Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Shredding Belts

[klcammie]

I had this problem with my 1999. It was a problem since I was towing a trailer across the country. I had replaced the tensioner (two or three times, a Chrysler rep insisted I need a factory original instead of the one from Genos, it made no differnce ) and tried many other things. A very good mechanic finally put a spacer washer in with the tensioner to set it a little further out. I have not had a problem since and it has been about three years. Why the tensioner needs to be further out now than it did before is still a mystery.

I wonder. Mine started after changing tenisoner, maybe should try the washer. Do you remember how thick a spacer?

 

[B.G. Smith]

There is some sort of indexing mark on the tensioner where it meets the engine, either a notch or a small dowell, make sure that is lined up. g

 

[Joe Mc]

Same thing happened to me about 2002 on the way back from Grand Canyon. Every fuel stop I'd shut down to check fluids etc. I was about 200 miles from home and noticed the belt was shredding. Lucky I had a spare and able to swap out. After I got home the next AM I took a look same thing!!! WTF!!!



I took a Machinest's straight edge and went from the face of the crank pully to other ones I could "flat surface" to. Found there was a slight gap at the bottom of the alternator pully. I checked the "slight" gap with a feeler gage and it was darn close to 0. 020". I took an old set of feeler gages cut the 0. 020" gage off, loosened the bottom and top bolts on the alternator and placed the gage just between the block and the bottom bolt then tightened everything up and checked with the straight edge. BINGO no more slight gap, new belt, new spare and I've been running the same belt (eek!) for 11 years??? Guess I'm due for a change ... Worked for me. Hope it helps.

 

[cerberusiam]

A very good mechanic finally put a spacer washer in with the tensioner to set it a little further out. I have not had a problem since and it has been about three years. Why the tensioner needs to be further out now than it did before is still a mystery.

He was good at jury rigging things, maybe not so good at finding the real problem. :-laf Barring the tensioner going bad or a bearing in an accessory going out, the fan support bearing is almost always the culprit. Either with wear or shifting in the housing it will shred belt after belt, take out bearings on the other accessories, and wear out tensioners. Pull the housing and reset the bearing in the support housing or replace it and problems disappear even if the tensioner is worn. The fan support is the single largest contributor to alignment because it is the hardest to drive and will magnify a slight mis-alignment to problem proportions.

 

[Dieseldemon]

I have one now that has the same problem what happened was the crank thrust is bad broken off inside and lets the crank move 3/16in and shreads the belt take a bar and move the crank back and forth if it moves that is your problem.