Serpentine Belt replace problem

[miraclebit]

I have a 1999 Dodge Caravan and I cannot seem to get the belt back on any suggestions??
Chamisa

[Cobra_Sam]

Originally Posted by miraclebit

I have a 1999 Dodge Caravan and I cannot seem to get the belt back on any suggestions??
Chamisa

Please give us some more info.
Are you putting the same belt back on ? Is it new ? Engine size.
Reason why you are putting it on ?

[B33p3r]

You do have a wrench on the tensioner pulley, Yes???? You have to pull on the wrench to allow the belt to slip over the pulley. I believe it's a 15mm. You may have to go through the wheel well to get at it.

[Mrbizness1]

Originally Posted by B33p3r

You do have a wrench on the tensioner pulley, Yes???? You have to pull on the wrench to allow the belt to slip over the pulley. I believe it's a 15mm. You may have to go through the wheel well to get at it.

I had to reinstall the belt on my 3.3 a few days after the dealer put a new belt on, I don't know why it came off after 50 miles of local driving, but it's been on for almost 2k miles without a problem. Perhaps the lithium grease I sprayed behind the tensioner helped. Rather than crawl under the van I put it on from the top using this method.
Slip the belt over everything except the idler, pull forward on the tensioner with a 15mm offset box wrench and have someone slide the belt onto the idler. This works much easier then trying to hold the tensioner with the wrench and putting the belt on at the same time.
NO MORE BRUISED KNUCKLES

[bolognaman]

My 2 cents.

If you need help with the path of the belt, my van has a diagram on the passenger side of the engine compartment. I would assume yours does too.