1. Home
  2. Dodge Trucks Forum
  3. Serp Belt and tensioner issues--honest service?

Serp Belt and tensioner issues--honest service?

I have a 97 dakota with about 80000 miles. About 1000 miles ago (although that's more than a year because my truck sits while I fly around) I was told (during a routine oil change) by my dodge dealer that I need a serp. belt. OK, do it...i said, without looking at it. Now, during another oil change, the dealer (service rep...a different guy and different techs) says "you need a serp. belt and tensioner". WHAT? I you just sold me a S-belt 1000 miles ago. He looks up my records and says..OK, "actually you just need a tensioner, but the belt and tensioner are usually done as one job, but you can just get the tensioner". I said I'm suspicious: didn't i need a tensioner 1000 miles (one year) ago (in which case I would hardly have to pay extra for it)? He didn't know. Did anyone check the tensioner back then? He didn't know. So I ask you all: What is the most likely scenario here. and how likely is it that I would need a tensioner only 1000 after getting a new Serp. belt? I think he quoted a price around $150. I don't necessarily trust the service dept. because there is alot of turnover...new reps, etc. Everytime I go in for an oil change lately, they seem to always find something I need...recently it was "throttle body cleaning" and "injector flush" and "brake fluid flush". Anyway, how important is this tensioner...does it just reduce the life of the S-belt if its 'bad'?

Reply to
mac
Loading thread data ...

The tensioner is what keeps, well, tension on the serpentine belt. The spring inside it can wear, reducing the tension, and allowing the serpentine belt to slip (which will cause it to glaze over, which will cause a tech. to look at it and say it needs to be replaced). The bearing that the pulley rides on can also wear, allowing the pulley to wobble back and forth, causing squeaking, and slight belt misalignment, which will also wear the belt.

80,000 miles is about par for the course on a tensioner, and yeah, it probably should have been checked/changed the last time. Then again, it is a year later, and it may have just gotten worse over that year (most moving parts on a vehicle don't like it when they sit for long periods of time).

Are you relatively handy with tools? The tensioner itself can be had for about $50 (Gates part# 38116), and shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to change out (just remove belt, unbolt tensioner, bolt up new tensioner, replace belt).

Reply to
Tom Lawrence

Get it while you can. When mine went on my '91 Dakota, I was told they were not available anymore.

Reply to
Bruce Porter

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.