- #25 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [shipo]
by nicompvoyager
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Dec 16, 2007 (1:12 pm)
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Replying to: shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:01 pm)
shipo, that is so cool. Thanks very much. The selection chart for the device is a graph of horsepower vs shaft speed. I will try to convince the repair shop to interpret it for me. I think I can install it once I get the correct unit.
Thanks!
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- #26 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager]
by shipo
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Dec 16, 2007 (1:21 pm)
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Replying to: nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 1:12 pm)
Glad I could help out. 
Best Regards,
Shipo
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- #27 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager]
by shipo
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Dec 16, 2007 (1:54 pm)
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Replying to: nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 1:12 pm)
I don't think that there is anything to interpret. I went to the NAPA-Online web site and they only list one Gates conversion kit for the 1997 3.0 liter vans, it' $174.00. FWIW, I'm pretty sure that I've seen them for ~$150, I just don't remember where.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=NBH&Par- tNumber=38342K&Description=Belt+Conversion+Kit+-+V-Ribbed+Belt+to+Dual+Sided+V-R- ibbed+Belt
Best Regards,
Shipo
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- #28 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager]
by roadwarrior4
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Dec 19, 2007 (6:18 am)
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Replying to: nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 12:47 pm)
I have a '99 Grand caravan and was able to find a mechanic who solved this problem. First, Make sure that the molding beneath the windshield is secure and not dumping rainwater onto the serpentine belt. Second, Carquest makes a kit that modifies the Chrysler design. I had it installed and it solved the problem.
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- #29 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt problem [shipo]
by jmartin24
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Sep 04, 2008 (9:50 am)
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Replying to: shipo (Mar 06, 2007 3:23 am)
Any suggestions for a '94 3.3L? We've had ours for 2-3 years now and twice (thanks to the remains of Hurricane Gustav) in the last 8 months we've had this problem. $150 (not to mention the time out of a work day) to drive in the rain seems a little steep - and according to my guys, they know this is a problem, but no kit exists? Does anyone have any suggestions? The seemingly simple solution of a guard on the tensioner pulley seems creative and effective enough...
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- #30 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt problem [jmartin24]
by shipo
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Sep 04, 2008 (10:20 am)
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Replying to: jmartin24 (Sep 04, 2008 9:50 am)
You're responding to a post that has the ultimate suggestion. By all accounts, every van that has had the Gates kit installed has seen the problem completly solved.
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- #31 of 34
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Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [roadwarrior4]
by rbbartho
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Sep 04, 2008 (11:21 am)
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Replying to: roadwarrior4 (Dec 19, 2007 6:18 am)
There is a fix. Chrysler has a bulletin they don't tell you about. It's a large washer that is connected to the idle pulley. Cost is around $15.00 . They never told me about it until I did some research.
There is also an aftermarket pulley system that has tracks on both sides of the idle pulley and it solved my problem more than 18 months ago. It's a Goodyear serpentine pulley kit for about $235.00. I would go to Chrysler first since it's cheaper.
I would not rely altogether on the rain water or puddle excuse.
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- #32 of 34
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2000 Dodge Grand Caravan belt coming off
by pberthoty
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Dec 05, 2009 (9:21 pm)
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Why is it after replacing a new belt and new tensioner, the belt comes off in the rain, snow and going through puddles? I wasted money on these and they are less than a year old and I have to replace them with a kit containing the same thing except they are grooved?
It came off on my wife over a dozen times. No power steering (no control), no water pump (engine overheats causing dangerous to aluminum heads), no alternator (no battery charging), no AC. All powered by ONE belt. $40 a pop to put the belt back on. An independent recommended a kit, parts and labor, over $300. We then found a radiator leak, thinking the slick antifreeze was causing the belt to come off, so I spent the $300 replacing a new radiator. Still the belt came off.
I have looked over numerous forums on the web and with all the problems with Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler vans, why do we have to pay to get it fixed?
I thought I'd be smart and start out with some "cheaper fixes". One guy was selling disks to put over the tensioner and idle pulley for $30. I found the disk covers from Advance for $8 apiece and installed them on both idle and tension pulleys and thought how smart I was until I went through a puddle...twice and both times it came off. I started looking at the Dayco 89251 from Advance, but it is a smooth tension pulley. My wife called me today and guess what...she went through a puddle. So..here I am ordering a Gates 38379K kit from Amazon $111.63 incl. S & H. Advance has Goodyear kit 49215K for $124.99 plus tax, but it had to be ordered. You can also order separate double sided belt, grooved idle and tension pulleys, but they total more than $111. The double sided belt is over $65.
CONTACT THE NHTSA on their web site or call them at 888-327-4236. I am surprized if someone hasn't gotten KILLED yet!!!
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- #33 of 34
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Re: 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan belt coming off [pberthoty]
by rbbartho
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Dec 05, 2009 (9:48 pm)
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Replying to: pberthoty (Dec 05, 2009 9:21 pm)
The Gates or Goodyear kit should do it. It's been least 3 years since I installed it and haven't had any problems. I don't know if replacement belts are readily available but and may be a good idea to have one handy, I feel fairly secure now and have taken several of town trips without any problems, rain or shine.
Quite difference from several years ago when I was replacing them every few months.
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- #34 of 34
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Re: 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan belt coming off [pberthoty]
by jcumbo
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Dec 06, 2009 (6:00 pm)
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Replying to: pberthoty (Dec 05, 2009 9:21 pm)
Amen to that. We had our 1999 Voyager for about 3 years when it first started losing belts and it wasn't until I threatened to call the local TV station did the dealer offer to put the large washer (??) on the tensioner pulley which did the trick for me for quite a while. But then we had a problem with the belt squealling like crazy any time there was even a hint of moisture out. To resolve this we added the Goodyear Gatorbelt and it took care of the squeaks for a long time and and it also held it in place well. We ran into it the squeaking again and I bought a new belt, this time it was the same style but a brand from NAPA. That did the trick until we broke 3 damper pulleys - probably from all of the torque holding the belt in alignment. Honestly I think something wears along the system where the belt rides and it is out of alignment just enough to screw things up, but not enough to be visible to the naked eye. (I read somewhere that a cracked motor mount was common in these to cause this issue, but I can't confirm that one as they never found that problem with mine.) That's why it only pops off after it's aged a while and when it gets moisture on the pulleys. It clearly should have been recalled but the losers in Detroit decided they would rather risk our lives and save a buck vs. doing the right thing. Otherwise, great van - had it 10 years and we finally gave up when it began to throw damper pulleys. Good luck and be safe.
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