling to the lifters when the MDS is disabled so unless you have failed Cam and Lifters and need to do a replacement just disabling the MDS using good Oil and keeping up with regular Oil changes should extend the life of the engine.
Dropped my ‘13 1500 off at the dealer today for the dreaded Hemi tick. They just called to confirm the noise and get approval to open it up. Tech is looking for roller/lifter failure and damaged cam. Bought the truck new and I’ve never bought an extended warranty in my life, except this time!! Looks like this will save my ass big time.
Same thing happened to me like "jjbovenzi" - in passing gear. It scarred up my camshaft really good too. This happened on my 2013 Laramie with 125,000 miles. Luckily I bought the MAX CARE warranty and the factory rep authorized a new engine (or factory rebuild). I have put about 15,000 miles on new engine and no issues yet.
I've asked the same question.
I can see where FCA are not real eager release whatever numbers they might have 'cos it seems pretty clear there's a pattern. Most of the failures reported here seem to happen within 20 or 30K either side of the 100K mark.
Precisely where that pattern starts and ends in terms of model year, if indeed it has ended, remains unclear, and the precise number of failures to date is probably not known anyway. I imagine FCA could cobble together a total for those reported by dealerships, but no small number have been fixed by owners or independent shops, especially on trucks out of warranty, so it's hard to say.
I've not yet seen a really definitive report on the exact cause either. Plenty of hypotheses with many of them quite plausible—bad batch of lifters, batch of weak cams, inadequate oiling from inherent design etc—but if FCA has determined the cause, and it's hard to imagine that by now they have not, they're keeping it under their hat. That's not surprising either, since announcing a defective part or design flaw would open a monster liability can of worms.
Wow!!! My repair bill was just shy of $3k for a new valvetrain. I was at 134k miles. You'd think they'd have a recall for as many people that are having this issue.
max care replaced my long block , too much metal in the oil now about 75 k miles on the long block, wonder is the issue of cam bucket failure is in the new long block also
Just had my cam and lifters fail also. Truck was making a ticking of course along with a "pulley squeal" They changed the pulley under warranty but it still made that squeal, had the mechanic take a look at the dealer and he determined it was internal. A week later they replaced essentially the entire top half of the engine under the 5/100k warranty. Nice that warranty covered it but I also only have 58k miles, so yeah, bad taste in my mouth now for a FCA product going forward.. anyway
I’ve been following threads on this, thinking , phew, glad that’s not me. Welp, just started mine today and loud tick started! I think in the past i could hear a soft tick but it only lasted a few seconds then stopped. This is loud and continuous.
It’s an ‘11 sport, hemi, immaculate condition. So if it is the lifters, what am i looking at to repair? Like i said the truck is in great shape, i want to keep it provided i can get another 50,000 miles out of it (it only has 60k now)
Any possibility it’s the header bolts instead since the noise was so sudden?)
It would be irresponsible to insist on there being zero possibility of that.
You just have to check it out thoroughly, or pay someone to check it out thoroughly, to find out.
Shouldn't be a real big deal to inspect the bolts to see if that's the source of the noise.
If it's not, then it's time to pull valve cover(s) to take a good look at the lifter situation.
If it ends up being a messed up lifter and a wiped cam lobe, your options would be a replacement engine (a crate long block, say) or a cam/lifter rebuild on the existing engine which would need to be performed by someone who knows their stuff, Either way, you'd want to end up with a solid and reliable warranty.
Update to my post, when i first started it and heard the tick, i let it run for just about 5 minutes then shut it off. After about a half later, i started it and 0 noise. I drove down the road and back and still no noise.
Well, 2015, 2500 6.4 Hemi. Above and beyond recommended oil changes using Penzoil 0w-40 MS-12633 Hemi tick at 80k miles. Snapped off lifter roller at 87k. Luckily have lifetime warranty but still TIME consuming. Uggggghhh
I’d replace the parts with a whole new Ford or Chevy! I called Chrysler corporation and they denied there was an issue with cam/lifters on 2012 Ram 5.7 Hemis. Her exact words were “sitting here right now....I don’t recall of any other calls coming In for this issue” bs! There should of been a class action lawsuit on this and everyone given a new engine! Chrysler will never get another dime from me. The 2012 I just got the dealership to buy back was my first and last dodge junk!