Tech Thread Spotlight: Diagnosing a 3g Dodge Durango Water Pump Failure

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2013 durango rt 600

Do you have a 2012 Dodge Durango powered by the 5.7L Hemi and you have an odd rattling or growling noise coming from the front of the engine?  If so, you aren’t the only owner running into this problem and – unfortunately – it could be a fairly serious issue.  We have had two members here on DodgeForum who have had their Hemi powered Durango start making an unpleasant notice from the front of the engine and upon visiting the dealership, both owners found that their water pump was failing.  In both cases, the vehicles were fixed under warranty but this could still prove to be a major issue if ignored.

In addition to the regular discussion about this Hemi Durango water pump problem, DF member LMADurango13 made a handful of videos that let you hear the noise that his Hemi was making when the water pump was going bad.  If you have a growling noise under the hood of your Durango – specifically around the front of the Hemi engine – you might want to check out this thread right away and if your engine noise sounds like this one; you would be wise to get your SUV back to the dealership for a checkup as soon as possible.

Click here to check it out the Durango water pump failure thread for yourself!

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com


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