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Serpentine belt falls off when I off road

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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:13 AM
  #1  
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Default Serpentine belt falls off when I off road

Everytime I go through water my belt comes off and I'm stuck in the dark with one friend holding a flashlight and me trying to pull the tensioner pulley down while i try to put the bel back on. AHHHH!!!

Does any one know of a skid plate that would stop water from splashing on the belt. Or any other solution to the problem?

Thanks
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 11:10 AM
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you could stop driving through deep water
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 12:01 PM
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First Ive heard of this issue. May be time for a new tensioner...?

Flash
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 03:25 PM
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I don't know if my definition of "deep water" is the same as yours.

I don't have a snorkel, but I've certainly "pushed it" a little bit and been nervous a few times when it comes to water crossings.

I've never had this issue. The closest I've come is some belt noise, which I adress with some spray-on belt dressing.

It does sound like you might need a new tensioner.
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by DDT713
Everytime I go through water my belt comes off and I'm stuck in the dark with one friend holding a flashlight and me trying to pull the tensioner pulley down while i try to put the bel back on. AHHHH!!!

Does any one know of a skid plate that would stop water from splashing on the belt. Or any other solution to the problem?

Thanks
If you look at my pic that is about a 4 foot deep puddle that I am going through and I have never had my belt squeal or fall off, sounds like a bad tensioner as others have stated. They actually make a kit for 3.3L and 3.8L dodge caravans to eliminate this problem, it has 2 replacement pulleys and a double sided serp belt
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 08:44 PM
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I like to go fast through water, But i never go that deep this is only in around 1-1.5 foot deep puddles if that. going around 20-30 MPH. I don't want to go to the dealership because I have the Ripp supercharger, but this problem has been happening since before the SC was put on. also my jeep only has 12,000 miles on it
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by DDT713
I like to go fast through water, But i never go that deep this is only in around 1-1.5 foot deep puddles if that. going around 20-30 MPH. I don't want to go to the dealership because I have the Ripp supercharger, but this problem has been happening since before the SC was put on. also my jeep only has 12,000 miles on it
Hmmm

This sound like a bad idler - if the idler had play it will walk the belt - we've seen a "water crosser's" JK come through our shop and we replaced it for him.

Second thing as mentioned is the factory tensioer, if its weak for any reason it can cause this issue-

Lastly and a good candidate - the crank pulley is called a harmonic balancer. Its comprised of two pieces 1) the outer belt channel, which the belt drives on - and the inner ring which is bolted to the crank shaft. There is a rubber ring that isolates the two parts - its extremely probable that the ring is cracked and/or separated and when you go through water it moves and makes your belt track -

Keep us posted, its got to be one of these -

RIPPTECH
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 09:36 AM
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took my JK to the dealership they put a new tensioner on in the parking lot, I would suggest you do the same!
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Old Nov 9, 2009 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by DDT713
Everytime I go through water my belt comes off and I'm stuck in the dark with one friend holding a flashlight and me trying to pull the tensioner pulley down while i try to put the bel back on. AHHHH!!!

Does any one know of a skid plate that would stop water from splashing on the belt. Or any other solution to the problem?

Thanks
What was the outcome of this?
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Old Nov 10, 2009 | 06:37 AM
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I have yet to go and get a new belt and tensioner I will update this thread once I do and I have tried it out.
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