2003 dodge intrepid electrical fluctuations

you have to release the tensioner as it is in neutral position what you need to do is push in on the tensioner and let go it should tighten the belyt as when you push it in past the lock you will see it come out quite a ways

Are you sure the hydraulic tensioner was installed correctly ? Was the timing belt replaced ?

The water pump is located in the front of the engine & is driven by the timing belt. So if you go in there you might as well replace the belt and tensioners if needed.
Drain the cooling system (turn the radiator drain 1 full turn only)

1. Remove the upper radiator hose
2. Remove the top radiator support
3. Remove the two 10mm head bolts from either side of the radiator and gently pull the top of the radiator forward to gain a little more room
4. Remove the four 10mm head bolts holding the cooling fan module to the radiator . Remove the four clip nuts and the cooling fan electrical connector and lift the fan module out of the vehicle
5. Loosen and remove the drive belts and remove the three 13mm head bolts holding the alternator belt tensioner pulley to the timing cover
6. Remove the three piece timing belt cover (the lowest piece can be accessed through the crankshaft pulley by turning the pulley and removing the bolts)
7. turn the crankshaft pulley and line up the timing marks on top dead center
8. Remove the timing belt tensioner two 13mm bolts and remove the tensioner (If the tensioner pulley wheel is made of plastic you will want to purchase a revised steel tensioner pulley) . Put the tensioner in a suitable vise to compress it and install a small allen wrench from the front to hold it in place (close the vise slowly to compress the tensioner)
9. (If need be) Remove the plastic tensioner pulley (the 15mm head attaching bolt can be removed without removing the crankshaft pulley)
10. The timing belt can easily be slipped under/around the crankshaft pulley by slightly bending it to the outside of the timing belt housing on the drivers side and working it with your hand through the crankshaft pulley . No excessive force is needed to do this and be sure to clean the area well prior to installing the new belt
11. With the belt removed , remove and replace the water pump . Coat the gasket with a little RTV silicone and clean the gasket mating surface well
12. Install the timing belt in the opposite direction as removed . Make sure that all the timing marks are lined up .
13. Reinstall the timing belt tensioner
    
    Note: There are several different length bolts used, so pay attention to where they are removed from, they must be installed in the same placement.
    
    I hope this information was helpful.

replace the cap--is the radiator damaged? No reason to replace the water pump. Boiling is caused by leak, faulty thermostat, clogged radiator, or head gasket.

a timing belt. the water pump uses it to turn it and you got to take it off to change the pump anyway so you might as well get a new one.also the hydralic timing belt tensioner should be replaced at the same time just to be sure.you will need anti freeze of course as well

Kia Sorento 2003-05
Water Pump - Removal & Installation

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
2. Drain the cooling system.
3. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
4. Remove the drive belt and the water pump pulley.
5. Remove the timing belt cover, timing belt, auto tensioner and idler pulley.
6. Remove the water outlet fitting, the thermostat case and the water pump fitting.
7. Remove the water pump mounting bolts.
8. Remove the water pump.
   



Fig. Water pump and timing belt assembly-exploded view

To install:



Fig. Water pump bolt locations

1. Clean the gasket surfaces of the water pump body and the cylinder block.
2. Install the new water pump gasket and pump assembly. Tighten the bolts to 12-16 ft. lbs. (17-22 Nm).
3. Install the water pump fitting, the thermostat case and the water outlet fitting.
4. Install the auto tensioner and timing belt. Adjust the timing belt tension, then install the timing belt cover.
5. Install the drive belt, water pump pulley and then adjust the auto tensioner.
6. Refill the coolant.
7. Run the engine and check for leaks.

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions Section.
2. Drain the cooling system.
3. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
4. Remove the drive belt and the water pump pulley.
5. Remove the timing belt cover, timing belt, auto tensioner and idler pulley.
6. Remove the water outlet fitting, the thermostat case and the water pump fitting.
7. Remove the water pump mounting bolts.
8. Remove the water pump.

To install:




Fig. Water pump bolt locations



Fig. Water pump O-ring installation

1. Clean the gasket surfaces of the water pump body and the cylinder block.
2. Install the new water pump gasket and pump assembly. Tighten the bolts to 12-16 ft. lbs. (17-22 Nm).
3. Install the water pump fitting, the thermostat case and the water outlet fitting.
4. Install the auto tensioner and timing belt. Adjust the timing belt tension, then install the timing belt cover.
5. Install the drive belt, water pump pulley and then adjust the auto tensioner.
6. To adjust the drive belt tension, hang the belt on the pulley of the tensioner and install the tensioner.
   NOTE If the tensioner is already installed, loosen its mounting bolts to allow belt installation
   
7. Install the drive belt.
8. Adjust the belt tension to specification by turning the adjusting bolt clockwise or counterclockwise.
9. Air conditioning belt tension should be 0.28-0.039 inch. Alternator belt tension should be 0.39-0.051 inch. Power steering belt tension should be 0.31-0.051 inch.
10. Torque the tensioner assembly bolt to 33-36 ft. lbs. (45-50 Nm).
11. Refill the coolant.
12. Run the engine and check for leaks.

TY for using Fixya; remember comment and rated this.

The timing belt drives the water pump so it would be advisable to replace the timing belt if you replace the pump and visa versa. The timing belt should have been replaced at 105,000 miles and if you did replace it at that time, then I would not replace it again unless it is soaked in leaking coolant. If not, then for sure replace it. Replace the tensioner if it is defective. You need to find a good mechanic that is not just guessing as to what is wrong. If you have no apparent external leak and you are seeing a milky substance on the underside of the oil cap, you may have a blown head gasket. Do you see white smoke coming from the exhaust? Do you see air bubbles escaping from the radiator with the cap off and the engine running? If so you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. A compression test will help determine this one way or the other. A dye test on the cooling system will also help tell you where the coolant is leaking. If the water pump is bad it should be leaking. 130,000 miles is not that much on a modern engine. This engine will easily last 200,000 miles if maintained properly. So it is worth repairing, but that is your decision. You just need to find a good mechanic that actually knows what they are doing.

Remove the hood bracket bar, 4bolts, then the fan shroud assembly, then the belts, belt adjuster, and timing covers, line up the cam gears, crank gear to the marks , cam has 1 dot, they line up to timing housing 2 dots, (single dot to middle of the 2 dots), crank has 1 dot to mark on the oil pump housing to your right of crank gear, thats TDC. now remove the timing belt tensioner, 2 bolts, and remove the belt, if the pump has leaked, replace the belt, and tensioner if it is NOT metal Pulley, the fibre one will break down from the antifreeze. its a good idea to replace the water pump housing orings behind it, ac bracket has to come off, as the right cam on engine, this not a retiming iussue with the gear. GOOD LUCK. RDJRP

Good luck! I can't type out the entire process but you need alot of tools,some chrysler only tools,a good manual,since you never did it before,coolant,the pump,new timing belt,a torque wrench for the timing belt tensioner,etc. Leave it to a pro.

what was it doing when the belt broke.... most times you just have the belt replaced and everything is fine.

Robert