Gates 38342K Serpentine Belt Drive Component Kit ~ Alternator Repair kits

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Gates 38342K Serpentine Belt Drive Component Kit

Good Kit , Nice and Easy! Gates 38342K Serpentine Belt Drive Component Kit , Works OK, first my Caravan with a 3.0l has never thrown the belt so I guess I am a lucky one. I needed a new tensioner but at $79 itself I figured the kit was the way to go. Well built and easy to install. I will give step by step instructions how I did it.

Tools needed:
Jack
Jack stand
15MM shallow socket 12 or 6 point(3/8)
15MM deep socket 12 or 6 point(3/8)
10MM deep socket
3/8 ratchet
3/8 breaker bar (optional)

How to:
1) Remove battery pos+ cable or neg- cable.
2) Jack up passenger side of vehicle on frame rail.
3) PLACE JACK STAND UNDER PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE.
4) Use 3/8 breaker bar and 15MM shallow socket to remove old belt. (Can use ratchet, breaker bar gave me more leverage.)
5) Use 15MM shallow socket and ratchet to remove idler pulley.
6) Use 15MM deep socket to remove BACK bolt of alternator.
7) Use 15MM shallow to remove front bolt on alternator.
8) Rotate alternator to access the plug and output wire.
9) Unplug plug from alternator, use 10MM socket to remove output wire.
10) Jiggle-twist alternator to remove from vehicle.
11) From above (in the area where alternator was) use 15MM deep socket to remove tensioner.
12) Reinstall tensioner using the factory nut.
13) Install idler pulley using new supplied bolt.
14) Reinstall alternator reversing above steps.
15) Thread belt from above, over alternator, under idler pulley then with a piece of wire/zip tie secure belt to stop it from falling out of place.
16) Climb underneath vehicle (YOU DO HAVE A JACK STAND UNDER IT, RIGHT?) and route belt around crank and power steering pulleys.
17) Back on top of the engine use the 15MM shallow socket and breaker bar (or ratchet) to rotate tensioner clockwise.
18) The belt will be tight but it will go, I put it on the tensioner last but some have said it's easier to put it on the idler pulley last.
19) Connect battery.
20) Start vehicle watching to make sure the belt runs true on all pulleys.
21) Celebrate.

This took me about 20 minutes. I do have pretty good mechanical abilities though.