9th Feb 2004, 11:48

My 98 Caravan is my last. Currently I have thrown the serpentine belt 5 times in two weeks since getting the compressor replaced. The mechanics keep saying. "Don't drive through water" :)

Today, there is another brand new directive from Chrysler and they are putting on a new motor mount with some kind of shield. Wish me luck.

19th Aug 2004, 13:50

I just presently bought a used 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan SE with 80,000 miles on it, and 3 weeks later, I start my van and the belt snapped in half, but is still in contact with the pulleys. I was told to get a Goodyear Gator back belt for $38.00, and I bought it, so we will see if it stays on and if it breaks. So hopefully it will last.

I know nothing about the van from previous owners, so I don't know if they had same problem. I checked on alldata.com, but they didn't have anything on minivans, just cars.

Does anyone know of anything that would fix this problem. Someone had mentioned something about a engine bracket, so please email me at riley_12@netzero.com. Ty.

16th Nov 2005, 14:10

Bought a 1998 caravan, daily driver of 80 miles a day.

The belt will come off again and again in wet conditions or snowing conditions. I also am installing the shield wish me luck also.

31st Jan 2006, 17:06

I have a 99 Dodge Grand Caravan SE. In past two years, my van belt has come off twice. They all happened when I were driving under rain. Without the belt, I almost could not steering.

5th Feb 2006, 13:41

I'm frankly surprised at all of the negative experiences... We bought our 1999 caravan new, replaced the belt once because it split/frayed and was hitting parts of engine. We are about to replace it again due to slight noise. Routine precaution. Vehicle has 155,000 km now. If anything, I will say tensioner is an issue, seems to cause belt to squeal especially in the hot weather with full load of a/c compressor running. We've tightened adjustment on many occasions, and noise stops. Considering that these are not expensive vehicles to begin with, I have no complaints. Routine and regular maintenance saves huge headaches. Friends of ours have same vehicle,same year and to my knowledge, just routine servicing.

I'd definately buy another one.

21st Aug 2006, 20:09

Bought my first caravan in 84, then another in 99, now another in 05. Love the caravans, but with the 99, I like a lot of others have problems with the serpentine belt coming off. Tried different brands, replaced the tensioner pulley, still comes off in mostly rain or cold weather. Read on one website it could be in the wiper module drain tube. I've got to check that out. Also read something about a splash shield under the van. That makes since to keep the water off the belt. Why can't Dodge acknowledge there is a problem with their serpentine belts on this model van? My new 05 is a great van with different design on the belt. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks, Kevin.

7th Oct 2008, 03:19

I lost the serpentine belt 2 times on our 98 Caravan 3.8, once due to deep water, the 2nd time due to a cracked radiator hose spraying coolant on the belt.

There is a large plastic splash shield that for the most part keeps water off the belt / tensioner pulley. After the 2nd event, I found another tensioner pulley with outside ridges that holds the belt in place... I had to use a belt sander to grind down the back side of the plastic to clear the spring loaded pulley arm.

We have over 60K on the van since that modification with no problems.