1992 Chrysler New Yorker belt tensioner replacement

Will you PLEASE list the engine size? The 3.0L is totally different than the 3.3L.

Sorry for the delay.

I have a couple of Dynastys and two Caravans with the 3.3L engine. On the Dynastys, which are the same body style as your car, the nut for the tensioner can be reached from over the top of the engine, but it's hard to find until you've seen where it is from underneath. It's a 15mm nut. You'll need a box wrench. As I recall, there isn't room for a socket and ratchet because the ratchet will hit the exhaust manifold. Also, there isn't a lot of room to swing the wrench. My solution was to use two different wrenches. One was a Craftsman and one was a Snapon. The reason was the teeth were just different enough that one of them would turn the nut far enough that the other wrench would fit on it for the next bite. It was easier to alternate wrenches than to try to swing one wrench far enough so you could grab it again.

The power steering pump doesn't have to be moved to access the tensioner's nut. When the car is on a hoist, it's pretty easy to reach up from behind the cross member to get on the nut, but as I mentioned, once you know where it is, it can be reached from over the power steering pump. You'll want to do that when the engine is cold because you'll be reaching next to the exhaust manifold.

When you install the new tensioner, be sure there's no rust or scale stuck on the mounting plate. Any debris stuck in there will make the tensioner sit tipped or turned slightly, and that will set up a belt squeal.

Hi

The response to reach behind the Power steering unit to get to the nut for the belt tensioner is a no go.

The aluminum plentim and other cables hoses and such are in the way to get to the nut.
Do you have a "trick" to get to nut from underside of car?

Thank you,

Chad

You can reach the nut from on top but you have to know where to feel your way to it. I've done it on one of my cars and when I worked at the dealership. (Unless they changed something between years. Mine are '93 models). The other way is to crawl underneath and reach over the cross member. I always had the cars on a hoist so I was standing up. The issue, besides alternating wrenches at first, was it took so long, the blood ran out of my arm, and I had to take a break a couple of times. If you'll be laying on the ground, be sure the car is supported solidly on jack stands. The nut is easier to remove than it is to describe how to get to it.