Squeaky belt NO MORE! Dodge Caravan / Town and Country Serpentine Belt

I had some serious squeaking coming from under the hood in my Dodge Caravan. Turns out it was the tensioner pulley.
I bought one from Auto Zone for $16.99 + tax.
Getting the serpentine belt off is a bit tricky but just needs a 15mm socket and either a wrench or breaker bar. Either will work. Once you get the serpentine belt off, look around for any pulleys that appear to be out of alignment or have some play in them.
If you have an questions or comments, leave them below and I'll be sure to answer!

[@deshonodom964]

My entire belt slipped off yesterday. I had the water pump replaced by my mechanic a week ago. I purchased another belt more expensive and put the belt back on car fired up. I was scheduled for my mechanic this morning but after this tutorial I’ll replace the tension pulley myself. Thanks!

[@anaramirez4118]

Aleluya!!!! I thought it was going to be something worse and way too expensive. Thank you so much!!

[@KeyFobRob]

Glad I could help!

[@farrellpassingan3693]

Very informative, thanks mate.. 👍

[@KeyFobRob]

You're welcome!

[@deshonodom964]

Also I got in through the alternator by removing two screws. Information from Auto Zone. 1997 Plymouth Voyager.

[@daniellundberg4926]

Awesome , thank u

[@KeyFobRob]

No problem 👍

[@joshualawson7604]

We replaced the Serpentine belt but the Town and Country still squeaks when the AC is on!

[@buddha206]

Ac compressor pulley is probably shot

[@MrAperfecto93]

@@buddha206 I have a problem Where are my serpentine belt falls off if water gets in the area, and I also get the squeaky sound I will try to change the AC pully

[@kiixgviikk4270]

Cool stuff im sure i have the same issue so ill be doing that today thanks for the video

[@KeyFobRob]

No problem at all. Hope it was useful for you

[@pheebs75]

Thank you!!!!😊

[@KeyFobRob]

No problem 😊

[@Abels-Adventures]

Thanks this helped a lot

[@KeyFobRob]

Glad it helped!

[@jimbola77]

very nice thank you for sharing!!!

[@KeyFobRob]

+jimbola77 You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed

[@1foxtrot70]

I have a 1998 Chrysler Town & Country AWD. I tried to perform the tensioner removal as you have shown however, the transfer case on the transmission is in the way one can not see the nut from the bottom. I have removed the alternator I can just view the nut from the top however, a support bracket crossing over to the back side of the mounting plate for the alternator, tensioner, and power steering pump is in the way. The support bracket must be removed on one end and moved to the side to allow room for a wrench to get in there. At the moment, because of tight angles the preferred wrench is a palm air right angle impact wrench from Harbor Freight. Then removing the crossover support, and an offset ratcheting box end. In my case, I can completely understand a repair cost of $200-$300 at the shops. I think the design engineer had a nightmare when this arrangement was thought up. 

[@KeyFobRob]

Wow! I can certainly understand your frustrations! Its always a shame when you start digging in and find a ton of things in your way. I ran into similar frustrations when changing the spark plugs on this same 99' Caravan. I ended up getting a quote for the plugs and it was $370 glad I ended up doing it myself. Woof!

[@1foxtrot70]

You are so correct. While having the vehicle out of service I also changed plugs and wires, valve cover gaskets, coil block, and water pump. I noticed coolant moisture on under side of engine and decided now is the time to change it rather than waiting for a break down God knows where. I am finishing up today engine should be good for another 266,000 miles. By that time the unibody will have rusted to pieces, LOL.

[@KeyFobRob]

Mike Schmidt 266K! That is impressive! Can't kill that AWD minivan LOL. Hope everything goes back together well!

[@1foxtrot70]

Robbie TwoScraps The saga continues... Upon closer inspection I Discovered that the pump was not leaking but rather seepage from the front head gasket. I thought "Oh Crap" either tear the engine apart BIG TIME or get some coolant system stop leak, I opted for the stop leak. After getting the idler and tensioner pulleys in place I noticed the idler was slightly narrower and misaligned from the OEM. So I pressed out the new bearing from the replacement pulley and pressed it into the OEM pulley and got perfect alignment. Whoo! I took it out for a spin it now runs like a scalded cat with no codes. After going to www.AutoMd.com I was able to calculate the cost of repairs if I had taken it to a Dealer, Independent Shop, and DIY. In general the Dealer costs would have been $6000, Shop costs about $5000 and DIY about $1000 in parts my labor was my own. Hope this helps everyone who reads this.

[@KeyFobRob]

Mike Schmidt Nice work Mike! A HUGE victory for sure! Pretty cool little website there.

[@kenmorelivnz5244]

Excellent!

[@KeyFobRob]

Glad I could help you out!

[@bananamonkee]

Thank you!

[@thomashowl6488]

I wonder, do you think it could be the tension pulley for my van? It's an 06 T&C and it squeaks as well, but only when turning at slow speed and after a medium acceleration. I've got a few ideas of what it might be, but don't really have the diagnosing experience to make an educated guess.

[@joewatson4177]

Web the squeaking for a 1994 Chrysler Town and Country it is also smoking when I stopped the vehicle and it still running what is causing it to smell rubber being burnt

[@puppycat65481]

thanks..........yes, sounds familiar.

[@KeyFobRob]

+puppy cat You're welcome

[@55stickcar1]

Good day,I have a 99 dodge grand caravan like this one. I changed the water pump and put a new serpentine belt in. Soon after that it began to squeal just like the one in the video. I changed the belt again and it solved the problem temporarily but it was back very soon. We put a stethoscope on it and found the tensioner pulley was loud. So I changed it. Again it solved it for a day then it was back. I put baby powder on the belt and the squeal is gone instantly but returns. Do you have any suggestions from here? Perhaps the actual tensioner needs changing?

[@normanhmath]

Your speculation is correct. I just changed a tensioner on a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country and it shut up. I actually thought my Power Steering Pump was making that noise.

[@donjohnson3701]

Yeah, I thought I was clever because the parts store didn’t have a tensioner with a tab on it like the factory part so I just replaced the pulley I still had the squeak (more like a chirp) i checked the power steering pump. But finally went back to the tensioner Which I replaced with one from Advance auto parts - it was a “Litens”, made in Canada. It had the tab for tensioning on it and fit like a charm. No more squeaks (chirps)!

[@michellewallace5685]

Mine is making soft chirping sounds. That sometimes stop and sometimes are louder. And gets really loud while driving now. Just redid the tensioner pulley and the water pump is new. No idea what could be wrong. Mine's a 2000 3.8L.

[@jh8338]

PS pump.

[@Jake-sv9fv]

odds are, if the tensioner pulley went, the tensioner itself should be replaced also. it isn't putting enough tension on the belt. i just had the very same issues.

[@davidl9232]

thanks

[@devupatelgmailcom]

Thank you for good video. Where did to get the tool for tensioner. I borrowed from Auto Zone and O'really but could not able to use it because very small area and could not pull far enough.

[@larrywafer4820]

What if I still make that sound

[@larrywafer4820]

What if It still make that sound

[@genohall3735]

Hey how u sir today Will I have the same same problem with a 2000 dodge Caravan 3.3l I did all that what u did and get a new pulley wheel for it to but still squeaking so do that mean my bolt is out of time

[@robsmith7216]

Geno Hall you check the alternater or what was it I have the same problem

[@smoothash7538]

You ever find a solution?

[@vladix750]

Thanks for good explanation. However I replaced my old cracked belt by new Dayco 6pk2460, tensioner Dayco apv2573 but new belt still slips off when I drive through deep puddles. I just replaced the Harmonic Balancer...Still slips off in puddles. Fitting these parts was waste of money. I am looking for slip proof pulleys.

[@mostlymoparih5682]

The GATES kit part number 38379K has ribbed pulleys and a double sided ribbed belt that was made purposely to prevent the belt from slipping off after hitting puddes.

[@kennethpeters3448]

I found a tensioner pulley for my 99 town and country limited and it has a lip to stop belt from slipping off

[@vladix750]

Is that a ribbet pulley?

[@kennethpeters3448]

@@vladix750 no just has a plate that goes between the bolt and pulley. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.amazon.com/Dorman-82570-Tensioner-Pulley-Shield/dp/B000TYVWSQ&ved=2ahUKEwi6xLm26qvmAhXOY98KHbGNBXAQFjANegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw29KYKdbQovTzyBgUagKM2V

[@kennethpeters3448]

@@vladix750 plate is cheaper than the double ribbed belt they want almost $100

[@JeffreyCornish]

Hello, I had an abortive attempt to replace the AC clutch coil on my 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager (3.8l) I rotated the tensioner and slipped the belt off of the idler pulley After doing the work I could on the AC clutch coil (damn snaprings) I replaced the belt back on but have less tension now and lots of noise If I spray the ribbed side of the belt the noise goes away for a short bit. I don't think the tensioner is returning to the position it had before any suggestions?

[@KeyFobRob]

If it wasn't squeaking before, I'd take the belt off and put it back on again. Sounds like it may just be a little off center and putting it back on might get it back on track. Let me know if that works or not.

[@JeffreyCornish]

I had a mechanic look at it and the tensioner went bad. sigh. 15 year old van, bound to happen. thank you for replying!

[@KeyFobRob]

Jeffrey Cornish yea - sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and pay a pro

[@jasonstrout4502]

@@KeyFobRob NEVER😎

[@burtmanindustries]

1996 same issue but only happens when it's raining. Any ideas??

[@mackenziefield553]

My 2011 caravan was the same way. So my husband replaced the belt and the tensioner pulley and now it's squealing like a pig all the time. Back to diagnosing the real issue...

[@burtmanindustries]

Oh no! Did he try the water trick and the sound went away>?

[@hyzercreek]

You need to tell us what year your car is, my 2005 doesn't look like this. The alternator is in the front by the radiator, the AC is in the front but down low, and the P/S is up where your alternator is.

[@chuckamok63]

Post 2001 the accessory arrangement is different, the alternator is up front and on top.

[@KeyFobRob]

99

[@johnrambo8331]

In this case. The tensioner pully is what the problem was. He said his was an 02. Yes you're car is set up different. But follow the diagram on the radiator frame. It tells you where the tensioner is. When you find it and it's right there. Follow his instructions.

[@mdsd77]

something looks wrong?