How much does it cost to change the spring tensioner on 96 plymouth voyager mini-van?

Question

I have to change my serpentine belt every 8 months, the mechanic says the spring tensioner has to be changed what should this cost?

The regular (gates brand) make extreme noise and would fall off so I use goodyear gator back. never a squeak but every it seems to break/split/cut every 4 months not eight as originally stated.

Answer 1

the tensioner costs 69.50 and normally .6 hours labor to replace. It is quite common for them to freeze and not hold tension on the belt. if your belts are fraying, splitting, getting cut, or are thrown off you have a pulley alignment problem. the tensioner is most likely bad, but all other pullies and the alignment needs to be checked too. that belt should last at least 60,000 miles.

Answer 2

What engine?

3.3 and 3.8L have this exact problem when the tensioner is putting too much pressure on the belt. Just went through a rash of these last year!

3.0L- Could be the same, just haven't seen hat exact problem on one.

Tensioner is about 90-100 retail and .6 is crap for changing one. it is more like 1.2 hours as the nust on the back of the bolt requires having a second person under the vehicle or real skill doing the job. I go either way based on how the day is going.

ASE Cert Auto Tech, 96 T&C 3.8L, Mine was one of the rash of occurances.

Answer 3

first of all, what is the reason the belt needs to replaced every 8 months, does it break? wear out? fray off the sides/ and then why did he say the belt tensioner was defective? what did he say the reason was? unless the bearing is bad in it or the "tension" has gone out of the spring, which could actually be it is binding within the unit. either of those 2 reasons would be reasons to replace it. and taking care of that at a garage, could run up to another 150.00 over what ever it cost u to replace your belt. don't know for sure without more information. i hope this helps GOOD LUCK