15th Mar 2007, 20:32

The belt slipped off twice within 2 weeks on my 99 Caravan, 3.0. The 2nd time it shredded. I decided on a 2 pronged remedy. I replaced with a Goodyear Gator-belt. I then pop-riveted an extra 5 1/2" along the bottom edge of the splash shield, (using some gasket making material that I found stashed in my cellar), to add more splash deterrent. I commenced to attack every major puddle I could find. It's still going strong!!! Was a cheap fix. The Gatorbelt runs about 35 bucks at Auto-zone.

6th Apr 2007, 08:13

I have a 1993 Dodge Caravan with this problem of the belt coming off. But I noticed that most of these posts are for 1996 and newer Caravans as well as the Gates kits. Would someone please tell me if these Gates kits will work on my '93 or if there is any other RELIABLE fix for the belt coming off? mxms@bellsouth.net THANKS!

11th Apr 2007, 11:03

I just bought a 98 Town & Country with the 3.8 with 140k miles. Brought it home and took my kids to swimming lessons. On the way back it was raining pretty good and ***Slip*** the belt slipped off. I was no longer happy with my "good deal" until I found this review site. I see there is a nasty problem with these things and although I agree that Dodge/Chrysler should do something about it they haven't. Next morning I bought the Gates kit at my local O'Reilly Auto Parts store (they had it in stock!) and swapped it out. The tensioner nut was difficult to get to, perhaps it could be easier from under the vehicle, but it was very wet out and I find that a pain. I removed the alternator - also kind of a pain, but that made it much easier to get the nut off. After that I got everything else back on and then tried putting the belt on and sure enough, the suggestions of the others about installing the idler pulley with the belt on were right - that's absolutely the easiest way to do it, a bit awkward because one hand has to be on the tensioner holding it down while the other holds the belt on and starts the nut, but it sure was easier than putting on the belt when the idler was already installed.

I could've spent less, sure and tried some of the other fixes, but I need this to work - every day. The gates kit looks great, I no longer have any worries about this van and feel like I can trust it again.

Matthew in Missouri.

8th May 2007, 20:14

Thanks to this board, I purchased the Gates kit for my 1999 Dodge Caravan, and installed it with the help of my Father-In-Law.

We could get everything on except for the replacement tensioner arm. We could not get the fastening nut off the back side of the arm. We decided there was nothing wrong with the existing arm, and simply replaced the old pulley on the old arm with the new pulley.

The belt was a definitely hard to get on. It took both of us prying and praying to get the darned thing on. It finally took when I just gave'er all I had and put it on myself. Too many hands in the way was a problem.

Way to go Gates. Dodge... thumbs down. I'm purchasing a Toyota or a Honda next go-round. Too many American made vehicles... too much down time. Sorry. I'm a patriot, but simply put, some vehicles are made better than others.

17th Jun 2007, 14:00

Thanks to all for the info on this site. I have endured the belt problems with my 98 Voyager (3.3) since it was new. I recently read about and installed the new Gates kit I was discouraged by my inability to remove the tensioner arm so I just replaced the pulley and the idler pulley and the new belt. It worked great for about a day then it started squealing badly. I cannot see any misalignment, but the squealing occurs at all rpms, with the A/C on or off and with the power steering pump under load. I will take it all off and install the Gates Tensioner arm tomorrow, but if that doesn't stop the squealing does anyone have any ideas about how to proceed?

22nd Jun 2007, 23:27

The more I've read the more confused I've become. We have a 99 Grand Caravan with 73K. We only got it about 4K ago & have had no problems with the belt slipping, but I like to avoid trouble it happens.

Other than it possibly causing some where on the edge of the belt it seems to me the the simplest & cheapest fix is a Gatorback belt & a Dorman pulley shield. The Gates kit sounds like a pain to install, especially the belt & I'm afraid (other than getting a spare at the same time as the kit) it might be harder to find a replacement one.

Has anyone else tried both the Gatorback belt & the pulley shield. I've seen posts where either one of them alone was successfully used, but none together. Just seems to add a level of protection.

28th Jun 2007, 10:54

I've had this happen 3 times in the last week. I purchased the Goodyear belt system (sames as Gates) from Advanced Auto Parts.

It was 50 bucks cheaper than Napa. It was a life saver.

28th Jun 2007, 14:41

I started having problems with the belt slipping off of my wife's 1998 Grand Caravan 3.8l two weeks ago, changed out belt and found it to start shredding. Replaced tensioner arm and pulley, seemed to fix the problem, well in the pouring rain last night she almost didn't make it home due to the belt slipping off again. Thanks to all for the Gates solution, I went down to O'Reilly's and bought the kit this morning. It took just over an hour to change out the whole kit. The nut on the back of the tensioner was the hardest part, but with the alternator out of the way it can be done. As for putting the belt on, it is just a matter ov leverage with a good wrench and pipe. Thanks again to whoever found the Gate's solution, I will not worry about my wife and kids on the side of the road. Thanks Dodge for the trouble you have caused everyone, the fix would be minor if you issued a recall.

28th Jun 2007, 22:14

Is the Goodyear belt system hard to install? I've read post from people who said they had trouble installing the Gates system. I guess no matter which one the biggest problem is getting the tensioner loose & getting the belt on.

Do you know if Goodyear service centers install the system?

Thanks.