Belt tensioner 1996 GC

[Len Q]

While trying to reinstall the serp. belt, I leaned too hard on the tensioner and snapped the bolt that holds the spring loaded assembly to the engine. Any suggestion on how to remove (without removing the engine)?

Thanks,

Len

[Sport45]

I'd like to find out too. I gave up on replacing mine a while back when I couldn't get a wrench in. Grease and oil is no longer stopping the sqeak and the spousal unit is beginning to complain......

[larryhe]

Len
I don't know how much mechanical experience you have so you may know all this. I don't know how much room you have but the rest of the bolt should be easy to turn now that it has no force on it. If you can get to it with a small chisel or screw driver you should be able to turn it by placing the chisel on outer edge and tapping in ccw direction. By the way how big a guy are you?

[Sport45]

I missed the part about it being broken off. My problem was that I couldn't get to the attaching bolt(s). How much has to come off first for a 3.3L '96 Grand Caravan?

[gunwalder]

Newbie here....

I get to tackle this project this week. I was wondering what that squeal was coming from, almost like a grinding sound, but reading the forums here imply that my tensioner is going bad.

Now I just have to find out what wheel is the tensioner

Thanks for sharing all the info,

Mike

[Bronco2]

I have done this job on a 93 or 95 GC with the 3.3-in a parking lot using my brother in laws broken floor jack to work on his son's van. At the most,you may have to pull the bracket that holds the tensioner and P/S pump .Most of this is done from under the van. To Gunwalder-if you look at the belt diagram under the hood it will show you where the tensioner is. Since the bolt isn't broken off,just unscrew it and replace the tensioner. You will probably have to jack it up,remove the r/f wheel and the plastic shields and work from the bottom. Hope this helps.

[gunwalder]

You rock, thanks for the reply.

Ya, I figured I should have looked for that diagram before I sent the post, but laziness generally gets the best of me.

Thanks again,

Mike