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I have a 1994 Dodge Caravan 4.3L. Everytime I run over a ...
Sent to Car Experts September 29 05:07 PM

I have a 1994 Dodge Caravan 4.3L. Everytime I run over a puddle the unibelt pops off. I've replaced the pully mechinism and the belt but it still does it. Any advise?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $5
Info Request
September 29 5:09 PM (2 minutes later)
         
Which pulley did you change? Was it the entire tensioner?

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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2714 Car Accepts
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September 29 5:18 PM (8 minutes and 59 seconds later)
         
Thanks for the reply. My husband & I believe there is only one tension pully on the van that has to do with the unibelt.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
September 29 5:27 PM (9 minutes and 35 seconds later)
         
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I assure you there are more than one pulley on that engine. The is only one tensioner mechanism and that is likely the problem. I was asking if you changed only the pulley or the whole tensioner which consists of the housing spring and arm also. They frequently cause a problem because they swist under pressure. If you look down the belt and see if all the pulleys align directly behind each other. What I expect is the tensioner pulley will be sticking out a little further that the rest and when it does this, it causes the pulley to angle slightly which makes the belt ride off the edge. When the engine is running, the belt should be riding in the center of all the pulleys. If it's riding the edge of the tensioner, it has to be replaced.

Also note, you don't have a 4.3 engine. It's either a 3.3 or a 3.0.



Edited by Hammer Time on September 29 2005 at 5:28 PM

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