What would you do ?

NJCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:58 pm

I have a bit over 83,000 miles. I have the dreaded serpentine belt squeak. Just ordered the two serpentine idlers, belt, and tensioner. Would you just go ahead and order the water pump and timing belt? I'm paying my mechanic to do it so I really don't know if I should pay twice to do this when it turns 100,000 or not.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:10 pm

You've got 17k more miles before the timing belt is due. How many miles a year do you drive?

The time to install a serpentine belt is nothing compard to the timing belt and water pump.

NJCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:16 pm

I'm good for about 15-16,000 miles a year.
I'm just trying to think about the down time of being without the truck for this and again in 17k when its actually do.

bugnout · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:22 pm

If its the serpentine belt, should take very little time to replace it. The hardest part of the job is removing the fan shroud so you can get at the belt.

racertracer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:04 pm

NJCRD wrote:

I have a bit over 83,000 miles. I have the dreaded serpentine belt squeak. Just ordered the two serpentine idlers, belt, and tensioner. Would you just go ahead and order the water pump and timing belt? I'm paying my mechanic to do it so I really don't know if I should pay twice to do this when it turns 100,000 or not.

Your problem is the alternator decoupler a not the two serpentine idlers, belt, and tensioner. My suggestion to you is .. replace the decoupler only, it's a ~$70.00 part plus labor, buy the part and have your mechanic install it.

Replacing the two serpentine idlers, belt, and tensioner will not solve your problem.... The decoupler is dragging them down.

Don't do anything else but replace the decoupler for now. Start saving for the dreaded timing belt work and do it when your vehicle reaches the suggested mileage mark.

:2cents:

bhc04 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:28 pm

If it were me, and your intent is to keep the CRD for a long time, and you can afford it now, I'd go ahead and do the entire timing belt change now. Then in the future year or so, you don't have to worry about it and who nows, may not be able to afford it or hard to get parts etc. My opinion "only".

Greasey Bob · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:34 am **Posts:** 228

I would do what racertracer said. Just change the right part that needs fixed now. I am saving up for my t-belt change. I am waiting until atleast 90k miles maybe 100k but both will happen his year.

NJCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:50 pm

Appreciate the advice. I will just take your advice and do the belt, pullys and tensioner. $545 from moparpartsonline. That's with shipping.
Couldn't afford the other parts to do the timing belt right now. Will slowly stock up on the required parts over the next few months.

Squeeto · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:57 am

bugnout wrote:

If its the serpentine belt, should take very little time to replace it. The hardest part of the job is removing the fan shroud so you can get at the belt.

If just replacing the belt, this works too well:

Yes, I know, too simple right?
I fought with the belt (refusing to take off the shroud) long enough to bleed and got so p___ed that I made it out of desperation (oh, and welding rod :jester:

). Under 2 minutes, belt was on.

racertracer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:19 pm

NJCRD wrote:

Appreciate the advice. I will just take your advice and do the belt, pullys and tensioner. $545 from moparpartsonline. That's with shipping.
Couldn't afford the other parts to do the timing belt right now. Will slowly stock up on the required parts over the next few months.

You are replacing good parts..... those parts are not causing the squeak and thrashing of the belt. You need to replace the decoupler...if you don't you wont fix the problem.

Why don't you do search and read some of the previous posts on this...there are many.

Here are just three.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=59353&p=659477&hilit=decoupler#p659477

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39287&hilit=decoupler

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=53989&p=602441&hilit=decoupler#p602441

:banghead:

NJCRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:02 pm

Preciate it, but when an ase certified master mechanic who's been my mechanic for ever tells me what it needs I just do it. I'm only paying for the labor from him as I ordered the parts myself.

racertracer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:38 pm

OK, well you both can get ready to do it again in the very near future.

When it happened to me, my dealer and mechanic couldn't figure it out either and suggested the replacement of the exact same parts you were told to replace, except for the decoupler.

It's a simple fix that the so called experts can't decipher until the third time around.

What would you do ?

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