How I changed Serpentine belt on 2006 Dodge Caravan 3.3L

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Denny B, Jul 19, 2008.

  1. Denny B

    Denny B Guest

    I have just changed the Serpentine belt on my 2006 Dodge Caravan 3.3L. I
    have the two shop service manuals for the 2006 Caravan and the belt
    tensioner, picture ( drawing )in the manual is not the same as on my
    vehicle. The manual picture ( drawing ) indicates you use an open end
    wrench on the back of the tensioner ( end opposite pulley, the spring end ).
    It shows a tab you attach the open end wrench to. Well the tab on my
    tensioner is about 1/64 inch and impossible to attach anything to.
    What I did was use a 90 degree adjustable wrench, I have had for
    decades. The jaws of the wrench is exactly parallel and you can be
    accurate with the adjustment.
    The wrench I have is NOT the 90 degree adjustable pipe wrench ( made by
    Rigid and other companies )these do not have jaws that are exactly
    parallel nor is the adjusting ring accurate, it is sloppy. However that
    type of pipe wrench could possibly work, however it is not what I used.
    What I used is basically a standard adjustable wrench a mechanic would
    have in his tool box, except the jaws are at 90 degrees, it is 10 1/2
    inches long.
    I purchased a 3/4x17 inch piece of pipe from Home Depot, the type of
    pipe you sometimes see them threading in the plumbing dept. I partly
    flattened one end of the pipe and slid 4 inches of the adjustable wrench
    handle into the pipe, to make the handle much longer ( 23 inches ), so
    when you pull on it you can overcome the spring force of the belt
    tensioner. The belt tensioner has a very strong spring and you cannot
    use just the 10 1/2 inch wrench, I had to add the extra length of pipe.
    I attached the adjustable wrench to the front of the tensioner ( where
    the pulley is ) snugged the adjustment for the jaws, pulled the pipe
    handle back. ( tensioner turns anti- clockwise with this pull ), slipped
    a 3 inch long 2x4 piece of wood, between the lower control arm of the
    wheel and the pipe handle. The tensioner relaxed about 3/4 inch. This
    was enough to remove the belt and install a new one. ( actually nothing
    was wrong with the old belt except it has 70,000km )

    What surprised me was once you relax the tensioner, how easy it was to
    remove the belt and how easy to install a new one. ( 2-3 minutes ).
    Thread the belt last on the Crankshaft Pulley. Remove the 2x4 block of
    wood. THAT'S IT. DONE.
    P.S. It is only common sense that one will memorize or make a drawing of
    how the belt is threaded on the different pulleys, BEFORE you remove it.

    Denny B
     
    Denny B, Jul 19, 2008
    #1
  2. Denny B

    John Keith Guest

    My vehicle has a diagram inside the engine compartment to guide you
    with the routing of the belt.

    I didn't follow your description of the wrench you used but your
    process matches my experience as well, once the tensioner is released
    the belt replacement is straightforward.


    John Keith
     
    John Keith, Jul 19, 2008
    #2
  3. Denny B

    Denny B Guest

    Keith,
    I am just curious what tool did you use to release
    the force on the tensioner. Always good to learn
    another way.
    Also did you relax the tension from the pulley end?

    Yes the vehicle does have a diagram inside engine compartment.

    Denny B
     
    Denny B, Jul 19, 2008
    #3
  4. Denny B

    John Keith Guest

    I did not document the process like you did and it was done sometime
    ago so I don't accurately remember all the details. I know I used a 15
    mm socket with the longest socket wrench I had. I can't remember if I
    slipped a piece of pipe over the wrench or not but I do think I used
    some rope to hold the end of the handle while I swapped the belt.


    John Keith
     
    John Keith, Jul 19, 2008
    #4
  5. Denny B

    kmath50 Guest

    With my 1993 Voyager with a 3.3L, I used a 3/8" "breaker bar" with a
    15mm socket, on the bolt that runs through the middle of the pulley.
    There is just barely enough room between the pulley and the fender
    well.

    I am now on my 3rd belt tensioner.

    -KM
     
    kmath50, Jul 20, 2008
    #5
  6. Denny B

    aarcuda69062 Guest

    A 15mm crowsfoot would make that job -so- much easier.
     
    aarcuda69062, Jul 20, 2008
    #6
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