Dodge caravan belt tensioner tool

To prevent burns, let the Dodge Caravan motor cool down before attempting to change the belt tensioner. The pulley should be replaced if it has a lot of resistance when you spin it. Open the hood of your vehicle. Locate the tensioner pulley. The tensioner pulley has a smooth surface that the top of the belt — the side with no grooves — rides on. Put a socket on the bolt and turn the bolt counterclockwise to break it loose.

The tensioner pulley is on the end of a spring-loaded tensioner. If it will not break loose because the tensioner wants to move, keep the tensioner from moving by holding it in place with a pry bar; then you will be able to loosen the bolt in the pulley. Both are used to keep tension on the engine serpentine belts so that they can drive the various engine accessories. When the tensioner has an issue, it can affect the how the belts drive the pulleys which can affect the performance and functionality of the vehicle.

Spring tensioners are designed to tension automatically while the pivot design types can be adjusted manually. If you suspect that your drive belt tensioner may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to determine if it should be replaced.

This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your unique location. Replacement intervals vary by vehicle and driving conditions. We typically see this part replaced approximately every , miles. The belt tensioner of the Dodge Caravan can wear out occasionally from usage and prevent the parts that are operated by the serpentine belt from working properly.

The serpentine belt runs the Dodge Caravans' alternator, power steering and other systems, requiring that the belt tensioner keep the proper tension on the belt. The belt tensioner is attached to the engine with a bolt and can be changed in less than an hour. Locate the Dodge Caravan belt tensioner on the passenger side of the engine compartment just below the alternator and place a socket wrench over the bolt in the center of the tensioner pulley.

Turn the socket wrench clockwise to relieve the tension and remove the serpentine belt from the pulleys. Turn the socket wrench counterclockwise to loosen the bolt holding the belt tensioner on the engine and remove the belt tensioner assembly from the engine compartment.

Attach the new belt tensioner assembly to the engine with the bolt and tighten the bolt with the socket wrench. Thread the serpentine belt of the Dodge Caravan around the pulleys the same way it came off and move the socket wrench clockwise on the belt tensioner bolt to fit the belt around the tensioner.