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Chrysler Town & Country Serpentine Belt

24 messages,  Last post on May 12, 2013 at 7:57 AM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Plymouth Voyager, Auto Repair, Van

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 24 Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country by glynch

Aug 09, 2006 (10:52 am)

Last year we had the ac compressor replaced and since then it has been back to the shop 8 times with a squealing belt. It usually comes back within a couple of weeks. Does anyone have any ideas? The tensioner has been replaced as well as one of the pullies.

#2 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [glynch] by nokids

Aug 10, 2006 (5:53 pm)

Replying to: glynch (Aug 09, 2006 10:52 am)
How old is the belt? Did they replace the belt when you had the A/C repaired? Squeeling belts are usually loose belts. If you pull-up on the belt between the A/C pulley and the alternator pulley with your thumb and index finger you shouldn't be able to twist it without a lot of effort.

#3 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [nokids] by glynch

Aug 11, 2006 (5:27 am)

Replying to: nokids (Aug 10, 2006 5:53 pm)
The dealer replaced the belt once again about a month ago. They did replace the belt when they replaced the AC. I will check the tension, but the dealer checked it last time and told me the tensioner was fine.

#4 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [glynch] by mrbizness1

Aug 12, 2006 (6:22 pm)

Replying to: glynch (Aug 11, 2006 5:27 am)
If the tensioner is ok I recommend you replace the Mopar belt with a Dayco or other brand name. I always had the dealer replace the belt and never had any problems for 96k until the last change. Then it came off in an inch of rain and squealed for no reason. I had a tsb done for $250.00 which did nothing. After the last tow to the dealer I had them install a standard Dayco belt that I had purchased and it hasn't come off since.
Good luck

#5 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [mrbizness1] by glynch

Aug 15, 2006 (8:00 am)

Replying to: mrbizness1 (Aug 12, 2006 6:22 pm)
I just don't understand why this is such a problem now. There must be something causing it.

#6 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [glynch] by mrbizness1

Aug 20, 2006 (10:39 am)

Replying to: glynch (Aug 15, 2006 8:00 am)
I read somewhere that the newer Mopar belts have deeper grooves which can hold water, and make the belt squirm. They also could be a bit longer, so they don't have enough tension. Looking at my dealer invoices from a few years back I noticed that the belt part number is different. The dealer said they newer belts are updated, but they don't know what the difference is. It's been almost a year and the Dayco belt hasn't come off once.

#7 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [mrbizness1] by willem

Aug 28, 2006 (6:58 am)

Replying to: mrbizness1 (Aug 20, 2006 10:39 am)
You should buy some spray can with 'belt dressing' It will cost you between $5.00 and $10.00 at an automotive parts store, and I find that it helps usually for many months. WD-40 is ok but doesn't last as long.
 
Willem

#8 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [willem] by done37

Aug 28, 2006 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: willem (Aug 28, 2006 6:58 am)
I wouldn't recommend belt dressings or lubricants, especially on a serpentine belt system. The dressing attracts dust and debris. It also serves to brake down the rubber in the belt. Short term fix, very short.
 
Its possible that the squeal is not related to the A/C compressor, just coincidental. Have them check the P/S pump or water pump as well as the alternator. Good luck!
 
Don

#9 of 24 Replacing 2002 Voyager Serpentine Belt by pdeddish

Jul 19, 2007 (8:34 am)

Does anyone know how to take the tension off the serpentine belt of a 2002 voyager, 3.3L flex fuel V6? I can easily access the tensioner from below and it seems like you need to insert a 1/2 inch socket square drive into a square hole at the pulley end of the tensioner to lever it down. However there is not enough space between the tensioner bracket and a frame member to get the square drive into the hole. Am I wrong about doing it this way? How should it be done?

#10 of 24 Re: Squealing serpentine belt 1996 town and country [glynch] by leeuwenhoek

Jul 23, 2007 (6:32 am)

Replying to: glynch (Aug 09, 2006 10:52 am)
The Gates company has a fix kit for the belt problem on Chrysler 3.3L & 3.8L engines. Cost is about $140. I had the fix kit installed on my 1998 Chrysler Town and Country and I've had no problems yet. Prior to this fix, any puddle I drove through would cause the belt to slip off.

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