An Uncanny Coincidence?

Just recently had some repair work done on a 2000 Chrysler T&C minivan - 70K
miles
The oil pick-up tube was clogged with "debris", the shop guy hesitated to
say WHAT it was.
I have changed the oil every 3000 miles up to 50K miles and since then, I
have let it go to 4,000 miles maybe twice, and 4,500 once, using Castrol GTX
and always changing the oil filter.

After getting the vehicle back, my wife drove through some standing water
about five blocks from our house and immediately lost power steering
capability and the temperature gauge was overheated when she pulled into the
driveway.
Well, of course the serpentine belt came off the pulleys.

Can anyone tell me WHY and HOW such debris build up could happen, and does
the serpentine belt need to be removed/loosened to remove the oil pan and
reinstall it?

Thanks for any info.

 

I would guess this is the 3.3 engine, and no the belt does not have to be
removed to have the pan removed, pull on the tensioner and make sure it
springs back, if not replace it, also check for proper alignment

 

I don't think any repair work had anything to do with the serpentine
belt coming off - I think, based on my own experience, that any
appreciable amount of water that gets splashed up into the engine
compartment can cause the belt to come off - had it happen to my 1995
T&C under the same circumstance as you mention. Hit a large area of
standing water in the dark during a particularly heavy rainstorm and off
came the belt - glad to have been only a few blocks from home!

Service manager at the local Chrysler dealer said that "well, thats a
known problem if you get too much snow up into the engine compartment
and there is a retro kit that supposed to protect the idler pulley (?)
from getting snow/ water over it and prevent the belt from throwing
off". Don't know if he was shining me on - 'cause I asked him to get
this kit, but nothing ever happened.

Peter

 

NO: 07-02-94
SUBJECT: Serpentine Drive Belt Comes Off Pulleys
DATE: Dec. 23, 1994


NOTE: THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.3L OR 3.8L ENGINE.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
If the vehicle is driven through deep or drifted snow the serpentine drive
belt may be forced off of its pulleys by snow coming in between the belt and
the pulleys.

DIAGNOSIS:
Determine the road conditions the driver of the vehicle was encountering at
the time the serpentine belt came off. Verify all of the pulleys are in
proper alignment and pulleys and accessories are properly attached. If the
driver of the vehicle indicates deep or drifted snow may have been a factor
in the serpentine belt coming off its pulleys and any pulley mis-alignment
and/or accessory/pulley attachment problem has been corrected, perform the
following repair procedure.

PARTS REQUIRED:
Quantity
Part No.
Description

1

4773892
Shield

1

6501926
Nut/Washer

AR

4612411
Belt, Serpentine 1991 - 1992 With A/C

AR

4612460
Belt, Serpentine 1993 - 1995 With A/C

AR

4612418
Belt, Serpentine 1991 - 1995 Without A/C

 

think back. every time you get work done there, does
something else break or fail right away? happened to me
at a local midas. i stopped going even tho i have free
lifetime oil changes cause every time i went, i would
have a surpentine belt problem. i think he was squirting
some oil onto it. on purpose.
....thehick

 

I'm really tired of the "up-sell" every time I go to one of these car
places.

Seems like Jiffy lube is really in the air filter business and Midas
is really in the fan belt business. None of 'em will just do what
you came in for and send you on your way. The worst, by far, in my
experience is Firestone who tell you about your brakes when you came
in to see about the air conditioner. Firestone? Never again.

 

heh heh, there IS no tension, the belt is completely off the pulleys.
I probably could do the replacement, but I *think* I will have the car towed
to a shop and have a new belt put on. Saves MY knuckles and keeps my kids
from hearing so many bad words. I did see enough of the old belt that it
has some 'checking' or cracking.

I am still puzzled at the hard black (carbon?) buildup in the bottom and
sides of the oil pan AND the almost complete blocking of the pickup tube.
Its almost to the point of either needing to change oil every THOUSAND miles
or go with the 7,500 "allowance" and expect a failure.

 

That's one of the reasons I go there, they don't have a history of
unnecessary "other" work and haven't had other problems after a shop visit
before. Its just that maybe that belt was destined to not make it to
70,000 miles. who knows..
Course, I DO guess they may have had their greasy fingers/spilled lube on
the belt while removing/reinstalling the oilpan

 

Yep,
everyone tires easily from their "upsales". just do what I ask, and nothing
more...
the shop I went to isn't a "chain" and the guy has been fair in the past,
numerous times..

I don't know about firestone, haven't ever used them, but the first thing i
would do if a "salesperson" ever told me tires/brakes were unsafe, is to
drive away and get a second opinion IF there were any validity to the
persons "fear mongering". Otherwise, just drive home!

 

And if they would have not seen it you would have complained that your car
was just in the shop and they should have told you about your brakes/belt
problems

 

On the 3.3, the idler doesn't last. As the bearing wears, it'll tilt and
throw the belt. So it may be only because of the water, or it may just be
your time. Maybe your luck will be better than mine.

If not, the bearing for the idler only cost me a few bucks, and it's easy to
replace. But it may cost a million at the dealer.

 

What kind of crappy oil are you using? I suspect it is NOT one of the
top brands.

 

70,000 miles is significantly longer than "average" life for a
serpentine belt.
Should be replaced every 50,000 or 5 years, which ever comes first.

 

the belt doesnt have to be on it to be able to move the tensioner, all you
have to do is push on it, it should go down with a force and back up with no
problems, if you have someone put this belt on that isnt familiar with it,
you may be right back on the tow truck if the tensioner is bad

 

I have been using that cheapo Castrol GTX 10-30 or 10-40 for about 25
years.

 

Evidently, it lasted almost 70,000, and it has been 5 years last month.

 

Maxpower, yes the tensioner needed to be "replaced".
However, I didn't fiddle with it personally, i am trusting the shop to be
fair. I HOPE!!!

So now they are telling me I really SHOULD tune up now too, though the
"manual" says it should be done at 100,000 miles.
Something to consider sooner rather than later.

 

there is a tsb for water getting on the belt and it flinging off but that
involves replaacing the hvac drain but inspect the wiper cowl drain to see if
it fell off on the right side above the belt

 

Well, I've never had problems with GTX, particularly when changed
regularly. Hard black carbon - you certain there has never been
glycol in the crankcase?

 

No, I am NOT certain, in fact, that is a strange anomoly that sometimes that
car "uses" some antifreeze, but it isn't consistent.
some weeks no change in coolant level, then all of a sudden, i need to add a
quart or two of 50% mix.
but no "white smoke"/steam goes out the exhaust and its NOT steady, coolant
level will be steady, then one week, down a little to a lot, then back to no
change for awhile. could be the antifreeze getting into the oil?? hmmm...