1999 Dodge Grand Caravan SE from North America - Comments

I have not seen the snow shield TSB sheet or what other people have come up with, but I will say this, Mine is a 3.8 engine and none of the auto parts stores in my area have any listing for a belt and pulley kit at this time. Last night we drove around in the pouring rain Christmas shopping, splashing through puddles and I did not have to get out in the pouring down rain and reinstall the belt so I would not call that a complete waste of time. If I have to replace a belt once in awhile because the edge is starting to fray, to me it's better than not being able to drive my van every time it rains.

I have a 1998 Chrysler Town & Country with a 3.8L and am experiencing the same belt jumping problems as everyone else. Last night coming home from the airport with my wife and four kids, the belt popped off. It was snowing, dark, and late at night. Luckily we were able to contact a friend via cell phone and have him bring over a 15mm wrench. Due to my previous belt popping problems, I have become quite proficient at installing it and was able to have it back on fairly quickly. Good thing we were not way out in the country where no help was around or where the driving conditions were worse and, due to sudden loss of power steering, could have had much worse consequences. Anyway, we had not had any problems until the Chrysler dealer changed the leaky water pump as well as the belt. The belt was changed for preventative maintenance only. After this garage visit, the belt started popping off in wet or snowy conditions. Probably just a coincidence, but who knows. The funny thing is is that the problem is intermittent. We might drive in snow or rain for weeks with no problems. Then, out of nowhere, we start having problems. Really makes no sense. I have noticed however that the lower most pulley on the engine has a very slight wobble. Has any one else noticed this wobble? I wonder if this wobble could be part of the problem? In thinking about this problem, the only thing I can imagine making the belt pop off would be snow, ice, or water getting on the belt/pulley and forcing the belt off. Or alignment/balance problems forcing the belt to track to far to either side. What's odd is that, based on prior comments, the problem doesn't seem to arise until vehicles have higher mileage. Our problem started at about 120,000 miles. One writer said 50,000. Either way, it seems to me this would suggest a wearing problem with some part of the belt system.

My plan is to get the Goodyear/Gates fix. But until it comes out (I have the 3.8L) I'll keep troubleshooting. There has to be a specific reason the belt is coming off.

I welcome all ideas and suggestions on root cause.

This is an update to a previous posting I made about my 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.3L. The Gates Belt Co fix kits are coming off the manufacturing line and should be available later this month. I was told by my local NAPA dealer that Gates is also working on a fix kit for the 3.8L. He told me he had three calls last week for fix kits from the local Dodge dealer. This is a widespread problem which Chrysler needs to address.

The NAPA /Gates 3.3 Litre fix kit for the serpentine belt problem is "MV Component Kit #38379K Drive Align" Manufactured by the Gates Rubber Co. Denver CO for NAPA. These belt/pulley fix kits should be available within the next few weeks. Check with your local NAPA dealer.

According to Gates information the 38379K fix kit is for both the 3.3L as well as the 3.8L V6 engine. Apparently these two engines have the exact same serpentine belt system. It will fit the 1996-2000 model years only. I also heard it will be available within the next couple of weeks. I can't wait.

Gates Fix kit info:

1996-2000 3.0L V6 = 38342K

1996-2000 3.3L/3.8L V6 = 38379K.

Well I posted at the end of October and shortly after had yet another repair done... I live in a small town and the fix it kit wasn't available so my mechanic decided to try using Ford parts instead. From his description it is the same thing that the kit will offer (ridges to hold the dumb belt on). We also put on a Gator Back Belt that was suggested by another poster and here it is January, after several trips in the rain, and it is still on. As I type this I am knocking on wood because although I am grateful it is working, I've gone through so much with this problem that I'm not entirely trusting. Anyone else in a bind might try the same - Ford parts, and Gator Back belt. Good Luck!

Forget installing the Ford parts. That is just dumb. You don't understand what the kit includes. If you don't have the Gates or Goodyear fix kit on your van, then the belt will fall off again for sure. The fix kit includes a belt with ribs on both sides. That is why it works so well. The ford part that you are talking about is probably either the idler or the tensioner pulley having ribs on both sides. If your local parts store does not carry the fix kit then I would order the fix kit online. You can order it from partsamerica and it will be delivered to your door within 2 days for $92 US. Why waste your money trying to install Ford parts? I don't recommend driving one of these vehicles without the Gates or Goodyear fix kit installed.

Where the heck do you see a part number for a micro- v kit for the 3.3 liter motor. there is not one either in the gates catalog or from the gates distributor. it is true there is a problem with our vehicles, but chrysler couldnt sell one if they all did this. which one of you jack legs actualy had a repair done by chrysler that fixed this... I'm listening and I don't believe anyone has.

I spied our problem... the belt tensioner we purchased is defective... it lifts when power is applied. this coupled with the increased load of turning, (resistance from the power steering pump) the a/c compressor, (the defroster was on) was enough to allow the belt to slip (slight squeal heard) and thereby ride out of the grooved pulley by one rib and ejecting the belt, which in our case shredded as it wrapped itself around the crankshaft pulley. problem solved. but id rather install the gates kit if available than another tensioner, but I will buy the next tensioner from the dealer only, if the kit is not ready yet.

Like everyone else with the 97 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3 eng. I have problems with the tensioner. I have gone through four tensioners, five belts and the dealer fix bracket to line up the pulleys (which was useless) all between 50,000 and 60,000 miles. I became good at putting the belt back on and always have my tools in the van. Two of the tensioners were from the dealers. One in town and one when it failed out of town on my wife (she will no longer drive the van). The washer trick on the tensioner, with some noise, got it to work until now at 88,000. I am waiting for the gates kit like everyone else.

I think the tensioner or serpentine belt might be starting to go on my 1999 Grand Caravan with 107K miles. It makes a squeeky noise in low gears or in neutral, and because I've read all these postings, I am a nervous mom to drive it with my three kids in the car. I have lost power steering before, and luckily was on a slow local rd. Along with brakes that never seemed to get fixed quite right, is it worth fixing this puppy?

Can't believe I found this forum while searching for answers to my 3.8 Chrysler van belt problem. Where is Chrysler on this? I've had multiple serpentine belt failures in various places costing me near two thousand total and hassles. It's ridiculous and time to get a better fix. Where is the Gates or Goodyear fix kit? How dow we get it? This problem is terrible!

I have a dodge caravan and the belt keeps coming off the pump. I need like a shield how do I get one email me at chefziolkowski@yahoo.com thanks.

Anyone know if the tension kit for the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3 L is available anywhere yet?

I want to thank all who contribute to this discussion. We are the original owners of a '98 Plymouth Voyager with a 3.0 engine, 89k miles. Like most of you, our first failure of the belt was a complete surprise. The slippage happened a few months after the factory belt was replaced when a new timing belt was installed. The first failure happened on the evening commute, during a very strong rainstorm. After a tow, the same belt was reinstalled, and fell off a couple weeks later backing out of a rest stop (@ 5 mph), and hours from home. We were very lucky in finding a great guy working out of his home in a nearby small town, and who had heard of this problem before.

A few hours on the Internet (and reading your contributions) made the Gates kit the only reasonable solution. Gave the part number to our neighborhood mechanic for a replacement, and 2 months later, no problems. A letter to Chrysler describing the incident did warranty a return phone call, with an incident number assigned to this problem. But, because the work was not done at a dealer, no more than a "that’s too bad" type of reply. I also entered an incident for this problem into the N.H.T.S.A.

Bottom line, I would rather risk the $200 with a solution that makes since, than to give the dealer a "blank check". I will enter an update to this discussion if the Gate belt ends up a dud. And likely just trade the beast in for a new Toyota.