Belt tensioner my belt slipped off?

Tiny
FARR_2007
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,000 MILES
I am having trouble figuring out how to remove tensioner my belt slipped off and was chirping and mechanic replaced the tensioner pulley prior to this back In January but my question is how do I remove the entire belt tensioner and replace it with a new one and how to I release tension to be able to get the belt back on I have the 3.3 liter engine, I have tried you tube videos but either the alternator is in wrong place on diagrams or most videos don’t match where my pulleys are located. In my van the alternator is at back of engine on passenger side, please help
Sunday, March 8th, 2026 AT 5:23 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
FARR_2007
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
Also I need to know step by step how to put belt back on and which pulley to start with
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Sunday, March 8th, 2026 AT 6:04 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,443 POSTS
I have the 3.3L in a Dynasty and two Caravans. In the Dynasty, the nut can be reached from on top if you lay right in front of the antenna. I don't think there's enough room to do that on the minivans.

To release tension, use a long 15mm wrench on the bolt head in the middle of the pulley. If you're lucky and if you have just the right wench, it can be hooked on the metal bracket that holds the AC pipes to the right strut tower. Otherwise, you need two hands. One to pull on the wrench to pivot the tensioner pulley arm; the other to slide the belt off one of the pulleys.

As I recall, you have to go from underneath on the minivans and reach up to the plate the pulley is bolted to. You may need two different 15mm wrenches. One will get the nut loose, but you may not be able to turn it enough to get another bite on it with the same wrench. Use the other wrench to turn it a little more, then alternate back and forth a few times until you can turn the nut with your fingers.

When you install the new tensioner, observe there's a tab on its backing plate that has to seat in a small hole.

When you install the belt, the last pulley to slide it onto should be one without ribs. The idler pulley is a good one. The power steering pump pulley is good too, but you have to be working from the bottom as that's where that pulley is.

If your videos don't match up, be aware there was also a 3.0L V-6 engine. I have two of those too. They are totally different in design and a little harder to do this job on.
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Sunday, March 8th, 2026 AT 6:09 PM
Tiny
FARR_2007
  • MEMBER
  • 26 POSTS
On Saturday I was able to route the belt around all pulleys except the alternator because I didn’t have enough slack to get the belt the Remainder of the way, I am not sure if I was turning tensioner bolt the wrong way, I pulled it towards front of car and the tensioner moved some but now it seems I cannot get it to move again or maybe o was not doing it the right way or do I push it towards back of engine, please explain more on how to put belt back on and how to route it best and how to get the extra slack to put it around last pulley
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Sunday, March 8th, 2026 AT 6:21 PM

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