Chrysler Repair: 97 concorde harmonic balancer bolt, timing belt tensioner, haynes manuals

Question
I have a 97 concorde with a 3.5L engine and trying to get the old timing belt off.  I can't figure out if the harmonic balancer bolt is right or left-handed threads.  I assume right handed but I broke a 3/8" ratchet on it.  Also can you explain how to un-tension the tension pulley's?  Thanks in advance.  -Rob

Answer
Hi Rob,
The bolt is no doubt right-handed because there is no mention of it not being so in the Chrysler or Haynes manuals, but I can't personally verify that. The original torque level is 85 foot-pounds and it may also be rusted so use some penetrating fluid and a 1/2" drive the next time you are trying to remove it. And insert a prybar or large screw driver thru a slot or hole in the balancer to lock the crankshaft in place so you can get the torque necessary to remove the bolt. You may have to tension it back and forth to get it to release from its bound up condition.
You will probably need a 3 jaw puller and a long Allen head bolt as a spacer for the puller to get the damper off the end of the crankshaft.
The timing belt tensioner is held in place by two bolts whose heads are facing down...threaded tips up, one on either side of the tensioner cylinder (left and right side)which go thru "ears" on either side of the cylinder housing. When you are reinstalling you will have to put the tensioner in a vice to compress the tensioner before you reinstall it. Once you get it compressed have a allen wrench or drill bit ready to insert in the hole at the side of the cylinder to hold the piston in place under tension until you can take it out of the vice and reinstall it, but insert that in the hole on the outside of the cylinder so you can reinstall the tensioner and then pull the "pin".
Do you have a manual to work from on this job? If not the Haynes is pretty good, or I can snail mail you a xerox copy but that may not be within your time frame.
Have you considered replacing the water pump at this time so you don't have to do the R & R again if the pump goes sooner than 100,000 miles from now?
Good luck on the project.
Roland