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1995 Chrysler 3.5 liter timing issue-what indicates the belt tensioner needs replacement?
Owning a Chrysler LHS '95 3.5 liter V-6 we experienced intermittent overheating unable to remedy. After all obvious issues had been exhausted we went to the water pump. Finding that the timing belt was under insufficient tension, I replaced the tensioner with one from a salvaged car. The tensioner had to be compressed using a vise and the assumption was made that it had to be good and that all components inside the cover was without any flaw. We timed, reassembled and started the engine with entire success. The overheating was no longer a problem and the engine operated as well as it ever had during its 240,000 miles, believe me, the engine runs very well and uses almost no oil at all between changes.
Sitting at idle in a parking lot, the engine developed severe knocking sounds and we stopped immediately, and towed home. Opening the front timing cover we found the timing belt sloppy loose between the two cam shafts and tight as it should be at the crank and tensioner. Rotating the cam on the left bank, I pulled the belt tight bringing the slop to the bottom which was immediately taken up by the tensioner. Timing relationships are all fine and the engine runs without any complications after full exanimation of the timing elements. What's going on? I'm convinced that if this experience would have happened on the highway at speed, my wife would be without a car today. We can't afford to buy any thing for a long time and need to get this back on the road. Should I buy a new belt and tensioner? Could something else be causing interfderence between piston and valves as I suspected although I don't find any apparent damage.
Has there been any issues with the tensioners? Should it be replaced with each timing belt change? This belt appears to be brand new today, do you recommend changing it out anyway? How can I keep my wife safe as she travels 80 miles per day on the highway?
Re: 1995 Chrysler 3.5 liter timing issue-what indicates...
SINCE WHEN YOU HAVE REPLACE OR CHANGE THE BELT..?
Timing belts last a 100,000 miles easy. Even the owner's manuals will
generally state the replacement interval for a timing belt or
serpentine belt to be over 100k 5 years. It is just inspections up till
then.
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Assuming it has a 3.0 liter V6 engine, you'll need to remove the front of the engine off including the timing belt. If you are to replace the pump, replace the timing belt with tensioner too.
95 LHS-
3,518 cc 3.5 liters 6 V front longitudinal engine with 96 mm bore, 81 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, overhead cam and four valves per cylinder
95 Concorde
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3,301 cc 3.3 liters 6 V front longitudinal engine with 93 mm bore, 81 mm stroke, 8.9 compression ratio, overhead valve and two valves per cylinder
Some of the parts may enter change but they are diffrent.
Best of luck!
check alternator pully for play. Symptoms indicate a bad pully bearing allowing the belt to slip off. Could be other than alternator, such as an idler pulley or the tensioner, but you mention the battery discharging, which also indicates alternator.
YOU NEED TO COMPRESS THE BELT TENSIONER IN A VISE STICK A PAPER CLIP IN IT TO HOLD IT IN UNTIL YOU GET TIMING BELT IN PLACE.THEN YOU PUT TENSIONER IN.DONT REMOVE PAPER CLIP OR UNLOAD IT UNTIL YOU GET TIMING MARKS ON CAMSPROCKETS AND CRANK SHAFT LINE UP RIGHT.IF YOUR BELT TENSIONER IS THE ORIGINAL I WOULD REPLACE IT.YOU ALSO NEED A MANUAL.MAKE SURE TIMING MARKS IS RIGHT.IF NOT YOU GOING TO HAVE VALVES AND PISTON DAMAGE.
Before replacing or installing the old belt you need to check all of the pulley's that the belt rides on for play. Pay special attention to the spring loaded tensioner pulley. They can sieze and cause the belt to come off.
I found this picture it is a bit large for the screen.
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