I need to change the belt tensioner on my 1996 Chrysler Town n Country LX 3.8. Can someone please give me detailed step by step instructions on how to get it done? The second thing I would need is to know what tools I need for the job. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

 

There's a 15mm nut on the back of the tensioner. you'll have to approach itfrom under the van. You'll need a long extension, a universal joint, and a 15mm socket. It took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Good Luck!

 

OMG, dmschuler, you are so right,worked a treat for me

 

Hey...
Hope you dont mind me contacting you ... but is your car making a bit of a racket (noise)and thats why you have to change the tensioner? ... Is the tensioner the Cam Belt Tensioner? I know that I have a different car, but I was thinking that maybe the symptons could possibly be the same, as thats what my garage seems to think ... they want me to spend out 600.00 poundwith other things aswell and they might not even be able to get to the bottom of my problem

Regards,

Della

 

hi, i changed the belt tensioner because it was not in line with the other pulleys when the belt was on, this caused my beltto splitdown the middle and it kept coming off, the only noise i had was when the belt was slipping (squealing).
the tensioner i changed was for the accessories (power steering pump, air con, alternator, etc), it had nothing to do with the cam belt.
what car have you got and what are they charging £600 for?

 

Hi Peter ... ohhhh, I took mine to the garage yesterday as there is an ongoing noise (not loud, but enough to make people ask about my interesting noise) ... the guy reckons that the noise could be coming from my cam belt and apparently once he takes that off he has to put a new one on ... but while he's there he'll have a look at the oil filter (replace it)and water pump (replace it)and said something about the cambelt tensioner ... I think he called the belt that you are talking about the auxillary belt (not too sure) ... but it wasnt something as simple as that ... he also said that once he's done these things they might not necessarily be the answer ... but I dont want to pay out for things that 'might be' the problem, if you get me!

I have a Chrysler Voyager 2.4 LX

https://www.chryslerforum.com/m_12289/tm.htm <<< i think that should take you to my 'newbies' post lol

 

hi della, i would get another garage to look at it, it might be worth taking it to a chrysler garage for a service, then mention about the noise.
that garage istrying to rip you off.

yuck, lol, that newvoyager is boxy (omg, my 1st thought was ford focus), my 3rd generation voyager is better, lol

peter

 

Ye, I think I'll be taking it to the local Chrysler dealer ... in our case Kings of Bristol ... probably the best way forward ... thanks

 

hi della,i must say i agree with peter.take it somewhere else.why should you pay to have him throw parts on your car till it fixes it.a dealership with the right techs will narrow the problem down with out parts.i know i could. i never heard of a voyager LX,where are you from? heres my thoughts on it.if the noise is gone when you take the belt off manually turn each pulley and listen and feel for drag.like turn the water pump while the belt is off see if noise is present.if nothing if found check out the idler pulley.this holds timing belt in place.like i said i never worked on a "LX' but im sure its the same as the state version.hope this helps.and it you leave it at the place its at now and they do find the problem ask to see it,see if its badand have the old "good "parts back on.

 

Hi Moe, ummm well Ive got the car booked in with Kings of Bristol, United Kingdom... who are Chrysler Jeep Dodge Specialists

http://www.sytner.co.uk/dealerships/...m?dealerID=171

... The girl said that they would plug the car to the computer to hopefully find the problem ... I'm going to take a guess at; the fact that the oil light flickers on and off first thing and the garage said something about the oil pump that maybe that could actually be where the problem is ...

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the car may have been made in Germany ... unless someone else can tell me different ...

If on Monday when Kings 'wire it up' and they find the problem and can do it there and then at a reasonable cost, rather than me drive it away again and increase the risk of having a bigger problem should something go wrong in the engine, I think I'll ask them to do the job ... But thanks for your input Moe ... really appreciated ... No doubt when the car is eventually sorted (note I said when and not if) ... I will let you know what it was

Della

Heres the pic of our car!