'97 Caravan V6 power steering...

This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering went out.
My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up and
tried it. No power steering.

I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my experience
is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much of a
learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the power
steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a point in
the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering pump
that it could be? Thanks.

Cory

I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why it
would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace that
not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or whatever
under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure out how
to work the tensioner to put the belt on???

Cory

"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
> This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering went
out.
> My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up and
> tried it. No power steering.
>
> I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
experience
> is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much of
a
> learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the power
> steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a point in
> the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering pump
> that it could be? Thanks.
>
> Cory

I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why it
would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace that
not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or whatever
under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure out how
to work the tensioner to put the belt on???

Cory

"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
> This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering went
out.
> My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up and
> tried it. No power steering.
>
> I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
experience
> is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much of
a
> learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the power
> steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a point in
> the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering pump
> that it could be? Thanks.
>
> Cory

Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've never
seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly 8
grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt even
at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy deep
groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots of
tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good and
is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least 2-3
times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems fine,
and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not smooth/burnt or
anything on the backside either.

"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
> I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why it
> would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
that
> not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
whatever
> under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure out
how
> to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
>
> Cory
>
> "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering went
> out.
> > My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up
and
> > tried it. No power steering.
> >
> > I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
> experience
> > is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much
of
> a
> > learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
power
> > steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a point
in
> > the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
pump
> > that it could be? Thanks.
> >
> > Cory
>
>

Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've never
seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly 8
grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt even
at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy deep
groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots of
tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good and
is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least 2-3
times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems fine,
and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not smooth/burnt or
anything on the backside either.

"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
> I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why it
> would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
that
> not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
whatever
> under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure out
how
> to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
>
> Cory
>
> "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering went
> out.
> > My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up
and
> > tried it. No power steering.
> >
> > I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
> experience
> > is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much
of
> a
> > learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
power
> > steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a point
in
> > the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
pump
> > that it could be? Thanks.
> >
> > Cory
>
>

If the pulleys arent aligned, if the vehicle gets into deep snow, if there
is a coolant leak getting on the pulleys or the tensioner could be bad. All
this will cause the belt to come off. depending on what engine you
have......a missing a/c drain sock dumping water on the P/S pump pulley
could cause this on turns
"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
> Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've
never
> seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly 8
> grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt
even
> at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy deep
> groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
> throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots of
> tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good
and
> is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least 2-3
> times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
> ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems fine,
> and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not smooth/burnt
or
> anything on the backside either.
>
> "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why
it
> > would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
> that
> > not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
> whatever
> > under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure out
> how
> > to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
> >
> > Cory
> >
> > "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering
went
> > out.
> > > My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up
> and
> > > tried it. No power steering.
> > >
> > > I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
> > experience
> > > is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much
> of
> > a
> > > learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
> power
> > > steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a
point
> in
> > > the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
> pump
> > > that it could be? Thanks.
> > >
> > > Cory
> >
> >
>
>

If the pulleys arent aligned, if the vehicle gets into deep snow, if there
is a coolant leak getting on the pulleys or the tensioner could be bad. All
this will cause the belt to come off. depending on what engine you
have......a missing a/c drain sock dumping water on the P/S pump pulley
could cause this on turns
"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
> Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've
never
> seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly 8
> grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt
even
> at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy deep
> groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
> throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots of
> tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good
and
> is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least 2-3
> times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
> ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems fine,
> and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not smooth/burnt
or
> anything on the backside either.
>
> "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why
it
> > would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
> that
> > not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
> whatever
> > under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure out
> how
> > to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
> >
> > Cory
> >
> > "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering
went
> > out.
> > > My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it up
> and
> > > tried it. No power steering.
> > >
> > > I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
> > experience
> > > is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are much
> of
> > a
> > > learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
> power
> > > steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a
point
> in
> > > the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
> pump
> > > that it could be? Thanks.
> > >
> > > Cory
> >
> >
>
>

The engine is the 3.3l. When looking at it from the front the belt sits on
the tensioner slightly to the left of where the belt is above the tensioner.
When you rev the engine the belt moves to the right on the tensioner, then
when it returns to idle the belt moves back to the left. it seemed to me as
though the pulleys may not all be lined up like they should.

Also, how do I determine if the tensioner is bad?

Furthermore, this seems like a bad design, with the idler pulley and
tensioner being so thin and not having a lip on the edges to keep the belt
from coming off. To me it just seems like something that would be simple and
common sense to keep the belt in place. Kinda like V pulleys. The belts very
rarely come off, and only then at extremely high RPM or if there is a
problem with the belt or a bad pulley alignment issue. I don't know, I'm
still learning things about these new cars.

"maxpower" > wrote in message
...
> If the pulleys arent aligned, if the vehicle gets into deep snow, if there
> is a coolant leak getting on the pulleys or the tensioner could be bad.
All
> this will cause the belt to come off. depending on what engine you
> have......a missing a/c drain sock dumping water on the P/S pump pulley
> could cause this on turns
> "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've
> never
> > seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly
8
> > grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt
> even
> > at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy
deep
> > groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
> > throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots
of
> > tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good
> and
> > is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least
2-3
> > times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
> > ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems
fine,
> > and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not
smooth/burnt
> or
> > anything on the backside either.
> >
> > "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why
> it
> > > would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
> > that
> > > not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
> > whatever
> > > under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure
out
> > how
> > > to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
> > >
> > > Cory
> > >
> > > "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering
> went
> > > out.
> > > > My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it
up
> > and
> > > > tried it. No power steering.
> > > >
> > > > I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
> > > experience
> > > > is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are
much
> > of
> > > a
> > > > learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
> > power
> > > > steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a
> point
> > in
> > > > the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
> > pump
> > > > that it could be? Thanks.
> > > >
> > > > Cory
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

The engine is the 3.3l. When looking at it from the front the belt sits on
the tensioner slightly to the left of where the belt is above the tensioner.
When you rev the engine the belt moves to the right on the tensioner, then
when it returns to idle the belt moves back to the left. it seemed to me as
though the pulleys may not all be lined up like they should.

Also, how do I determine if the tensioner is bad?

Furthermore, this seems like a bad design, with the idler pulley and
tensioner being so thin and not having a lip on the edges to keep the belt
from coming off. To me it just seems like something that would be simple and
common sense to keep the belt in place. Kinda like V pulleys. The belts very
rarely come off, and only then at extremely high RPM or if there is a
problem with the belt or a bad pulley alignment issue. I don't know, I'm
still learning things about these new cars.

"maxpower" > wrote in message
...
> If the pulleys arent aligned, if the vehicle gets into deep snow, if there
> is a coolant leak getting on the pulleys or the tensioner could be bad.
All
> this will cause the belt to come off. depending on what engine you
> have......a missing a/c drain sock dumping water on the P/S pump pulley
> could cause this on turns
> "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've
> never
> > seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly
8
> > grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt
> even
> > at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy
deep
> > groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
> > throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots
of
> > tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good
> and
> > is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least
2-3
> > times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
> > ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems
fine,
> > and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not
smooth/burnt
> or
> > anything on the backside either.
> >
> > "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why
> it
> > > would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
> > that
> > > not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
> > whatever
> > > under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure
out
> > how
> > > to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
> > >
> > > Cory
> > >
> > > "Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering
> went
> > > out.
> > > > My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it
up
> > and
> > > > tried it. No power steering.
> > > >
> > > > I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
> > > experience
> > > > is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are
much
> > of
> > > a
> > > > learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
> > power
> > > > steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a
> point
> > in
> > > > the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
> > pump
> > > > that it could be? Thanks.
> > > >
> > > > Cory
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

One common failure mode of the tensioner shaft is for it to "bend" or go
off axis from the backing plate under tension. In other cases, the
backing plate itself bends, causing the entire unit to go out of plane
with the mounting surface.

Given the number of such multi-failure reports by owners, and garages
doing a big business in Dodge serpentine belt tensioner replacements, it
is a bad design, pure and simple.

It should have been subject to a recall.


Cory Dunkle wrote:

>The engine is the 3.3l. When looking at it from the front the belt sits on
>the tensioner slightly to the left of where the belt is above the tensioner.
>When you rev the engine the belt moves to the right on the tensioner, then
>when it returns to idle the belt moves back to the left. it seemed to me as
>though the pulleys may not all be lined up like they should.
>
>Also, how do I determine if the tensioner is bad?
>
>Furthermore, this seems like a bad design, with the idler pulley and
>tensioner being so thin and not having a lip on the edges to keep the belt
>from coming off. To me it just seems like something that would be simple and
>common sense to keep the belt in place. Kinda like V pulleys. The belts very
>rarely come off, and only then at extremely high RPM or if there is a
>problem with the belt or a bad pulley alignment issue. I don't know, I'm
>still learning things about these new cars.
>
>"maxpower" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>>If the pulleys arent aligned, if the vehicle gets into deep snow, if there
>>is a coolant leak getting on the pulleys or the tensioner could be bad.
>>
>>
>All
>
>
>>this will cause the belt to come off. depending on what engine you
>>have......a missing a/c drain sock dumping water on the P/S pump pulley
>>could cause this on turns
>>"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>
>>>Got the belt back on. I'm wondering why the belt came off though. I've
>>>
>>>
>>never
>>
>>
>>>seen this sort of thing. Hell, I once had a 289 that I had up to nearly
>>>
>>>
>8
>
>
>>>grand a few times and regularly to 6500-7000 and it never threw a belt
>>>
>>>
>>even
>>
>>
>>>at those high RPM. I was using stock pulleys and belts too, no fancy
>>>
>>>
>deep
>
>
>>>groove pulleys or anything. I don't understand why this thing should be
>>>throwing belts at such low RPM. The tensioner seems to be putting lots
>>>
>>>
>of
>
>
>>>tension on the belt and is not siezed up or binding. The belt looks good
>>>
>>>
>>and
>>
>>
>>>is only a year old, if that. The tensioner has been replaced at least
>>>
>>>
>2-3
>
>
>>>times so far, and I believe the mileage is about 70,000. This is just
>>>ridiculous. I don't think I should repalce the tensioner as it seems
>>>
>>>
>fine,
>
>
>>>and the belt also seems fine. Not worn oddly, no cracks, not
>>>
>>>
>smooth/burnt
>
>
>>or
>>
>>
>>>anything on the backside either.
>>>
>>>"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>
>>>>I looked at it and right away saw that it threw the belt. Not sure why
>>>>
>>>>
>>it
>>
>>
>>>>would do that, possibly a bad tensioner. My parents had a shop replace
>>>>
>>>>
>>>that
>>>
>>>
>>>>not too long ago, so if that's bad they may have them replace it or
>>>>
>>>>
>>>whatever
>>>
>>>
>>>>under whatever warranty the part carries. Now If I could just figure
>>>>
>>>>
>out
>
>
>>>how
>>>
>>>
>>>>to work the tensioner to put the belt on???
>>>>
>>>> Cory
>>>>
>>>>"Cory Dunkle" > wrote in message
...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>This is my mom's car. She was driving today and the power steering
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>went
>>
>>
>>>>out.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>My dad checked the fluid and it was just about dry, so he filled it
>>>>>
>>>>>
>up
>
>
>>>and
>>>
>>>
>>>>>tried it. No power steering.
>>>>>
>>>>>I haven't looked at it yet but am gonna check it out tomorrow. my
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>experience
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>is mostly with '60s Fords, so modern cars and rack and pinion are
>>>>>
>>>>>
>much
>
>
>>>of
>>>
>>>
>>>>a
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>learning experience for me. Is there an easy way to determine if the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>power
>>>
>>>
>>>>>steering pump is burnt out from lack of fluid? Perhaps there is a
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>point
>>
>>
>>>in
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the system that must be bled? Anything other than the power steering
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>pump
>>>
>>>
>>>>>that it could be? Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cory
>>>>>
>>>>>