I spun out on the highway today coming home and plowed into the medium. Thankfully I didn't hit anyone and there was plenty of snow in the medium so I didn't smash into the guardrail. However, after I got out I could hear this squeaking noise and when I checked it out when I got home it turns out the pulley and the serpentine drive belt tensioner need to be replaced.

The pulley is wobbling pretty bad and the guy at the auto parts store said I should just buy the whole unit (pulley and tensioner) and put that on. So I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience putting one of these things on? The auto part guy said it was pretty easy—only has one bolt and you just screw the old one off and screw the new one on.

Any tips or suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

Parts guy was correct. Only issue I ran into was the new one had a larger diameter housing for the tensioner spring, and it interfered with the coil. I just spaced the coil out a quarter inch, and end of problem.

 

Thanks for the reply, but I haven't a clue what you just said, lol. I'm having to search the web looking for any schematic or advice i can find on taking the old one off and putting the new one on.

 

The auto parts guy sold me a can of Seafoam TransTune. He said I should pour half the can into the tranny and drive it a round a bit, then take the tranny drainpan off and empty the fluid and put new fluid in along with a new filter.

 

Are these instructions correct for what I'm about to do?

The ignition coil thing seems kind of weird. Do I have to remove that, too?

 

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to be doing this tomorrow.

 

Do NOT do the tranny flush. If anything drop the pan change the filter and if you have the right skills and tools adjust the bands.

For the pulley, remove the belt just from that pulley, remove the bolt (15mm socket), install the new idler pulley, reinstall the belt.

The factory service manual is here on DF for free download, you can find it in the DIY area here in the 2nd gen area.

 

Merc, thanks for the reply. I guess I'll return that Seafoam stuff then. I wasn't sure if I should do it or not, that's why I was asking. I did get the filter, fluid and gaskets for the tranny pan so I'm gonna change that out with the tensioner. I don't know anything about "bands".

I can't find that service manual on here. Would you have a link and/or know what specific pages would have the pulley/tensioner instructions on how to replace it?

Thanks again

 

Here is the link for the FSM, pick the one closest to your year. I will be back with a page number in a few. You need about 7 liters of ATF+4 on hand for what you are doing.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...e-manuals.html

Edit: In the 96 FSM pages 291-292 will walk you through the belt job. Tranny fluid and filter change is on page 1665, Band adjustment starts on page 1750.

 

That's awesome! I'll throw this on a USB stick and take it to my buddies house. We can check it out on his laptop while we work on the truck. Thanks, merc