96 grand caravan belt tension pully makes noise

[comet240]

hi i replaced the belt tensioner pulley its the smooth one on the 96 grand caravan 3.3 engine and now its making noie again i also noticed the one i took off was just a bolt and a cap to the pull and that was it and it was loose then replacement i got is a cap that goes in teh bearing and the pull and yet the bolt doesnt tighten it all the way up i can move it back and forth is it suposed to be tight up so the wheel cant move or what? cuz if so then id cut the bolt shorter

so any ideas?

[rhandwor]

Read the instructions that came with the pulley. Sometimes you need to remove the dust cover. Can you use the original bolt maybe you got the wrong pulley.

[comet240]

ill have to go back to c-tire then no paper work , and the orginal pully i took off also the pully could move slide to t side little bit more then 1/4" o play or maybe 1/2" play

[rhandwor]

I've never found a tensioner pulley with that amount of play. Look at the belt from the side and check if it is lined up properly. A broken mount or other problem will cause problems with a tensioner. I fixed a Volvo 960 that the tensioner was moving side to side and it had a broken mount. The belt was moving side to side.
They sell new tensioners at Advance and Auto Zone look at a new one because I don't think the pulley should move. I don't do many Dodge's so check before cutting a bolt.
I think you can observe the problem watching the belt from the side.

[comet240]

well the belt doesnt move back and forth it just squeals like crazy, not when i take the belt off then i can move the pully side to side but not before and it looks like when its tensioned up and running its looks like its trying to bend itself like its trying to bend the bolt

[rhandwor]

http://www.ebay.com/ search item 23042828947
Does your tension-er look like this. If you pulled off the complete unit their is a pin in the back that fits in to a hole in the block. You have a definite problem. Parts stores carry the complete unit.
Just from the look their should be a spacer that fits between the pulley and the bearing. This sets proper clearance so nothing rubs it possibly broke originally. Probably a dealer or junk yard item.
Search 96 caravan belt tensioner

[comet240]

well i couldnt find that number
but i just looked up belt tensioner none show with the picture with the pully wheel off of it, cuz all i did was buy the pully wheel for it.

paper work said pt on sleve and bearing and tighted bolt to 24ftbs

[rhandwor]

Take the pulley off and look at the back of the bearing. Can you add washers to take up the slop. Make sure it doesn't rub the bearing cover just touches the edges. Then make sure its centered on the pulley.
I think a spacer is missing. Make sure the puller spins freely when done.
Push the pulley all the way on the bolt I think its rubbing on the arm at this point.

[comet240]

ok thanks ill try that