2000 G/V Has anyone replaced the belt tensioner on a 3.3? I cannot figure out how to get to the nut that holds it on. Hit a fairly deep puddle/lake the other night, and threw the belt. What ever happened to mounting tensioners with a bolt thru the front of them? My Neon belt tensioner is the WHOLE SIDE plate on the motor-lists for $355.00 at the dealer. Haven't changed that one yet, either, 243,000mi living on borrowed time. Anyways, I tried a swivel, extension, short socket, deep socket and any combo of the above with no luck. I can't hardly reach the nut to touch it, and can barely see it. Does the exhaust manifold need to be removed? I replaced the belt and left the old tensioner on for now, seems to be OK. Thanks

 

Yes I have replace them. I use a semi-deep universal 15mm socket and a 8 inch extension to remove it and tighten the nut back up.

 

Thank you, time to go buy something else. I suppose it is just the right length to fit behind the bend in the manifold.

 

I use a short 15mm wrench, put the box end on the nut and then turn the wrench with my long pry bar. A couple of turns and you can get it the rest of the way with your fingers.

 

Been some years but I recall getting under the van with a box end wrench and the owner loosening it with a ratchet with a short extension. Don't recall the sizes but 15mm sounds about right.

Folks commonly install a kit from several manufacturers to keep the belt from popping off.

 

I thought the belt popping off problem was only the 3.0 engine. I had some kind of shim kit installed on my 98 voyager 3.0. This was related to a really deep puddle, old belt, tensioner, 153,000mi, and me not wanting to wait for the light, so I went thru a little faster than I should have.

 

I think you are correct. The belts fall off the 3.3 because the pivot goes bad and the tensioner starts to lean out causing the belt to walk.