94 voyager serpentine belt

[mbrinkma]

I have a 94 Grand Voyager with a 3.3l engine (with AC).

I replaced the serpentine belt tensioner with an aftermarket part about 18 months ago. It ran fine for over a year.

Now is seems that the belt is tracking on the outer edge of the tensioner pulley (as evidenced by the missing paint on the pulley) and the belt is misaligned with the pulley that follows (power steering). The belt hits the power steering pump pulley too far from the block, which causes it to try and skip one groove off the pulley.

I took it apart and everything looks fine (no faulty assembly, no obvious evidence of the tensioner getting bent somehow, etc.). I was not able to precisely check the alignment of the tensioner pulley to the mount.

The tensioner, the power steering pump, and the alternator all attach to the same bracket (which is fairly stout), so I believe they should all line up well with respect to each other and the alignment should be fairly repeatable upon dis/re-assembly.

Thoughts...?

[rwood13]

get a yard stick and see if the pullys are parrallel, get another, don't cost that much, if it is going bad, how far from home will you be when it quits?

[dno36]

99% of the time, it is the tensioner that is the problem, especially if it is tracking off center.

I would check the individual components for looseness. If they are tight the tensioner is the most likely suspect, with its "mono-bolt" from the backside.

Hopefully, you have been traveling with a spare 987 belt.

Also, DO check the alaignment with a dependable straight edge and a good eye.

GL

DNO.

[mbrinkma]

Thanks to all the for the help. I did check the alignment with a straightedge before posting the first time but forgot to mention it. The after-market pulley was out some. It also appeared to be tilting away from the block, but that could have been an optical illusion (didn't have an easy way to check it).

Anyway, I went ahead and replaced the after-market tensioner with an OEM one and, what do you know, it appears to work MUCH better.

I guess the moral of this one is...don't use an after-market tensioner, at least not one from Advance Auto Parts. :-(

[dno36]

Don't be sour on aftermarket items, I have had more than 1 dealer part not work for me when I've applied them. I just like the dealer parts better.

(o:

DNO.