Glazed Serpentine Belt - < 10K miles?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Glazed Serpentine Belt - < 10K miles?

Posted: 10/23/2014 5:54:13 PM EDT

This morning my kid (high school student) called me. This was our first cold day of fall, and the POS he drives was acting up. Based on the symptoms he described, I suspected a belt problem. Being the (dumbass? kind? overprotective?) father that I am, I left work, met him halfway and gave him my car and took his. Symptoms were no/little power in power steering and battery light and squeaking.

Sure enough, the belt is all shiny, squeaky and slippery.

We (he and I) replaced the belt last spring at the same time we replaced the alternator. The car has about 150K on it.

What in the hell would cause a belt to glaze in 10K miles?

Any thoughts? This is a transverse mounted engine, and if he and I have to replace the belt again this weekend, I want to look for causes so I don't have to do this again any time soon.

Car is 2001 Chrysler Minivan.

Thanks

Posted: 10/23/2014 5:55:05 PM EDT

[#1]

You make your son drive a minivan to High School? Poor kid.

Posted: 10/23/2014 5:55:32 PM EDT

[#2]

Something slightly out of alignment, something got on the belt, or you got a POS belt?

Posted: 10/23/2014 5:58:37 PM EDT

[#3]

Partially seized idler pulley/pulley's.

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:04:38 PM EDT

[#4]

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Quoted:
You make your son drive a minivan to High School? Poor kid.

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Long story there. But let's just say, it has been a good thing for him. Of course, my dad said..."You let him drive that? He could put a mattress in the back!"

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:06:40 PM EDT

[#5]

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Quoted:

Long story there. But let's just say, it has been a good thing for him. Of course, my dad said..."You let him drive that? He could put a mattress in the back!"

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Quoted:

Quoted:
You make your son drive a minivan to High School? Poor kid.

Long story there. But let's just say, it has been a good thing for him. Of course, my dad said..."You let him drive that? He could put a mattress in the back!"

Chicks dig it. It's the shaggin' wagon.

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Posted: 10/23/2014 6:11:40 PM EDT

[#6]

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Quoted:
You make your son drive a minivan to High School? Poor kid.

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The hell you mean poor kid? Those make mighty fine shaggin wagons.

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:22:19 PM EDT

[#7]

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Quoted:

Chicks dig it. It's the shaggin' wagon.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

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Quoted:

Quoted:
You make your son drive a minivan to High School? Poor kid.

Long story there. But let's just say, it has been a good thing for him. Of course, my dad said..."You let him drive that? He could put a mattress in the back!"

Chicks dig it. It's the shaggin' wagon.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

He's an avid mountain biker. When he was car shopping, I showed him that he could fit 4 bikes and 4 people INSIDE the van. My rule is that kid pays 1/2 of APPROVED car or 100% of unapproved car. That goes a long way toward getting something reasonable safe. The van was approved.

As for shaggin'...I'd like to hope that is still pending. But he is a teen aged kid with girls calling all the time! We've had the "I'm not ready to be a grandpa" talk several times. I THINK he is smart enough to at least be careful..

Thank god I don't have a daughter his age.

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:23:04 PM EDT

[#8]

Replace the tension idler pulley/wheel.

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:23:44 PM EDT

[#9]

Back on topic, anything else I need to look at on the belt?

The SERPENTINE belt!

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:25:08 PM EDT

[#10]

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Quoted:
Replace the tension idler pulley/wheel.

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I might do that. I did it last time we changed it, but maybe I got a crappy one...

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:27:09 PM EDT

[#11]

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Quoted:

I might do that. I did it last time we changed it, but maybe I got a crappy one...

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Replace the tension idler pulley/wheel.

I might do that. I did it last time we changed it, but maybe I got a crappy one...

There are usually several idler pulley's, the tensioner pulley is just one of them.

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:29:16 PM EDT

[#12]

Sounds like the tensioner is bad and the belt was slipping. I would pull that off and have a look at it too. Next item would be a bad bearing on one of the assesories causing early wear

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:36:17 PM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:
Sounds like the tensioner is bad and the belt was slipping. I would pull that off and have a look at it too. Next item would be a bad bearing on one of the assesories causing early wear

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Hate this car stuff as it gets old/wears out. But it is good experience for the kid. Especially at 50% cost. He WANTS to learn to do it all himself.

I'll have him spin everything when the belt is off.

Thanks.

Posted: 10/23/2014 6:59:15 PM EDT

[#14]

Check tension. I bet she's slipping all over the place.

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:00:10 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

Partially seized idler pulley/pulley's.

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my guess.

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:08:41 PM EDT

[#16]

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Quoted:
my guess.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Partially seized idler pulley/pulley's.

my guess.

Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:12:42 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Partially seized idler pulley/pulley's.

my guess.

Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:12:43 PM EDT

[#18]

3.3 or 3.8L?
Both suck for belt issues.
They make a belt with both sides ribbed for these engines.
Try it you'll like it.

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:14:07 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Partially seized idler pulley/pulley's.

my guess.

Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

Explosives.

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:18:40 PM EDT

[#20]

I agree with the above idler or tensioner is starting to seize up, causing the belt to slip, and overheat and glaze.

As far as changing the belt, and getting to it easier, a lot of those vans you need to pull the passenger tire, remove the inner fender and get into it from the bottom, but that will still probably not help you with the tensioner. This is easy to do in a garage with a lift, at home, not so much. I've done more work than I care to on Chrysler vans, it sucks even in a garage for the mechanics trust me.

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:20:59 PM EDT

[#21]

Buy 2 belt, mount one, slide the other around the eng mount and zip tie it so it's a 5 min job next time...

Posted: 10/23/2014 7:22:01 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
3.3 or 3.8L?
Both suck for belt issues.
They make a belt with both sides ribbed for these engines.
Try it you'll like it.

View Quote

This, they suck so bad there is an updated kit that has grooved pulleys. They love to throw belts.

Posted: 10/23/2014 10:49:26 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Partially seized idler pulley/pulley's.

my guess.

Damn it. I wish I didn't (probably) agree now that I think about it. The belt change alone is a pain in the ass. Any suggestions for getting in there, other than pulling the engine?

Without knowing the particulars...I'd imagine the radiator may need to take a vacation.

Posted: 10/23/2014 10:50:25 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

Buy 2 belt, mount one, slide the other around the eng mount and zip tie it so it's a 5 min job next time...

View Quote

That's fairly....crafty.

Posted: 10/23/2014 11:07:02 PM EDT

[#25]

The Caravan (and variants) are notoriously fucky with the drive belt. The first thing I would look at are the idler and tensioners(likely worn and not centered), if that is not the issue how about a leaky water pump or some other oil getting on the belt causing it to slip!

Posted: 10/24/2014 11:04:58 AM EDT

[#26]

Looks like my Saturday is shot...

Son and I changed the belt when he bought it, but of course I didn't consider that there were other things to look at.

Maybe I'll take the zip tie approach noted above and just attach a few of them!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Glazed Serpentine Belt - < 10K miles?

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