Problems with serpentine belt... any advice?

I own a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan SE and it has 160,000 miles on it. Besides some major transmission and front end work (steering mount rack and tie rod) done at around 120,000 miles its been a good van. But recently its had problems with the serpentine belt. It started when the inital one broke. The dealer said the tensioner pulley needed to be replaced, so that was done and a new belt was put on. Not more than two weeks later then belt broke again. The dealer only charged for labor, not the belt. How nice of him because it only takes a 15mm wrench and about two minutes to put it on. (Had I been home I would have done this myself) The second new belt seemed to work fine, but soon after started squeaking/chirping at idle speeds. We took it back to the same dealer twice more (we bargined for two free "checks") as this sqeaking got worse and they couldn't find anything wrong. One mechanic said he could put soap on the belt. After a 3,000 mile trip to the east coast and back, the chirping was now a constant loud chip that didn't go away with increased engine RPMs. Knowing the dealer didn't have anymore ideas, I thought it might be the alternator bearing starting to go because thats where it sounding like it was coming from (the rear half of the belt assembly) and because the alternator had 160,000 miles on it. After replacing that I thought I was victorious because the belts ran great... no noise. A week later now I hear the same noise starting to come back. We have to take another 1200 mile trip in a week and I'd prefer to know at least whats wrong. I know now that its not the alternator, it shouldn't be the tensioner pulley and it really doesn't sound like the idler pulley. The belt is not rubbing or wearing abnormally. It runs across all pulleys straight. Any suggestions? The dealer itsn't going to get to look at this van. Thanks for the help.

I own a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan SE and it has 160,000 miles on it. Besides some major transmission and front end work (steering mount rack and tie rod) done at around 120,000 miles its been a good van. But recently its had problems with the serpentine belt. It started when the inital one broke. The dealer said the tensioner pulley needed to be replaced, so that was done and a new belt was put on. Not more than two weeks later then belt broke again. The dealer only charged for labor, not the belt. How nice of him because it only takes a 15mm wrench and about two minutes to put it on. (Had I been home I would have done this myself) The second new belt seemed to work fine, but soon after started squeaking/chirping at idle speeds. We took it back to the same dealer twice more (we bargined for two free "checks") as this sqeaking got worse and they couldn't find anything wrong. One mechanic said he could put soap on the belt. After a 3,000 mile trip to the east coast and back, the chirping was now a constant loud chip that didn't go away with increased engine RPMs. Knowing the dealer didn't have anymore ideas, I thought it might be the alternator bearing starting to go because thats where it sounding like it was coming from (the rear half of the belt assembly) and because the alternator had 160,000 miles on it. After replacing that I thought I was victorious because the belts ran great... no noise. A week later now I hear the same noise starting to come back. We have to take another 1200 mile trip in a week and I'd prefer to know at least whats wrong. I know now that its not the alternator, it shouldn't be the tensioner pulley and it really doesn't sound like the idler pulley. The belt is not rubbing or wearing abnormally. It runs across all pulleys straight. Any suggestions? The dealer itsn't going to get to look at this van. Thanks for the help.

I would try the tensioner again......the could have installed a bad one. Or when the other belt broke it might have damaged the tensioner.....the tensioner on this vans suck....My van has 110,000 and I am on my third.

I would try the tensioner again......the could have installed a bad one. Or when the other belt broke it might have damaged the tensioner.....the tensioner on this vans suck....My van has 110,000 and I am on my third.

Thanks. I was afraid that might be the case... and theres no way to prove that they installed a bad one unless you ask them to replace it. They insist that its the belt making the noise on the pulley. I don't see how rubber on metal makes a sqeak. Is it worth replacing it if the belt is riding fine?

Thanks. I was afraid that might be the case... and theres no way to prove that they installed a bad one unless you ask them to replace it. They insist that its the belt making the noise on the pulley. I don't see how rubber on metal makes a sqeak. Is it worth replacing it if the belt is riding fine?
Sorry I meant to ask... its not likely that the main drive or power steering pulley is out of line is it?

Sorry I meant to ask... its not likely that the main drive or power steering pulley is out of line is it?



If the Main Drive was out of line you would have real issues. If the power steering was off by a little the belt would tend to "jump" over one or more groves. A Squeek could be caused by a bad tensioner or a bearing going bad in one of the pulleys. Check the idler pulley and make sure it spins free.


Not sure what engine you have, put if you have the 3.0l, there are two belts, one dedicated just to the AC. I would remove that belt and see if the squeek goes away. If it does your issue is with the AC compressor or the tension pulley for the AC. If you still have the squeek I would suggest the tensioner again. It is $50.00 at Auto zone and it is easy to do.

If the Main Drive was out of line you would have real issues. If the power steering was off by a little the belt would tend to "jump" over one or more groves. A Squeek could be caused by a bad tensioner or a bearing going bad in one of the pulleys. Check the idler pulley and make sure it spins free.


Not sure what engine you have, put if you have the 3.0l, there are two belts, one dedicated just to the AC. I would remove that belt and see if the squeek goes away. If it does your issue is with the AC compressor or the tension pulley for the AC. If you still have the squeek I would suggest the tensioner again. It is $50.00 at Auto zone and it is easy to do.

well, had that prob. , too, but in my case it actually was the waterpump
wich lasted in this state almost a year then it locked up and ripped my timing belt to pieces!!!
thank god for a non interference engine!!
take belt of and check your waterpump , too, just in case!!

If the Main Drive was out of line you would have real issues. If the power steering was off by a little the belt would tend to "jump" over one or more groves. A Squeek could be caused by a bad tensioner or a bearing going bad in one of the pulleys. Check the idler pulley and make sure it spins free.


Not sure what engine you have, put if you have the 3.0l, there are two belts, one dedicated just to the AC. I would remove that belt and see if the squeek goes away. If it does your issue is with the AC compressor or the tension pulley for the AC. If you still have the squeek I would suggest the tensioner again. It is $50.00 at Auto zone and it is easy to do.

Thanks. I'll try the tensioner. I do have the 3.0 and am positive that the squeak is not coming from the AC drive. The vehicle is not here now, but I really don't remember routing the belt specifically around the water pump. I'll have to look at it when its home later this afternoon. Speaking of AC though, how long do these compressors usually last? The van has 160,000 and you can pretty much count on if it was summer, the AC was on. The one on my van is starting to whistle. Thanks for the help.

I have experienced that some brands of serpentine belts make noise after a few miles and others do not. I'd try a different brand than what you've tried before.

did you ever figure out what fixed the problem. i have the same problem

did you ever figure out what fixed the problem. i have the same problem

Yes it turned out to be the tensioner pulley. For some reason either the one the garage installed was bad or went bad again when the belt broke the second time. I'm not sure why it took two to fix the problem. The assembly seems fine now.

I own a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan SE and it has 160,000 miles on it. Besides some major transmission and front end work (steering mount rack and tie rod) done at around 120,000 miles its been a good van. But recently its had problems with the serpentine belt. It started when the inital one broke. The dealer said the tensioner pulley needed to be replaced, so that was done and a new belt was put on. Not more than two weeks later then belt broke again. The dealer only charged for labor, not the belt. How nice of him because it only takes a 15mm wrench and about two minutes to put it on. (Had I been home I would have done this myself) The second new belt seemed to work fine, but soon after started squeaking/chirping at idle speeds. We took it back to the same dealer twice more (we bargined for two free "checks") as this sqeaking got worse and they couldn't find anything wrong. One mechanic said he could put soap on the belt. After a 3,000 mile trip to the east coast and back, the chirping was now a constant loud chip that didn't go away with increased engine RPMs. Knowing the dealer didn't have anymore ideas, I thought it might be the alternator bearing starting to go because thats where it sounding like it was coming from (the rear half of the belt assembly) and because the alternator had 160,000 miles on it. After replacing that I thought I was victorious because the belts ran great... no noise. A week later now I hear the same noise starting to come back. We have to take another 1200 mile trip in a week and I'd prefer to know at least whats wrong. I know now that its not the alternator, it shouldn't be the tensioner pulley and it really doesn't sound like the idler pulley. The belt is not rubbing or wearing abnormally. It runs across all pulleys straight. Any suggestions? The dealer itsn't going to get to look at this van. Thanks for the help.

:) Buy the Goodyear field fix kit. The 49204K kit from Goodyear fixes the problem once and for all. Check it out and you'll see what I mean.

Try Goodyear gaterback belts at the autozone. They still make some noise, but not nearly as much. I have had luck retightening them when they chirp after first being installed:p