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Caravan/Voyager Serpentine Belt

31 messages,  Last post on Sep 04, 2008 at 11:21 AM

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#23 of 31 Serpentine belt falls off sometimes by nicompvoyager Dec 16, 2007 (12:47 pm)
Hi All,   1997 Voyager, 3.0L, 140K miles, original owner...   Belt tensioners are replaced about 1 per year. The last time it was replaced it just howled when it got wet. I was told by the shop that the wrong pulley was on there. They went to a different belt on the second try. I don't know who replaced the pulley since I bought it new, it will remain a mystery. Anyway, after getting it back, the serpentine belt fell off while driving it and we lost power steering, alternator, A/C.   The belt dragged on the ground for about 20 miles until I drove it back to the shop that replaced the tensioner. They reseated the belt. Yesterday, it fell off again. I am being told by them that when we hit a big puddle the belt tends to fall off of this model. That's funny since we've had it over 10 years and it's only come off twice in that time, both times since they worked on it.     Should I give up and sell it? Is this a chronic problem with this model? Help!   Aside from the headliner falling off, valve job at 55K, remote mirror failure, eats belt tensioners about 1 per year, fan relay failure, valves tapping like a diesel, yada yada yada... it's an OK car. Replies to this message: shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:01 pm) nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 1:12 pm) shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:21 pm) shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:54 pm) roadwarrior4 (Dec 19, 2007 6:18 am) rbbartho (Sep 04, 2008 11:21 am)
#24 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager] by shipo Dec 16, 2007 (1:01 pm)
Replying to: nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 12:47 pm) Scroll to the bottom of this page for the reference to the kit for the 3.0 Mitsubishi engine:   http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2911&location_id=3488   By all accounts, the special belt kit from Gates stops the belt problems completely. Said another way, I've heard from lots of folks that have put this system on their vans and so far at least, not one belt has been thrown.   Let us know how you make out.   Best Regards, Shipo Replies to this message: nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 1:12 pm) shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:21 pm) shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:54 pm)
#25 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [shipo] by nicompvoyager Dec 16, 2007 (1:12 pm)
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! Replies to this message: shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:21 pm) shipo (Dec 16, 2007 1:54 pm)
#26 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager] by shipo Dec 16, 2007 (1:21 pm)
Replying to: nicompvoyager (Dec 16, 2007 1:12 pm) Glad I could help out.   Best Regards, Shipo
#27 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager] by shipo Dec 16, 2007 (1:54 pm)
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
#28 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [nicompvoyager] by roadwarrior4 Dec 19, 2007 (6:18 am)
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. Replies to this message: rbbartho (Sep 04, 2008 11:21 am)
#29 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt problem [shipo] by jmartin24 Sep 04, 2008 (9:50 am)
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... Replies to this message: shipo (Sep 04, 2008 10:20 am)
#30 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt problem [jmartin24] by shipo Sep 04, 2008 (10:20 am)
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.
#31 of 31 Re: Serpentine belt falls off sometimes [roadwarrior4] by rbbartho Sep 04, 2008 (11:21 am)
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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