Broken tensioner

SDEANA14

MEMBER
1999 DODGE INTREPID
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC

Hi there I had my water pump replaced just yestreday (and mechanic adedd to that also replacment of thermostat, thermostat housing, valve cover gasket, timing cover gasket, intake manifold set, intake manifold gasket set, and he said timing belt tensioner is bad also replaced that which all work came to $1100(at first he said it will be $500)
now today I started car and after 10 min. Batery lights comes on and after 1 hour I couldn't steer at all so I parked naturally and called mechanic while I was waiting I looked under hood and I saw my belt completely off (i;m guessing serpentine belt) and there is also part hanging inside next to radiator
which he said it;s tensioner that broke
now I want to know when he was chnaging water pump can be that he did something wrong to cause all of this or just coincidence?I never had any problems before with car but after he was repairing it I have also leak in radiator and now this
he said they never touched belt while doing work plz help me here

2 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

This mechanic is a true magician, not touching the serpentine belt while doing this work, he did touch the belt.

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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 9:31 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

IF THE WORK YOU DESCRIBED WAS ACCURATE

I THINK I WOULD SEEK OUT ANOTHER RELIABLE, EXPERIENCED, INEXPENSIVE SOURCE (UNLESS YOU ARE IN ALASKA, HE'S THE ONLY ONE WITH TOOLS)

I SEARCHED 3 PARTS STORES ON-LINE. SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER WAS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE.

JUST TIMING BELT TENSIONER.I KNOW LITTLE ABOUT YOUR CAR, JUST TRYING TO HELP. AND CLUE YOU IN ON SOME STUFF

IF WANTED. SUGGEST OTHER AVENUES TO REPAIR, WHAT SOME CALL, "BACK ALLEY" MECHANICING.I'M ALL FOR IT, I DO INSURE MY FELLER IS QUALIFIED AND KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.I "BEHIND THE SCENES, CHECK REFERENCES, NOT THE TRADITIONAL WAY". ASE IS NOT A REQUIRED CERTIFICATION TO WORK ON A VEHICLE. ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND EXPERIENCE GO A LONG WAY WITH ME! I GO TO THE PROPER PLACES TO FIND 'EM!

Mhpautos MAY KNOW MORE, CONCERNING YOUR CARS PARTS DILEMMA

THE MEDIC