fan belt is shreading

[231jasonS]

I have a 04. 5 with 6300 miles. About 2-3 weeks ago I noticed a little belt noise (squeak) at idle and while under slight load. i didn't think to much about it because it only lasted for a few hours that day. i figured some thing got on the belt(grease or moisture).



Then i noticed it a few more times but it always seamed to go away when it was warmed up. I could not see anything wrong, so i decided to wait and see because i did not want to take it to the dealer.



This evening i noticed it again and saw at least two of the ribs on the belt were gone and the belt is coming apart. Has anyone else had similar problems?. .



I wonder if its a bad belt or is something causing the belt to come apart?

 

[DGFoster]

My 2000 did that,you might have a pully going bad.

 

[231jasonS]

Well now ive taken the belt off and all the pullys seem to spin with no problem. i know than spinning the pulls wont tell me for sure, but it seems they are all in good order.



(at least the ones i can spin by hand)

 

[rashwor]

I have a '92 that did this same thing at about 180,000 miles. The belt would try to run off the front of the A/C pulley and would actually run with a couple of ribs off the front of the A/C pulley until it cut those ribs off.



Took a lot of head scratching to figure it out as I did not want to take it to the dealer, but I eventually did because I could not figure it out. Turned out the auto tensioner arm / pulley assembly was bad. Replaced the entire assembly and the problem was solved.



I am willing to bet this will cure your problem as well.



P. S. don't ask why I am up at this hour!

 

[231jasonS]

Rashwor,



Well i would not be that surprised if it were the tensioner at 180k, but at 6k..... I guess ill have to take it to DC and see what they say.



It will be a good time to start complainging about the wind noise and a couple of other minor things that i didnt want to waste a trip to the dealer for.



Oh and i work 3rd shift so im always on here at this hour.

 

[WyattEarp]

Had the same thing happen to me

at a little over 6000 miles it is possible it is your belt tensioner pulley, not the pulley that your belt runs around but the part that bolts to the engine, there is a spring type mechanism inside and mine also did the same thing i figured mine at first was a bad belt, bought another one $42. 00 and it shredded in about 10sec after start up.

I have to say if it were not for this website i would have been silly and took it to the dealer but instead bought another complete unit which i had price shock to the tune of $143. 00 they sold it to me at a whopping discount 132. 00 LMAO.

Anyways if you check on this site there is a company that sells these either just the round pulley itself or you can get another unit for like $100. 00 can't remember the name of the company but maybe someone can chime in with it for me.

Like all good things sometimes you get a good one and sometimes you get a faulty one.



Good LuckOo.

 

[rashwor]

I don't know... I was kinda disappointed that the tensioner failed at 180,000. Water pump went around then too. If it has been a gasser, I would probably have gotten less. I was very pleased.



Just kidding. Like Wyatt said, sometimes you get a good one sometimes you don't. It is like the guys with the first '03s with the cracked alternator brackets.



Good luck.

 

[EEdmondson]

231jasons,



Let us know what the dealer did to fix your belt. I see that you're in the East Bay, what dealer and how's their service dept?



Rick

 

[231jasonS]

well i took it in this morning. First trip to the dealer for anything other than parts counter. The service department was pretty good. No appoitment and they got to my truck in under 3 hours.



They could not find anything wrong with the pullys or tensioner so they are just going to replace the belt and guess that it was a defective belt. I hope thats the only problem. I'd bet its not.



Oh and the belt isnt even in stock they had to order it.



I also found out they have an update flash for the computer. They want to charge me $58. 00 labor to do it though. The service geek... ..... err, guy couldn't even tell me what would be different on the update. He is supposed to find out and tell me. Hopefully it something to do with MPG.



I had a couple of other small things, a rattle on the rightside door pannel and door weatherstripping/wind noise.



I'll see what happens tommorow morning.

 

[231jasonS]

Originally posted by EEdmondson

231jasons,



Let us know what the dealer did to fix your belt. I see that you're in the East Bay, what dealer and how's their service dept?



Rick

Oh yea Brentwood Dodge... ... I know the parts manager, good guy. Dont know about the service department yet. But they are intrested in performance upgrades for thier customers so hopefully they'll be good with covering warranty items.

 

[DPKetchum]

Reflashes are WARRANTY not $58. 00!!

 

[rashwor]

Have them replace the tensioner assembly anyway! You can't look at it and tell it is bad til it is really really bad. If he wants to do a TSB, but does not know what it is for, RUN! Also, they are warranty! Trust me. Been there, done that!



Just my . 02... this dealer is showing signs of not being up to par. :{ It is time to run away!:-{}

 

[opjohnny]

I have a mustang that started eating up belts one day. Turns out I put a burr on the outer edge of one of the grooved pulleys. Dropprd a wrench on it. Went through two new belts before I figured that out. Emery cloth fixed it right up.

 

[231jasonS]

well I picked my truck up today and the dealer replaced the belt but found nothing else wrong. I guess ill have to keep my fingers crossed that there are no other problems.



They did the reflash, no charge... But said if a newer flash comes out for it i would have to pay the 58. 00. They said its only covered under warranty if there is somekind of driveablity problem that the reflash fixes. They said they did it, but how would i know for sure?.....



They did fix the passanger side rattle. The inside plastic cover for the side mirror was loose. They replaced the whole mirror. Which was great since i had a minor chunk taken out of the plastic when a delivery truck smacked the mirror last month.



Over all not that impressed with the dealer service. Hopefully i wont be going back there anytime soon.

 

[DPKetchum]

Well belt could have been on one rib off which would also damage it. But I bet something with a pulley etc. is going on. A flash update is covered 3/36 complaint or NOT. They also are suppose to fill out a sticker to go under hood that says flash such and such done on whatever date. Had many a customer especially retired RVers come in with their Trailer Life magizine wanting any and all flashes done as they read about them. Under 3/36 its covered by D. C. complaint or not!

 

[rashwor]

I would be thinking of another dealer for any necessary future trips. I hope they got you fixed, but keep a close eye on the belt.



Above post is correct in flashes... free until out of 3/36. Personally, I have bad experience with reflashes and don't have them unless absolutely necessary. Most dealers don't really know what the flashes are doing anyway so it is a shot in the dark as far as they are concerned.

 

[Not_Agn]

Just finished an oil change and noticed a string hanging on the crossmemeber. It turns out it is part of my belt. The outer most rib towards the fan. I'll have to make a trip to the dealer and find out what they say. I find it hard to believe its a bad belt. Something is out of line! How I don't know. I have had a vibration from the air conditioner compressor from new. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

 

[DPKetchum]

Its not a BAD belt. Its got a pulley problem! Probably not ac either.