Problem with belt

The serpentine belt on my 92 Caravan with the 3.0 v6 slipped a notch on the belt...took it into the shop and the replaced the tensioner - sounds like yours may be going out. Mine had also gotten quite noisy...or so I realized afterwards when the engine was suddenly much more quiet. :-)

Wesley

My tensioner isnt making any noise, just the belt keeps coming like half way off the powersteering pully, I can shut off the engine, put the belt on right and all of a suddon it just pops like half way off the pully.

My car had an A/C belt on it (vbelt) but when I replaced the serpintine belt I didnt put it back on, I'm thinking maybe that could have somthing to do with the belt jumping off.

You are having an alignment problem with the pulley's, more then likely the belt tensioner is at fault.

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

So me not putting the A/C belt back on wouldnt have nothing to do with it? I know I've visually inspected the tensioner, but is there anyother way to tell if its bad

Hi Adam, This is the NIASE Certified backyard mechanic... A/C belt has nothing to do with it. If you have more than 80,000 miles on the tensioner (and I would say you do), or it was not a dealer replacement part, replace it -J

Ok, well my idea about the A/C belt came from an older 305 that I tried to remove the belt from and it wouldnt stop squeeling or eating the belt till I replaced the A/C belt.

Yes, my car has around 92k >>So me not putting the A/C belt back on wouldnt have nothing to do with it? >>I

I started having problems with this as soon as the snow hit, it seems like every little bit of snow I run through on the right side, the belt comes off. When I replaced the belt is when I noticed it doing this

ADAM!!!!!! why don't you post this in your first post????

"I started having problems with this as soon as the snow hit, it seems like every little bit of snow I run through on the right side, the belt comes off"

There is a TSB out to fix this problem and has been out for a long time. It involves installing a redesigned shield and retainers. TSB 07-03-94 Rev.A Quantity Part No. Description

1 **4673254** Shield 2 6030441 Retainers 1 **6035135** Screw **AR 4612829 Belt, Serpentine Drive**

I dont even have a cover on the right side! I can turn my wheels to the right and see the whole crankshaft pulley and a/c pulley.

I took it to an auto parts store here locally and the guy check my tensioner by taking off the belt and moving the pulley side to side (engine to fender) and it has movement, I called the dealer and they said there should be NO movement or less than some thousanths of an inch, so bareley noticeable. Mine is noticeable.

Thanks for that info I will be calling the dealer back about that recall

remember its a TSB.....not a recall

most likely you'll have to pay for it. recalls you might not have to.

yeah I found out I have to pay for it, they didnt tell me how much though. I figure for now I can stay out of the snow, I found that my tensioner pulley is probally the culprit in this case anyways.

I have a 98 Grand Caravan with a 3.0 V6 with air. My belt has been coming off now for 5+ yrs. The tensioner has been changed and has not fixed the problem. There is a shield called a snow shield which looks like a big flat disk that bolts to the side of one of the pulleys and stops the belt from coming off. You may also have to change the tensioner but that is not the only culprit.My local dealer tried to get me to bring my van in the have the power steering pump removed and reset to the original position ( which was their cure for the problem) which take 2hrs at $69/hr. The mechanic I use told me this was not the issue just a money grab.

And that is why your belt is still coming off for 5 years. You think it might actually be your mechanic that is grabbing money from you? Your mechanic is so smart say's the dealer wants to grab money from you, yet you still have your belt falling off! OK! good advice!

Obviously you are such a smart person, why don't you tell everyone what the fix is. Oh! wait I see that this is also your first post on this topic. You must be just browsing to see if you post to make some people look stupid. Ever think that this is the reason some people will not post. I always believed that it was better to get as much information as possible rather than less.

Just to clarify my personal situation.

The dealer I bought the vehicle from is now out of business. The vehicle was always serviced at the dealer from the day it was bought until the day they closed their doors and went out of business. The next mechanic I went to changed the tensioner and belt but the problem persisted. The new mechanic I am currently using has come highly recommended and has not tried to do extra work on my vehicles to make extra money off me. Therefore I have no reason to not believe what he is telling me.

And finally I am sure every dealer is so honest and trustworthy that they would never try to steal or do work on vehicles just to make extra money off the unexpecting.

I am going to change the tensioner pulley dealer tells me there is supposed to be absolutely NO movement at all side to side (motor to fenter) and there is at least an 1/8 th inch of movement. I think thats all the problem I have. I have cleaned all the snow away from around the side of the car and I see were it would have thrown the belt off.

I figured out my problem, when I first put the new belt on I incorrectly installed it, I put it over the idler pulley instead of underneath of it and it rubbed on the motor mount, well I took the belt all the way off and put it on the opposite way and that cured my problem.

If the power steering pump was replaced at one time before the belt started to come off there may be a problem with the alignment of the p/s pump pulley and yes it would have to come off to reset. There are also other things that could cause this. If the a/c drain tube is missing it could dump water on the belt and cause this. If the windshield wiper cowl tray's drain on the right side is not attached it couold allow water to get on the pulley and make the belt fall off or an oil leak at the crank shaft oil seal or antifreeze leak will cause this problem.

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

I had the same problem with my 99 Grand Caravan SE. Everytime I hit a puddle, the belt came off. After towing 4 times and getting a COMBINATION of both a NEW belt and a NEW tensioner did the problem go away. Brian

Is there a TSB out for the Caravan for this as well?? Brian