1999 Dodge Grand Caravan SE from North America - Comments

As mentioned by so many others, I've had the belt come off multiple times in the rain. Once it came off right after coming home from the dealer, on a perfectly dry day, just when I started the engine. I took it to the dealer and they said they would not warranty the work if I didn't change the belt and the tensioner. I did this, but then the belt came off after driving literally two feet in the dealer parking lot. They proceeded to fix it again. After this, I drove it 3300 miles across the country plus an additional 10,000 or so without trouble. Then, it suddenly came off again in the rain, stranding my wife at Walmart. I had it towed to the dealer (paid for by insurance) and fixed for about 80 dollars. Well, it came off again today and I've had enough! I'm tired of being dependent on the mechanics for this frequent problem. I went down to the local AUTOZONE and picked up a "loaner" belt tensioner adjustment tool. It took about an hour to thread the belt back around in the correct way and figure it all out, then a simple crank with the tool and I had the belt on. The tool fits on the nut inside the tensioner pulley. You just pull down on it and it releases. I was SO glad to find a quick solution for this. I now plan to drive around with the tool and a spare belt in the car.

Our 97 Caravan Sport has 106,000 and it throws the belt easily. My wife and mother in law drive the van the most and I have become quite good at getting the belt back on. It is a serious safety issue as neither my wife or mother in law can steer it with no power steering. And I worry to how bad the heads are warped now from overheating.

Routing the belt on each pulley except the idler pulley is the easiest way. Takes me about 10 minutes and my father in law about 30...

I have replaced the tensioner, a truly difficult job. There is a single bolt between the head and the exhaust that requires some long arms and creative tool management. A 3/8" wrench, extension and swivel with a deep socket.

I checked with a local dealer and they showed me the new motor mount plate, ($46) and it appears to push out the idler pulley a few MM. This is apparently a retrofit from later model vans. The service bulletin indicates that there is to be 2mm from the inside edge of the idler pulley, mine looks to be closer to 6mm.

I am doing some maintenance this weekend on the van and will replace this mount and the water pump along with a goodyear belt. As well as try to find a pulley with a flange on it for keeping the belt on.

We are currently looking at the new Mazda 5 to replace this van. We have had 2 other Chrysler vans that were fine and this may be our last due to this glaring issue.

I own a 1999 Town and Country Limted 3.8 Van, and bought it new. The timing belt doesn't slip off, but the vehicle makes a horrid rattling, loose marble sound when in reverse at idle. Has anyone diagnosed that this is the idler? Are the Dayco idler replacements better? I live in Oregon, and as hard as it is to believe, we don't hit many puddles.

2000 Grand Caravan, same problem, the belt just came off. I too am surprised that there is not a recall on this item. I am afraid of my wife and kids being stranded. These vans are sold with "family's" in mind. Actually a bit heartless not to have a recall on this item. I appreciate the tips on how to repair the item. Our van is stranded in our driveway until I can sort it out. So much for buying another Dodge.

THANKS ALL FOR THE TIPS.

Well, our 1998 Caravan has been throwing the belt for months now, only in the rain. I last looked at the assy when replacing the belt (I've gotten very good at it mind you) and noticed the tensioner bolt appears to be bent allowing the tensioner to angle a few degrees out from the mounting plate - and down so as to allow the belt to slip off. The pully is burnished a nice silvery leading me to believe that at that point the belt is pulling to the outside. The tensioner clearly needs replaced.

This is all spurred on because the belt popped twice in one trip in the rain this weekend - with my entire family. I am at the edge of sanity now!

I tried what Chuck up above did, but could not generate the torque necessary to break the tensioner bolt free, I even used an air hammer!

Next I tried to give myself more room to access that bolt by unbolting the engine at the mount on the passenger side wheel well. Again, I couldn't break the horizontal bolt on the mount free.

I won't own another Chrysler in the future, in fact, most American cars aren't worth the metal they are made of. They simply aren't well thought out.

I'm waiting to hear if anyone ever had luck finding a pulley for the tensioner that has a flange on it that will prevent the belt from slipping off the outside of the pulley.

On the bright side, I know where and how to replace both the water pump and alternator now!

Well, it's off to get a Gatorback belt, and take the whole mess over to my local mechanic.

Regards, Greasy Steve!

Hi, I am just another sacrificer of Belt-Off problem. I live in Taipei, Taiwan, and own a 1997 3.3 liter Town & Country. It is about 6000 miles only.

I can't tell how good is this car, gives me & my family numerous happy hours during weekend / camping time, except only when the belt suddenly plays a pleasing sound chorusing with the music, and slipped off. Then I know it's time to play with it again!

It started few months ago, with genuine belt, which lasted for many years without problem. It is not really easy to get off during wet condition, but, if acrossing water pound >5cm deep & >30 KPH, in a 90% chance I have to do it again.

Combining the information I received and posted here, the Tensioner Pulley is the place belt starting to go OFF. and I agree with Chuck, the left side under chasis is the weakness of the car. I haven't experience with muddy condition, but I guess I will 100% lose my belt for sure.

Been realised there is no recall hold in USA, then it's hopeless in Taiwan. Local dealer said they have a new modified tensional pulley, with a protection mechanism, costs ~USD200, could solve this. Now, read your comment, I won't believe it will work. I 'd rather do the same protection work with Chuck and challenge my own record to put belt back in 20 minutes. Actually, a hook, used for pulling down the rolling door of a store, could be the best tools to raise the belt from the bottom of lowest driving pulley. Put it on the tensional one, with a wrench to bend pulley downwards, slide belt in the Idler is the way I preferred.

Now I found, due to several times belt off, with car jacked, fluorescent coolant drip slowly. the water pump starts to leak now. I am guessing the sudden belt tension change and red zone engine temp is the cause. I don't know if I need to replace the water tank or a replaced seal kit could do?

I will keep driving it, not so happily, with increasing tools packed on back for yet-to-come amazing conditions for us to conquer... The paradise of D.I.Y. fan!!!

Smiling Geoffrey.

1996 Caravan - never had any problems until February 2006. The serpentine belt came off on a dry, sunny day. After having it fixed, 4 months later while making a right turn through a puddle, the belt slipped off again. Talk about a flawed design? Chrysler should have addressed this belt problem years ago. Here's to hoping that this is not going to be an ongoing problem, but after reading other posts regarding this problem, it looks like peace of mind concerning this car will be a thing of the past.

1999 Dodge caravan 70,000 miles. It has been very well maintained. The belt has slipped off 3 times in the last 6 weeks. I had the belt and the tensioner replaced. No effect.

I live in Florida. It rains here. I cannot trust this van with my family. I barely like driving it myself. Too bad, it is comfortable and roomy.

Transmission problems, total rebuild of the air conditioning.

I will never buy another Dodge Van again.

I have a 99 Plymouth Voyager which also had the serpentine belt, tensioner and idler arm problem. First occurred around 40,000 miles. Belt came off and was replaced. Less than 200 miles the Chrysler installed belt came off again. I spent a day in a Chrysler dealership waiting to get a 3rd belt installed. a month later the belt started shredding. I took it to a 3rd Chrysler dealership, who this time said it is the loose idler arm. Since then it has been okay.

Well all you people are having a real problem here aren't ya. I am here to tell ya I'm gonna purchase a 1998 Grand Caravan tomorow and the first thing I'm gonna do is figure out how to fix this problem. I am a mechanic of many years of experience on many types of equipment, so stay tuned I will keep you all informed of my progress...

The problem can be simply fixed by aligning the tensioner pulley. To do this simply loosen the tensioner assembly nut, add a small shim (bottom side) to bring the tensioner pulley into alignment with the others. No big deal.

My husband and I recently bought a used '99 Grand Caravan from an approved dealer, not private sale, and except for some creaks and weird noises has been okay... until tonight.

Tonight we were going about 20mph around a corner and out of the blue the power steering went kaput. We were only a few hundred feet away from home, so we managed to get it to the driveway. Called up the service techs at Dealer, and they said check the fuses, belts, pulleys, what have you. My husband checked EVERYTHING, but there is nothing wrong! No leaks, no slippage, no breaks. That is just nuts! We haven't had this car a month and the dealer gave it two clean bills!

I'm the one with the power steering going kaput... now the belt goes too! Why won't Dodge recall the vans if this is a constant problem? I was warned about Dodge vans and I still had to go and buy it... (bangs head on cement wall...)

Oh, boy... my husband and I have a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan. We had the belt slip off in a rain storm (we are in Southern California) right after we bought it in 2003. We had to be towed home that night. The belt was repaired, but came off in every rain storm, or even if it got a little wet from a hose, after that. Then the squealing started. Really terrible squealing noise from the belt and the pulleys. We've replaced the belt with the gator back; it came off; we've been to Alldata and gotten the TSB and the recommended part (a bracket) from Dodge (it took a half hour to get the Dodge rep to even find the TSB on the bracket) ; after this our AC compressor went out - it literally fried and melted. So we've had our AC compressor repaired, our water pump replaced, the new bracket for the the pulley put on, several new belts, and guess what? The squealing is still there, which means that even if the belt stays on with the new bracket, we probably run the risk of something else damaging either the water pump or the compressor again. We are very frustrated and have spent about $1,500 so far on repairs for this single problem. I frankly think it's hopeless. Sorry to be pessimistic. I'm considering turning our beloved van into a planter until we pay it off NEXT YEAR, because we certainly can't drive it. Sorry folks.

I also have the terrible squealing noise from the serpentine belt. I have replaced the tensioner and pulley many times myself and now the dodge garage has done the same thing. After saying that the pulleys were misaligned, they corrected that supposed problem. The noise went away for the ten miles that we drove before shutting the engine off. Upon restarting the engine, the noise returned. Dodge has no idea what the cause is. Now the belt won't stay on, even in dry weather. Any ideas...anybody...?