A tensioner pulley, also called an idler pulley or a serpentine pulley, maintains tension on the serpentine belt to eliminate belt slipping on the engine's accessory pulleys. You need to replace the tensioner pulley when the bearing goes bad on your Chrysler Town & Country. When this happens, the pulley freezes up and no longer spins with the belt. This could present with a loud squealing, a knocking sound and worst, a broken serpentine belt. Early replacement will avoid a broken belt and a stranded Town & Country.
Locate the tensioner pulley. It is the lowest pulley on the serpentine belt system. The pulley has a square hole in the center of it.
Place the 3/8-inch ratchet driver into the square hole and pull up on the handle. This releases tension on the Town & Country's serpentine belt. Pull the belt off the tensioner pulley but do not remove it from any other pulley.
Loosen the two bolts that secure the pulley to the engine block with a socket and ratchet and then pull the pulley out of the engine bay and discard it. You can reuse the old bolts.
Secure the new pulley to the engine block using the old bolts, a socket and a ratchet.
Place the 3/8-inch ratchet driver into the square hole of the new pulley and pull up on the handle. Slide the Chrysler's serpentine belt over the pulley, let go of it, and remove the handle. This applies pressure to the belt.
