An Uncanny Coincidence?

I don't think any repair work had anything to do with the serpentine belt coming off - I think, based on my own experience, that any appreciable amount of water that gets splashed up into the engine compartment can cause the belt to come off - had it happen to my 1995 T&C under the same circumstance as you mention. Hit a large area of standing water in the dark during a particularly heavy rainstorm and off came the belt - glad to have been only a few blocks from home!

Service manager at the local Chrysler dealer said that "well, thats a known problem if you get too much snow up into the engine compartment and there is a retro kit that supposed to protect the idler pulley (?) from getting snow/ water over it and prevent the belt from throwing off". Don't know if he was shining me on - 'cause I asked him to get this kit, but nothing ever happened.

Peter

N> Just recently had some repair work done on a 2000 Chrysler T&C minivan - 70K > miles

NO: 07-02-94 SUBJECT: Serpentine Drive Belt Comes Off Pulleys DATE: Dec. 23, 1994

NOTE: THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.3L OR 3.8L ENGINE.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION: If the vehicle is driven through deep or drifted snow the serpentine drive belt may be forced off of its pulleys by snow coming in between the belt and the pulleys.

DIAGNOSIS: Determine the road conditions the driver of the vehicle was encountering at the time the serpentine belt came off. Verify all of the pulleys are in proper alignment and pulleys and accessories are properly attached. If the driver of the vehicle indicates deep or drifted snow may have been a factor in the serpentine belt coming off its pulleys and any pulley mis-alignment and/or accessory/pulley attachment problem has been corrected, perform the following repair procedure.

PARTS REQUIRED: Quantity Part No. Description

1 4773892 Shield 1 6501926 Nut/Washer

AR

4612411 Belt, Serpentine 1991 - 1992 With A/C

AR

4612460 Belt, Serpentine 1993 - 1995 With A/C

AR

4612418 Belt, Serpentine 1991 - 1995 Without A/C

think back. every time you get work done there, does something else break or fail right away? happened to me at a local midas. i stopped going even tho i have free lifetime oil changes cause every time i went, i would have a surpentine belt problem. i think he was squirting some oil onto it. on purpose. ...thehick

I'm really tired of the "up-sell" every time I go to one of these car places.

Seems like Jiffy lube is really in the air filter business and Midas is really in the fan belt business. None of 'em will just do what you came in for and send you on your way. The worst, by far, in my experience is Firestone who tell you about your brakes when you came in to see about the air conditioner. Firestone? Never again.

heh heh, there IS no tension, the belt is completely off the pulleys. I probably could do the replacement, but I *think* I will have the car towed to a shop and have a new belt put on. Saves MY knuckles and keeps my kids from hearing so many bad words. I did see enough of the old belt that it has some 'checking' or cracking.

I am still puzzled at the hard black (carbon?) buildup in the bottom and sides of the oil pan AND the almost complete blocking of the pickup tube. Its almost to the point of either needing to change oil every THOUSAND miles or go with the 7,500 "allowance" and expect a failure.

That's one of the reasons I go there, they don't have a history of unnecessary "other" work and haven't had other problems after a shop visit before. Its just that maybe that belt was destined to not make it to

70,000 miles. who knows.. Course, I DO guess they may have had their greasy fingers/spilled lube on the belt while removing/reinstalling the oilpan

Yep, everyone tires easily from their "upsales". just do what I ask, and nothing more... the shop I went to isn't a "chain" and the guy has been fair in the past, numerous times..

I don't know about firestone, haven't ever used them, but the first thing i would do if a "salesperson" ever told me tires/brakes were unsafe, is to drive away and get a second opinion IF there were any validity to the persons "fear mongering". Otherwise, just drive home!

On the 3.3, the idler doesn't last. As the bearing wears, it'll tilt and throw the belt. So it may be only because of the water, or it may just be your time. Maybe your luck will be better than mine.

If not, the bearing for the idler only cost me a few bucks, and it's easy to replace. But it may cost a million at the dealer.

What kind of crappy oil are you using? I suspect it is NOT one of the top brands.

70,000 miles is significantly longer than "average" life for a serpentine belt. Should be replaced every 50,000 or 5 years, which ever comes first.

I have been using that cheapo Castrol GTX 10-30 or 10-40 for about 25 years.

Evidently, it lasted almost 70,000, and it has been 5 years last month.

Maxpower, yes the tensioner needed to be "replaced". However, I didn't fiddle with it personally, i am trusting the shop to be fair. I HOPE!!!

So now they are telling me I really SHOULD tune up now too, though the "manual" says it should be done at 100,000 miles. Something to consider sooner rather than later.

Well, I've never had problems with GTX, particularly when changed regularly. Hard black carbon - you certain there has never been glycol in the crankcase?

No, I am NOT certain, in fact, that is a strange anomoly that sometimes that car "uses" some antifreeze, but it isn't consistent. some weeks no change in coolant level, then all of a sudden, i need to add a quart or two of 50% mix. but no "white smoke"/steam goes out the exhaust and its NOT steady, coolant level will be steady, then one week, down a little to a lot, then back to no change for awhile. could be the antifreeze getting into the oil?? hmmm...