Engine Belts And Pulleys problems of the 1996 Dodge Caravan - part 1

This vehicle has a chronic design problem with throwing its sepentine belt whenever the tension pulley gets wet. Soon as the belt is thrown there is no power steering, and it steers 10 times worse than a mack truck. The lack of steering is a definite safety hazard to every other vehicle on the road. As it happens suddenly by driving through a water puddle, etc. There is virtually no time to react. In addition to lack of steering there is no alternator output, resulting in rapid battery drain. Also there is no coolant system fan resulting in rapid engine overheating. This design fault has been known for well over a decade, no make that 2 decades, but Chrysler has never acknowledged a problem. The problem dates back to all Chrysler Mini-van designs from the early 1990s to at least 2000. If the lack of steering is not a safety related defect I don't know what is. We have a used wheelchair conversion Caravan van to transport my wife. This latest incident was the past Saturday night as we left a restaurant to return home. It had been raining profusely and suddenly I had no steering. I knew immediately what the problem was since this is the 3rd occurence in the past 6 months. Do you expect your vehicle to become inoperable just because you drive in the rain? why has not Chrysler been made to acknowledge this problem and issue a repair recall? I don't care if the van is over a decade old. This defect is one which endangers everyone else on the road and which Chrysler should have been required to address well over a decade ago.

The problem is with the serpentine belt. It can slip off. When it does, you power steering goes (safety) and your car can overheat within minutes. You are stranded. Putting the belt yourself is not easy, even with the diagram (thank goodness they have the diagram under the hood for other mechanics, do it yourselfers) there is a service bulletin, but not a recall. I think they put on a bracket which will help keep the belt on track in case of wet weather.

Grinding noise from a/c compressor unit. Unit then locked and broke serpentine belt. Clicking noise from passenger side dash just after starting stops after approx. 30 secs. Trans doesn't catch right away when put into drive.

The consumer heard a rattle in the engine. The consumer was told the cover in front of the engine was removed and the tensioner bearing had fallen apart. The timing belt and tensioner was replaced. There was a delay in the shift, and the consumer had to take his foot off of the gas to get the shift up. When the transmission was cold, it would delay engaging in reverse from park. Scc.

Consumer stated the tensioner belt broke while driving. Mr.

When driving through a rain puddle you serpentine belt, that connects engine to the coolant fan etc. , failed, resulting in loss of steering. Contacted dealer. This problem occurred 4 times.

Consumer had experienced some problem with timing belt. Timing belt had to be replaced. Please provide more information.

The timing belt failed before its time luckly it did not strand my wife on a dark street.

Vehicle experienced several engine related problems: the timing belt cover was cracked, water pump needed to be replaced, a head gasket leak, an oil leak around the oil pressure gauge, and the vehicle is experiencing stalling.

While traveling on the highway at 45 mph bolt to engine pulley/crankshaft snapped off, causing vehicle to lose power steering control. Dealer / manufacturer were not contacted at this time.

Serpentine belts have been replaced five times. Manufacturer has been notifi.

While backing out of a driveway at a speed of 5-10 mph drivebelt tensioner support roller fell off, causing the vehicle to lock up, due to this lock up, lost control. Please provide any futher information.

Both failures were identical in inital observation. Today's failure has not been anaylized by the repair facility however what ever caused the belt to come off also tore the tensioner off of the engine at the mounting bolt or the bolt failed to cause the problem. In both cases the bolt sheared flush in the block and the tensioner disentigrated into plastic bushing, spring, main body, and the sheared mounting bolt. All accessories, belt driven, naturally stopped including power assisted steering. A loud, startling bang signaled the failure as the tensioner sheared. The first failure was at 37,603 original owner miles and the second identical failure has occured at 82,709 original owner miles. . . Out of extended warranty. The final bill charged customer $217 labor and a foot note indicated service manager authorized parts wty on this repair. Parts were tensioner, belt, and power steering pump pulley. I consider this a potential serious control problem if the failure occurs in manuvering situation.

When running air conditioner and sometimes without running it, and usually when turning right, the engine just quits. This has happened at least 50 times over the last 2 years. I have had the serpetine belt replaced twice as it flew off and the power steering belt replaced once. The vehicle just dies when it wants to while travelling at variable speeds, usally while slowing to make a right turn or exit to the right off the freeway and estimate 15-25 mph and it just dies. I have asked the dealer with no response other than they would look at the vehicle. I have had 2 different shops tell me it sounds electrical. And the other minor problem is that the windshield wipers go off periodically on their own while turning left. I have no idea if this was ever reported by anyone else but would like the complaint registered and investigated. Thank you.

Tires had to be replaced at 20000 miles, serpentine belt failed on 4 seperate occasions, each occasion the power steering was lost causing a severe accident hazard, brakes failed without warning - replaced at 20000 miles, 2 freeze plugs failed without warning causing all antifreeze to leak out of car, front wipers go on without warning - at no specific speed, weather condition etc. , all 12 lifters failed 2 times in the period of 1 month, turn signal will not turn off, and other minor miscellaneous problems. ( dot number: ).

Serpentine belt broke while driving . The dealer has been notified.

Serpentine belt tensioner spring sheared off vehicle , resulting in loss of control. Dealer has replaced the serpentine belt. The manufacturer has been notified.

Serpentine belt broke twice while driving which could have caused loss of vehicle control. There are tsbs on this problem.

Serpentine belt has come off 6 times (at least) since Jan 99. Twice on the highway with speeds of 65mph. The belt failure causes a loss of power steering and within minutes loss of electrical power. All kinds off parts have been replaced and yet it still has fallen off three times since Dec 99. The garage has contacted local dealers for fixes but to no avail. The belt still flies off and the squeak that has occurred since the first replacement continues to get worse and worse. I had a dealer so much as say it was going to fly off whe it got wet. Well it's come off wet and when it's dry. Two times ago on a dark cold night 45 minutes from home with my entire family in the car going 65 mph on the highway. Thank god I was driving and not my wife or daughter. This is a serious safety hazzard and must be addressed. There is an existing TSB on this issue on your web site but I don't know if it covers my car. A dealer I contacted today was aware of the problem and asked if I had a splash guard installed. He is looking at it tomorrow. Tensioners (3), pulleys, and many belts have been replaced so far. Please help me find a solution.

Due to defective timing fan belt, tensioner falls apart and causes the vehicle to be inoperative unexpectly which may cause a crash. Dlr replace part several time. Common problem. Please provide further information and VIN#. Mjs.

The tensioner belt drive pulley broke a piece of metal from it and hit vehicle behind.

Tensioner that tightens the serpentine belt snapped off while vehicle was in motion. The manufacturer has been notified.

Serpinetine belt tensioner pulley bracket broke, flew into power steering pulley and broke it. Power steering pulley is plastic. Chrysler says this is normal wear and tear.

Serpentine belt tensioner failed.

Was pulling out of parking lot when vehicle jerked hard in driver's hand. Lost control & hit a curb. Towed vehicle to dealership & mechanic discovered that tensioner wheel broke, and serpentine belt fell off. Also, mounts to side of motor & shaft had broken in half. Tensioner wheel needed to be replaced.

While driving appiled the brakes and the abs kicked in, and there was no brakes. Driver hit the emengency brake so that the truck could stop. Also the tension belt mount snapped on the truck which caused truck to be inoperable.

While driving about 65 mph the van went completely dead. The steering became real hard and locked up. Driver was able to coast to the side of the road safely. When van was towed, mechanic found timing belt and tensioner broke. The timing belt and tensioner had been replaced.

Serpentine belt failure.

Vehicle in for service, later belt popped and tensioner went, then replaced. This reoccurred 4 additional times. Dealer contacted, problem still exists.

Engine tensioner belt failed causing water pump failure, and engine to overheat.

Consumer was driving about 25 mph when she heard a snap. She then was not able to control the steering, the tension pulley had sheared completely from rod and it was just sitting inside the engine compartment.

Front brake rotors are prematurely wearing away, rotors have warped, and have been replaced four times already. . Consumer states rotors wear causing vibration and pulsation when stopping, also belt drive and tensioner belt were repalced, and the engine light was on.

Tensioner pulley assembly has broken a total of 4 times. Consumer has to pay for it out of pocket again. Problem may be caused by the shaking of the engine, it sheared off right at the bolt. Dealer has never explained the reason, they just ordered the parts.

While driving lost power. Took vehicle to dealer, and they said it was the serpentine belt. Dealer replaced the serpentine belt in 1998. But serpentine belt broke again, and was replaced. Then, it happened again in 1999, on Saturday March 25, 2000, all power went out while kids were in the car, consumer feels this is very unsafe for driving on the road.

A sheared bolt on main pulley to the engine, caused the timing belt to be stripped and inoperative. Dealer notified and repairs were made under warranty.