Serpentine Belt falling off
kandrewt
08-06-2007, 01:31 PM
Well, i posted a thread earlier discussing how my serpentine belt keeps shredding, and it wasn't my AC compressor's fault. I was advized by members here as well as my parents mechanic to change the tensioner because it was causing the belt to walk to the outside which would cause it to shred. Well, i did this weekend. Now, i have another problem, probably related.
Before, I could change teh belt and the car would run for about a good 5 to 7 miles before the belt would shred again. Now, the belt starts to walk or come off within 15 seconds of starting the car! I don't understand how i did NOT have the problem before, and i replaced the tensioner, which was thought to be the problem, and now the problem has escaltated even farther. The belt comes off almost automaticaly now when the car is started. Is there something wrong with the new tensioner? Someone suggested the crankshaft or waterpump pulleys are tilting to the outside? But, again, i wasn't haveing the problem of the belt comeing off automatically before!!!??? any suggestions? thanks so much.
Before, I could change teh belt and the car would run for about a good 5 to 7 miles before the belt would shred again. Now, the belt starts to walk or come off within 15 seconds of starting the car! I don't understand how i did NOT have the problem before, and i replaced the tensioner, which was thought to be the problem, and now the problem has escaltated even farther. The belt comes off almost automaticaly now when the car is started. Is there something wrong with the new tensioner? Someone suggested the crankshaft or waterpump pulleys are tilting to the outside? But, again, i wasn't haveing the problem of the belt comeing off automatically before!!!??? any suggestions? thanks so much.
kandrewt
08-06-2007, 01:32 PM
Oh, and here is the link to previous thread discussion...
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=734171
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=734171
eippermx
08-06-2007, 10:18 PM
This may sound dumb. With the belt off, did you check each pulley i.e. grab each one at say 6 & 12 or 9 & 3 o'clock to see if any of them had excessive play in them?? If you find one that did...Maybe your culprit???
richtazz
08-07-2007, 09:29 AM
Also, are you sure you have the belt routed properly? It's easy to put it back on wrong, causing the belt to come off immediately.
Answereing your last post on the old thread linked above, unless you see coolant leaking on that side it's a good possibility that your upper intake plenum is where your coolant is leaking. Very common problem on 97-early99 model Grand Prix's (and any 95-early 99 GM car with the 3800 series-II engine). The OEM upper plenum had an issue with the EGR stovepipe eroding the plastic plenum causing an internal coolant leak. Have this checked, as it can get so bad that enough coolant can be pumped into the engine to hydrolock a cylinder and seriously damage your engine
Answereing your last post on the old thread linked above, unless you see coolant leaking on that side it's a good possibility that your upper intake plenum is where your coolant is leaking. Very common problem on 97-early99 model Grand Prix's (and any 95-early 99 GM car with the 3800 series-II engine). The OEM upper plenum had an issue with the EGR stovepipe eroding the plastic plenum causing an internal coolant leak. Have this checked, as it can get so bad that enough coolant can be pumped into the engine to hydrolock a cylinder and seriously damage your engine
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025