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Lifter Failure

23K views 85 replies 23 participants last post by  Kiaraw2015 
#1 ·
I just joined the forums and you have all been very welcoming and friendly. Thank you. I'm sure this has been beat to death. Please move it or direct me elsewhere if needed. So I bought Challenger R/T a month and a half ago after my RAM was Lemon Lawed for lifter failure twice all with in 20k miles brand new. After I got my Challenger I put about 600 miles on it and heard the same tick and saw the same RPM idle issues I had in the truck. Took it in and sure enough lifter failure and the cam lobe was being chewed up. This is of course covered under warranty, bit my question is how common is this, and how long for parts and repair? They have now had her for 3 weeks and they are saying 2-3 more weeks before the tappet comes in to complete repairs. Please I'd love to hear others stories and what you eventually did. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
What year is the car? And was it new or pre-owned?
 
#6 ·
Not uncommon for factory replacement parts to be back ordered. Had a lifter failure on my 2016 also. Was originally going to be 2 months for the replacement to come in. Ask your service advisor about the possibility of replacing with an aftermarket part.

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk
 
#8 ·
I asked about that, and was told that I would have to pay out of pocket because they already ordered the parts. It's been a fight. I actually said something on facebook, and Dodge jumped quick to send a customer service rep my way and he says he is escalating the parts. They have also offered me oil change packages, a travel package and extended warranty packages to compensate the fact that it's been a month and I dealt with this with the truck as well. How has your new lifters treated you, how many miles on it now if you don't mind me asking.
 
#7 ·
Warranty work always gets pushed to the back unless it's a job the tech can beat the book time. Techs get paid book time whether they beat it or not. It's incentive to be fast and warranty work typically is not.
 
#13 ·
There are some folks who will say turning off the MDS will help prevent the lifter/cam failure, but I am not aware of any real evidence to back up that claim.

Having said that, I will fully admit to having mine turned off, but it's mostly because I dislike the MDS system altogether. I don't like the way it operates/behaves, and I don't like the way it changes the exhaust note when engaged. Throw in the fact that its MPG savings are relatively small, and there's just too many entries in the Con column of my MDS Pro/Con list.

Bottom line: turn it off.

It certainly won't hurt, and it could even help.
 
#11 ·
My new Hellcat Red Eye with 500 miles began making a noticeable ticking sound at idle. Sounded like might be from the right side of the engine (right side looking forward as if driving) from inside and looking under the hood. I've honored the recommended break in procedure.

Is this something to be concerned about? This thread seems to indicate lifters fail in hemi's.

I've got a question about the Harmon Kardon upgraded sound system's subwoofers I want to discuss with the dealer (I'll post this in another thread on the forum) so I'll have them listen to it too. I'm guessing they'll tell me it's nothing to worry about, and if they do I hope it's true.

Best,

Finface
 
#12 ·
So my experience is with 5.7L HEMIs. From what I understand they all can suffer from it but it's more common on 5.7L because there are more around. I will say that HEMIs are loud. The injectors are loud, the lifters are loud. You'll notice it under load and during deccelleration. I would have a mechanic just check it if you are unsure. I wish I could be more helpful. Good luck and congrats on the badass Red-eye.
 
#14 ·
FWIW I don't have MDS since I have a manual (valve train was noisy from day one) but on my 5.7 JGC it has been running MDS and has +100k miles on it. Not a peep from the lifters. Now the water pump...that is a whole other story...in fact is sounds like the one I installed recently is starting to fail as well. I swear FCA why make an LLC like OAT that lasts 150k miles but a pump that only lasts ~15-20k?!
 
#15 ·
That's a hard to believe amount of lifter failure for one person, I'm sorry man, hopefully they get it fixed for ya!
 
#19 ·
Could be worse. Back in early May of 2009 my 4 week old Cayman S was hit and totaled. After over a month of back and forth finally received a settlement from the other driver's insurance company. (Was complicated by the fact the driver of the other car chose to hit/destroy a $60K+ car with only $50K of insurance...)

On June 19 bought a low miles (< 10K) pristine used 2003 Porsche 996 Turbo. On July 3rd headed out on a road trip that I had planned on taking in my new Cayman S the day after the Friday night it got hit. At around 10pm that evening I was on the shoulder of 50 highway west of Ely NV after having just hit a mule deer. I was not speeding in fact going under the limit due to all the rain, unfamiliar road.

So just about 2 months after I lost the Cayman I was right back in having to deal with car insurance, getting the Turbo repaired, etc.
 
#21 ·
Hello Douglas,

We're sorry to hear you're experiencing such frustrations with your Challenger. If you'd like an additional layer of assistance to help speed things up, let us know. We're available via direct message and would be happy to help.

Jasmine
Dodge Social Care Specialist
 
#27 ·
I have seen quite a couple of posts where even manuals suffered lifter failure, so don't think they are immuned. In fact, it seems like most posts that I have read complaining about valvetrain noise (usually described as sewing machine type of noise) seem to be be from those with manuals. Problem is there are waaay fewer manuals running around compared to autos so you will have a higher probability of hearing about autos having lifter problems. However in this day and age, even hearing about a couple of cars with lifter failure is a couple too many.
 
#28 ·
Lydia,

Thanks for monitoring this forum and thanks for the offer to help out. I will listen a bit more and if the engine sound persists I'll contact you.

Any known problems with the Harmon Kardon subwoofers sounding mushy, and/or sounding like a slight delay? Can a Dodge dealership troubleshoot the stereo system?

Best,

Finface
VIN 2C3CDZL9XKH632958
 
#29 ·
FCA really has to show some decency and own up to this issue. Pretending it isn't there or it's the owner's fault is utterly unacceptable. I've bought 2 new Chrysler vehicles so far, but if this happens to me out of warranty at say 70k miles and FCA doesn't help out then I swear it'll be the last one and people everywhere will hear about it.
 
#31 ·
You may be lucky that it happened under warranty, but if you just Google a bit you'll find tons of pissed RAM owners that had the failure occur just outside the warranty and had no choice but to shoulder the whole $5-7k bill all by themselves.
 
#32 ·
Update, Was told the car would be ready by end of last week, failed to be ready. Was then told it would be ready Monday or Tuesday of this week, then got an email day sayng Monday wouldn't happen so def Tuesday. Again failed to be ready. FCA called me and spoke to the dealer. I was told they were finishing up and would have her ready the end of Weds. Got a call yesterday at 330pm saying the car would be ready wouldn't be ready until tomorrow. So here's to today (Thursday).
 
#33 ·
I have the same sewing machine noise with my new 2019 5.7 manual. I have had from day 1. I took to dealership and they told me there was no active warranty issues with Chrysler with these issues and noises. I’m disappointed I have to live with this noise and will be extremely upset if it ends up with failure.
 
#34 ·
I have had a sewing machine noise from every hemi I have owned this is number 4. I wouldn't fret, yes it is annoying and slightly embarrassing to drive a bad ass V8 with a tick. However if it starts being so loud that you hear it over your exhaust or radio and your RPMs "search" I would be concerned. Unfortunately though HEMIs are loud noisy engines, as far as mechanical sounds go.
 
#35 ·
When I swapped out the OEM pushrods, I noticed the factory rods were not perfectly straight...they really look like cheap garbage. There was even one rod (wish I took a pick of it...was #2 intake) that looked discolored like it was rubbed against the bore hole of the aluminum head.
https://www.challengertalk.com/foru...ck-pushrod-length-564322/?564322=#post7338458

All I can say is my JGC 5.7 is quiet...not a peep out of the lifters and I have never heard them rattle at start-up, ever. But then again the cam is not as aggressive as my 2015 challenger 5.7. My 2015 5.7 was noisy from the get go and for me the aftermarket pushrods cured the sewing machine noise...could not stand how the noise echoed in the drive-thru. But every once and a while I still get noisy lifters at start up, in fact just the other day I went to move the challenger out of the garage and heard the rattle for a split second. Bought some SRT filters in bulk so hoping it is just the oil filter drain back valve that is the issue (although my cherokee runs the same WIX filter).

I though only dodge had issues with valve train noise...that is until I heard my co-workers bone stock, low mileage 2010 corvette...that thing clatters like crazy.
 
#36 ·
Call the Chrysler warranty department directly at 800-992-1997. I had to do this when the water pump went out on my '12 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L (still under warranty at the time) and the dealer told me that the water pumps were "on back-order and they had no idea when they would get one". After a bit of back and forth, my new water pump showed up in less than 2 weeks. Keep calling Chrysler until they get it fixed.
 
#41 ·
Roller lifters




That's a discouraging video, I mean its good that it shows you the cause for the cam getting wiped. I am afraid to ask where are they sourcing these roller lifters? That was no 'Timken' bearing there on that lifter. It didn't look heavy duty at all.
bummed
 
#38 ·
I purchased a 2012 Challenger SRT8 Yellow Jacket with 31000 on it in December
did oil change in Feb and started heating lifter tick. fast forward a few months and cyl 3 misfires. it ended up the lifter failed and chewed up the cam.

3400 later at dealer and its been running well for about 2 weeks now.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
#39 ·
The Hemi in my car was also built in 2012, and it had to have the camshaft replaced after a lifter failure as well.

However, it was 96K miles into the only life it had known up until that point - that of a cop car for a local municipality - when its cam failed.

It's hard for me for imagine two engines that have spent their first 7years alive more differently.

Mine was likely mistreated at every opportunity, being ridden hard and put up wet frequently, and not even getting the courtesy of being turned off when not being driven (they leave them idling when not in them but still on shift, presumably to avoid being unable to start in an emergency).

Yours, on the other hand, was most likely well cared for and probably endured only the occasional spirited driving when the mood struck the previous owner.

If i knew both engines puked their cams, and i had to guess which car did it at 36K and which did it at 96K, there's no way id think the pampered (relatively speaking) Hemi only made it 36K while the mistreated one managed 96K. That's completely backward from what i would expect...

I guess that's what makes the culprit causing this so hard to find - it defies normal logic and occurs seemingly at random when it does rear its ugly head.

I can't wait to read about whatever it is they figure out is behind this and how they went about identifying it ultimately. CSI: Mopar - The Hunt for the Camshaft Serial Killer
 
#40 · (Edited)
Wonder if it is the needle bearings that are the weak link? Saw these isky bushing rollers and they make a "solid" argument. :wink3:
https://www.dragzine.com/tech-stori...-mystery-out-of-bushing-style-roller-lifters/

Also found this ad for Johnson lifters that claims to have solved hemi tick by building roller lifters with tighter tolerances. Kind of a bold statement considering folks have had lifters replaced only for the tick to remain.
https://hotrodenginetech.com/gen-iii-hemi-lifter-tick-solved/
 
#42 ·
Wonder if it is the needle bearings that are the weak link? Saw these isky bushing rollers and in they make a "solid" argument. /forums/images/ChallengerTalk_2014/smilies/tango_face_wink.png
https://www.dragzine.com/tech-stori...-mystery-out-of-bushing-style-roller-lifters/

Also found this ad for Johnson lifters that claims to have solved hemi tick by building roller lifters with tighter tolerances.
https://hotrodenginetech.com/gen-iii-hemi-lifter-tick-solved/
That's as good a theory as any, probably better than most others. But what is the cause of their failure, or why are they failing when they do? There has to be an explanation, and maybe its nothing more than poor material, shoddy manufacturing, and bad luck, but i want to see the evidence uncovered to eventually prove that...or how they arrived at it...maybe that part is what interests me most actually.
 
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