Posting as a public service announcement and to see if anyone else has experienced the following.
SITUATION:
2021 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7L Hemi WITH E-torque
Current mileage 9,946
Bought brand spanking new.
On July 15, towing a 6k camper trailer, in tow/haul, adaptive cruise control.
60mph, Sierra Nevadas outside Reno headed towards CA.
Hooked up the trailer, got on the freeway, literally, from this exit to the very next exit, the truck shredded the main accessory belt.
No cause noted. Sounded like plastic bag in the fan, truck kept towing, no CEL no lights.
Pulled of the next exit, belt had shred from the front of the belt towards the back of the belt. Belt fiber EVERYWHERE.
All pulleys working, nothing seized, no road debris as the cause either.
Here’s the kicker. Not a single auto parts store (Napa, AZ, Oreily *could not cross reference and did not stock) and not a single Ram dealership with in a 4.5 hour drive stocks/Stocked a single Accessory belt for the 5.7 Hemi WITH E-Torque.
So, if you plan to tow. Bring a breaker bar, and order a belt ahead of time. Part # 5281514aa
Truck is currently at the dealership (was able to limp it home with 1/4 of a belt left after having friend pick up the trailer). By the time we got into town, the E-Torq/Alternator had stopped charging or running electronics.
Dealership is “booked out” for the next 8 days. And advised it would take 5-7 business days to ship the belt to them.
Part # from several Ram Parts Depts 5281514aa.
Mopar.com shows a belt diagram with the listed part number, in the correct configuration, but states that this part number will not fit an ETorq 5.7 Hemi.
So, not even Mopar is sure what belt fits what.
Tried to verify if the belt from a standard 5.7 would work, no dealership I called while broke down could verify.
Thoughts: maybe the ETorq seized momentarily caused the belt to shred but continued working.
Will keep thread updated.