Changing Auxiliary Drive Belt

[Woodie106]

Funny noise coming from under the bonnet & after a look it seems my aux drive belt has disintegrated. Had a new one fitted when tensioner replaced about 18 months ago so it's only done about 15000 miles.

Anyone changed this belt. Wondering if it's one I can do or is it a trip to the garage?

Am resonably competent with a packet of spanners

[tomada3]

is yours petrol or diesel if v6 petrol u could do it yourself 

[gordy]

Just wondering if there's a reason for your stripped belt. Are all the wheels turning and not seized, as like Alternator pulley.

[Woodie106]

Mine is the diesel so looks awkward.

Might have a look in the morning. It's a short trip to the local garage I use on Monday if I can't get it done.

 

Thanks for your replies

[Semmysonic]

Mine is petrol, looks awkward but it is fairly straightforward if you have a good lever. As Gordy said I'd be more worried about what has caused the belt to go in the first place

[Woodie106]

Hmm - think i may well have a bigger problem. Got in today to take it the short hop to my local garage & it started then stopped. Can't get it going now & it doesn't even try, just turns over. Think it might have done the cam belt. It is due a new cambelt & i had planned it for next month anyway. Only hope that as it was only idling its not done any damage.

Trying to get hold of my local chrysler indie but he's always so busy he doesn't get to answer his phone & once its booked in I'll have to get it transported but again its only a few miles. Hope its not going to be too expensive, but it will be what it will be

[soupstone]

 You can get enough bolts off the cover to pull it back a bit to confirm whether or not the belt has snapped. 

It was over 6 years ago now, but I was £635 for the parts, and a guy I know took £240 for the labour. 

I also had to get an injector puller from America and a locking tool which added another £365 to my costs. If it's going to Chrysler, they should have them, but I doubt their labour charge will be £240. 

Here's my original thread, Booke23 and Merlin were spot on, and it was 8 tappets that needed replacing. 

 

http://www.chryslerforum.com/forum/chrysler-voyager-town-country-21/2-5-crd-timing-belt-loads-damage-10979/

[Woodie106]

Well I'm hoping I haven't done much / any damage as it never went above idle speed before cutting out.

I have an indie specialist pretty close to me who's sorted a couple of problems & he's very reasonable, his only trouble being he's a one man band & is always stacked with work so you just have to wait your turn. Bit inconvenient as we really need both cars, but son#1 is looking for his first car at the moment and we've spotted one that I'm going to see if I can have a look at tomorrow & as he's not passed his test yet I can use that until mines done if I throw in a few free driving lessons from the dad school of motoring.

[Woodie106]

Really peed off now. Finally spoke to my local chrysler indie only to find out he's given it all up. He does the odd bit here & there but nothing big.

He did give me some advice & told me how to get the aux belt on & that the car may not be starting because the aux belt is off.

The other thing that's really peed me off is this afternoon when we went out I found that someone has hit my rear bumper. They've done a real job on it & it's beyond repair. Another expense I could really do without. Will get it going & in mean time look out for a bumper that's not too expensive. Thought I'd found one on ebay but on closer inspection it's in almost as bad a nick as mine now is.

[Woodie106]

Had a look at doing this but found the old drive belt has disintegrated and wrapped itself around the power steering pump & i just can't get underneath it enough to get it out.

Been down to local garage & they're going to pick it up tomorrow & have a look at it for me. Hopefully its just the drive belt as if its much more it could get expensive.

Once its done it'll be a spruce up & then its going to be someone elses problem as we've decided to get something else. Thinking about it we don't really need the 7 seats any more as we've needed them once in the last couple of years & with Mrs W getting a new Mini Countryman in about 6weeks & son #1 well on the way to passing his test - he's pased his theory & already has a the vw golf I'm using at the moment - so won't be long before he becomes the family taxi.

Be a bit sad to see it go as we've owned for t for nigh on ten years now, but maybe its just run its course & time to move on.

[bignev]

I'll keep my fingers crossed it's a "simple" fix for you pal.

 

Will be a bit of a wrench after 10 years hey!

[andyb2000]

I too will keep fingers crossed for you. Unfortunately it doesn't sound good, I can confirm the engine will start and run with the aux and steering pump belts fully detached as with my current 'mare I've been doing that to try to locate the clunking noise.

 

Taking the serpentine (acc) belt off and putting new one on isn't too bad, just take the airbox off to get access then get a spanner down to the tensioner, lift it upwards and it takes all the tension off and with a bit of a spin and a three-armed wriggle you can get the serpentine off and changed. The power steering one is more of a pain as you've got to release the bolts (6 in total, 3 to the rear of it and 3 on the front behind the belt guide) in the right order, and getting the bolts and washers through the small holes in the front spindle is a right pain (slowly turning the main engine with a spanner helps to line them up, so easier once the serpentine is off).

 

I wish you good luck and more luck than I've had, as looks like my engine is dead.