Jsta doing some preventative maintenance and going to replace these along with a water pump .... are these pulleys the same ? Is there any real need to change the tensioner part also ?

Have a MERRY and a HAPPY

Tensioners are common to fail ( creates a fluttering noise in the belt )
Idlers not so much unless you have a bearing noise

You don't mention the specific application, I seem to recall a minivan, but Dayco sells a kit with a new belt, idler pulley and tensioner for a reasonable cost. Generally speaking, if I buy a new to me vehicle adn the belt is original or in need of replacement I just buy the kit and replace it all, one less worry.

i second that. buy the kit.

Thx guyz ... and MopX

Yes it is a CarrotVan... 2005 ... and something that I should have mentioned... it seems like there is a slight pulley noise that gets slightly worse when you flick the AC on. The noise seems to be only noticeable at idle.

The potential tensioner belt flutter ? ... don’t think I have that issue but I’ll check for free movement of that piece.

That whole package ? Around 160$

Again ... is the pulley on the tensioner the same as the idler ?

No

For a 2005 Dodge Caravan with a 3.3 RA lists multiple kits, staring at $52 from Gates, up to $120 for a Dayco one that also includes the alternator over running pulley, if you have one.

Where did you pull up those prices ?

And WHERE did they come up with these prices ? Almost 190$ !!

38398K shows up for a mid 90's minivan. I thought you had a 05 Caravan?

I got the prices at RockAuto. In the deals section here there is even a discount code.

Not sure why anyone buys a new tensioner when all you have to do is remove the pulley wheel, open the rubber seal on the bearing and grease it with a needle. Pack the grease in with your fingers and put it back together.

I've never bought a new tensioner.or idler wheel. For that matter, one of my serpentine belts is almost 20 years and 300,000 plus miles old. Never had a problem.

Snip ..., that’s the number that came up on the ebay search .,.

RA ? ... never bought anything from them. When I did a past search on wheel bearings, water pumps and a radiator... their prices on that stuff was way more than ebay

STILL have to pose that Q ... how did that seller come up with those numbers for that package? OR is that jsta wishful thinking and hoping on the part of the seller. ?

Grizz ... interesting perspective! I’ll look into that.

And that belt situation?

I’m NO PRO at doing tons of 3.8 stuff but I’ve never seen a belt that was deteriorated beyond use OTHER THAN one that was in a car with a missing shield.

Ive never had a tensionor issue due to the pulley bearing.
Its always been the spring / pivot where the 2 halves connect

Check Rock Auto, less than $100 for the Enhanced Kit (Upgraded kit)

Thx 51 ... do you have a link for that ? I have had VERY BAD luck searching for parts on RA in the past ..

the spring loaded idler is no fun to change.
did one on my 2000 t&c a few years back.

splain please !

Doc try looking up a how to on that job. You will probably find a few. Internet is full of how to vids.

how so ?

I've changed hundreds of them and to me they're a piece of cake .
A 15mm box wrench ( long version helps ) and a belt tension-er tool with a 1/2" adapter on it is all you need.

FYI, to me the easiest way to change them is from below with the car on a lift . but it can be done on jack stands

getX ... hundreds of them ? So there is or is not a grease option?

stumpster ..... don’t need a YouTube vid on this ... honestly I’ve had the shield off but never looked at the pulleys as a r and r project but IIRC it’s jsta 2 bolts total for both units.

Interesting bit of trivia ... on the sealed front wheel bearings.., how many times do they spin 360 degrees during 200,000 miles ?

Then THESE pulleys ...