Belt Tensioner and Idler Pulleys

[KManiac]

Here is some useful knowledge for those of you suffering from squeaky serpentine belts on the Caravan/Voyager/Town&Country's.

I have a 1998 Town & Country LX AWD with 3.8 liter V-6 with 81,000 miles. For the last year the van has emitted a grinding noise with vibration whenever the van is put into gear at idle. The noise and vibration varied with engine speed and became unnoticable when driving. But you would always hear it at idle when the van was in gear. Turning on the A/C increased the volume. The belt on my van drives the A/C compressor, water pump, power steering pump and alternator. I recently replaced the water pump due to a leaking seal, but this did not cure the problem.

Today, I finally got the van away from my wife for the day. I pulled off the serpentine belt and inspected the various accessory drives. All the accessories looked good. I then looked at both the belt tensioner pulley and the idler pulley. Both of these pulleys drive nothing and are identical. I spun one by hand (tensioner) and it stopped turning in four rotations. The spun the other (idler) and it stopped turning in 2 rotations. I removed both pulleys by unscrewing their respective center bolts (15 mm heads). When I spun one on my finger, I could hear the bearing clicking inside. When I spun the other one on my finger, the bearing made a high pitched whining sound. I concluded that both bearing were starting to fail.

The auto parts store gave me a choice of buying two replacement bearing for $8 each and leaving me to figure out how to press them into my existing pulleys or buying after market replacement pulleys for $17 each. I opted for convenience and bought the replacement pulleys. Once installed, the grinding sound was no longer there.

I have read a post here where a mechanic replaced the tensioner pulley but made no mention of the idler pulley, with the squeaking of the belt continuing. Please be informed that many of these applications have TWO idler pulleys, not just the one on the tensioner. A squeaking or grinding noice could be in either one or both. Any mechanic who replaces one without replacing or even checking the other should be avoided in the future.

[papi62596]

I have the same problem. I replaced the belt tensioner pulley ,but did not know about the idler pulley. When I called the parts store the only pulley they mentioned was the belt tensioner one. I'll have to change the other one and see if the squealing goes away.

Thanks.