Belt keeps falling off...

thewoahna · #1 02-05-2006, 04:11 PM

I have a 2000 TNC and the belt has fallen off twice. This is a major problem as you know that it runs alt, power steering, water pump, so when belt fails it renders the whole van useless. This is not good when far from home. Anyway, both times this has happend it was raining out. The belt looks fine, so I thought that it was the tensioner. Nope, it happend again. What is my problem?

Thanks!

lhj · #2 02-05-2006, 07:53 PM

I had the same proplem on my 96 Grand Caravan 3.3. When it rained the belt came off. The first garage (I was far from home and did not know them) told me that my power steering was leaking oil on to the belt and when mixed with water it would slip off. They wanted to replace the pump. I said NO!
My mechanic found the problem and it was the tensioner. I replaced it and the problem was solved. That was 3 years ago. Last year it happened again. It was the tensioner again. This time I purchased a better quality part and so far so good.

RIP · #3 02-06-2006, 12:17 AM

Type "caravan serpentine" in search above and you'll find gobs of info on belts coming off including several interesting fixes. Just click on the search hits and you'll find your answer. I like the 49204K Goodyear belt kit. Might be worth looking into. Please let us know the fix. Cheers!

djshorty140 · #4 03-16-2006, 06:58 PM

I have the same problem with my 97 T&C 3.8V6. The belt runs good for a few weeks, then starts to overlap the compressor causing it to rip from the side then snaps. Doesn't matter the weather. It can be sunny and this happens. A few mechanics can't find the problem. They just put on a new belt, then after driving it for a few weeks, like mabe after 400 or 500 miles, it starts to overlap the compressor ripping the belt from the side. This is getting frustrating and expensive. Any help on this would greatly be appreciated. My email address is [email protected]. Thank you.

kasparsport · #5 03-17-2006, 08:27 AM

I have a '99 caravan...mine has fallen off 3 times...twice in the rain (driving through puddle) & once through a little snow bank. I cant believe Dodge is doing nothing for us because its not "life Threatening''. Well when your driving & all of a sudden you lose your power steering with a load van of kids...it has to take a death for them to do something. Well anyway my mechanic put up some kind of gaurd to try to protect the belts from getting wet. Guess he was sick of seeing my van. I havent tested it yet because now I'm hesitant to take the van anywhere if the forecast calls for rain. Dodge should be recalling these vans & putting some kind of guard undreneath the pulleys.

Vats · #6 03-17-2006, 04:48 PM

Had the same problem in my 1999 3.8 V6. I noticed that the 3.0L caravan does not suffer from this problem, due to the fact that the Idler pulley on the 3.0L has ridges on it to keep the belt in place.

I went to the wreckers and got an idler pulley from a 3.0L, the pulley is the same diameter, only difference is the ridges, put it on and all has been well.

Same problem was on my uncles van, he put the ridged pulley on and no problems.

The Idler pulley does not drive anything and is located closer to the A/C compressor.

The pulley was cheap at the werckers and solved the problem. Worth a try!

Mrbizness1 · #7 03-17-2006, 10:31 PM

I had the same problem in the rain after the dealer changed the belt. The previous belt was also a Mopar and never gave me any problems. The dealer performed the 7/99 tsb and it still came off. It stayed a little longer in the rain, 5 miles compared to around the corner before the tsb. I installed a Dayco belt #5060968 and it hasn't come off in 5 months in all kinds of rain and snow. If your tensioner is strong and the belt is centered on the pulleys then I would change the belt first before going for the tensioner. I also changed the pulleys, they were $20.00 each. There is something different about the Mopar belts compared to the ones made a few years ago. maybe they are slightly larger. The part # has also changed. When I was at the dealer a 2005 was towed in for the same problem and the dealer probably installed another Mopar belt that came off again. This was the first time I had the belt come off in 98K miles and the $235.00 I spent for the TSB was a waste of money.

http://www.daycoproducts.com/

kasparsport · #8 03-20-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vats

Had the same problem in my 1999 3.8 V6. I noticed that the 3.0L caravan does not suffer from this problem, due to the fact that the Idler pulley on the 3.0L has ridges on it to keep the belt in place.

It happens to the 3.0 also...thats what I have....if it comes off again I will make sure the mechanic uses the dayco belt or I heard goodyear makes a belt that solves this problem as well...

Stevo2 · #9 03-21-2006, 04:50 AM

49204K Goodyear Problem Solver Tensioner Kit
for the 3.0 right now...I heard they may be making these for other size engines in the future.

KCorona · #10 03-24-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vats

Had the same problem in my 1999 3.8 V6. I noticed that the 3.0L caravan does not suffer from this problem, due to the fact that the Idler pulley on the 3.0L has ridges on it to keep the belt in place.

As kasparsport says, it happens on the 3.0 as well. Though the idler pulley is ridged, the tensioner pulley is not -- that's where the belt slips off on the 3.0

caravan96 · #11 05-19-2006, 05:15 PM

My 96, 3.8 L has 280,000 km. In May 05 I had a new Mopar serpentine belt put on. With 23,000 km on the belt, it came off in Nov 05 for the first time ever and 3,000 km later in May 06 it come off again(both times in the rain). Today, installed a Dayco#5060968 as you suggested, Mrbizness 1. I noticed that the Dayco and the one removed in May 05, had manufactured grooves running perpendicular to the length of the belt every 3/4 of an inch or so while the one the slid off twice did not.

Sorry, Vats, but the smooth, outside surface of my serpentine belt is the side that runs on (touches) the idler pulley so the idler pulley should be smooth, too, not like the grooved one on the 3.0 L.

This van is going into storage for awhile so it will be a year from now before I know if this fix works. Thanks for your help with this.

97 voyager · #12 05-19-2006, 08:27 PM

My ac belt just fell off recently and I have a 3.0. But before that whenever the ac was on the belt would squeal sometimes.

Mrbizness1 · #13 05-20-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 voyager

My ac belt just fell off recently and I have a 3.0. But before that whenever the ac was on the belt would squeal sometimes.

The belt squeal could be cause by a weak tensioner or a binding pulley. If you loosen the belt you can spin some of the pulleys by hand to be sure they are moving freely

caravan96 · #14 11-11-2008, 05:35 PM

My 96 now has 28,000 km more on it with no problem with the belt slipping off. I consider (and sincerely hope) that the problem is fixed.

Tyler9097 · #15 07-27-2009, 07:37 PM

Ok...This may be an old thread,but ,i own a Ford Taurus and whenever i
would drive through a puddle or rain, the belt would come off and i would loose power steering. This happen three time before i decided "ok time to troubleshoot" my father and i popped the hood and poured water on it and observed. The belt would slide off the tension pulley (slide. dramatically). So on another forum, they said to sand it down with sandpaper. It works like a charm. Doesn't even budge after pouring a gallon of water on it. Drive through all the puddles you want..

4$ piece of sandpaper>300$ kit

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