Hi all, I have a 2000 3.0L Dodge Caravan and I need to replace the belts, but as the dealership wants $135 to do this, I would rather do it myself. Are there any special tools that I would need to change these belts, and also is there anything else I should know before I do this (ie: total pain the @ss not worth the trouble, have to tear down half the engine to do it, ect...)
Thanks
six pack
07-01-2004, 10:44 PM
If you are asking I'm going to assume it will be to difficult or you would have looked and done it already. Check another dealership, or buy the belts from the dealer(original equipment is best)and have you local auto center do this.
Are you sure your quote is just to have the 2 belts replaced and nothing else done as this seems a little steep.
Doncromarty
07-16-2004, 12:38 AM
Can any one tell me how to adjust the tension pully on my dodge 2000 caravan, i looked in my manual but the description is no good. I would hate to break down on the highway and not be able to know how to do this. Presently i am in the process of trying to change my serpentine belt and am having some difficulty here.
Many thanks in advance
Don Cromarty
AMD Rules
07-18-2004, 10:03 PM
The serpentine belt is automatically tensioned with a spring-loaded tensioner. It is non-adjustable. If it isn't working properly (noisy or loose) it needs to be replaced as a unit.
Doncromarty
07-19-2004, 12:51 AM
Thankyou
Got it figured out. Love the internet. I have never had to deal with a serpentine belt before, now that i have, what a piece of cake once you get it figured out how to do it buy yourself. To hold my wrench back against the tensioning i used a cloth tie strap to hold the tension in the release position then i could get the belt on and off with ease. The fix it book i had to work with gave a very poor explanation. These people should reavaluate how they write there books with the home mechanic in mind. :D :D
N. L.
08-05-2004, 06:57 PM
Well, I've had my belt come off 5 times in the last 10 months. Had a shop replace it with a new belt and tensioner the first time. Had the same shop put it back on 2 times. Then a friend and I replaced it once, and today I put it back on by myself! Wasn't too hard, except I used a socket wrench on the tensioner and now I can't get the wrench off! :eek: Now what do I do? :help:
N. L.
08-06-2004, 12:01 AM
After further thought, I think the only thing to do is loosen the tensioner and remove the belt. Then I can get the wrench loose, and use a different tool to move the tensioner and re-install the belt.
Does that sound like a good plan?
Pex
08-06-2004, 12:34 AM
Yes, good plan. It sounds like your haveing trouble with your belt coming off on it's own. Maybe worse in wet conditions. Yes? Engine is a 3.0L. Yes? I may have a fix.
N. L.
08-06-2004, 08:50 AM
Yes, good plan. It sounds like your haveing trouble with your belt coming off on it's own. Maybe worse in wet conditions. Yes? Only when wet. Yes. Three times when splashing through puddles on rainy days. Once in an automatic car wash. And the other time I sprayed just a little belt dressing on it with the engine running and immediately, off came the belt. Engine is a 3.0L. Yes? 1996 model with 3.3L, but don't think it matters much.I may have a fix. I'd be interested in hearing it. I've been thinking and looking at things, and noticed that the cowl drain hose is missing the connecter at the top, so the drain is falling directly onto the belt. Could that be the problem? I mean, I've got 172,000 miles on the van, and never had this problem until just this past year.
Pex
08-06-2004, 05:19 PM
Water one belt, bad, so very bad. Check belt alingment, 3L are bad for haveing the power steering pulley too far in. A simple fix is to pull the pulley off the pump a little. Something to do with the mounting bracket over flexing and stayong there. But you're talking about a 3.3L, that's altogether different. Keep the water off and you should be OK.
