Remove the belt, then remove the bolt holding in the idler pulley.
Just buy a bypass pulley and bolt it on.
Remove the old, damaged idler pulley and replace it with a new one.
Remove belt. Remove the bolt and then pull the pulley off. Put new pulley in position. Put the belt back on.
the idler pulley.
If it is a serpentine belt the idler pulley more than likely needs replacing. If it is a drive belt you are adjusting it too tightly.
Replace the tensioner assembly as one piece.
What you need is a ratchet 15mm socket. Losen the idler then slide off the serpentine belt off. There should be a diagram for routing the belt if not draw a diagram before removing it. Replace the serpentine belt crank it 2 or 3 times but don't start the engine. The 4th time start the engine this time the as the engine is idling eyeball the belt agaisnt the tensioner idler and crank pulley make sure the serpentine is algined. A Note: Make sure that you have identified the tensioner pulley as apposed to the idler pulley. With the 15mm socket on the tensioner pulley's bolt, rotate it clockwise and this will release the tension on the belt, or in the case of installing a new serpentine belt, allow you to get it where it belongs. This is the case on my 1997 Dodge Caravan, and probably other year makes. Best of luck- Bryan 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan: Rotating the tensioner pulley's bolt clockwise was the way to replace my belt. By the way, the tensioner pulley in my van was one of the smaller ones in the middle of the whole system, attached to a silver arm coming off the tensioner. Good luck...
N1gger
It could be an accessory such as an alternator, tensioner pulley, idler pulley, etc. and/or it cud be the belt. You can check this by removing the belt and checking to see if the knock is still there if it is then you may have a bent rod.
what you need is a ratchet 15mm socket. Losen the idler then slide off the serpentine belt off. There should be a diagram for routing the belt if not draw a diagram before removing it. Replace the serpentine belt crank it 2 or 3 times but don't start the engine. The 4th time start the engine this time the as the engine is idling eyeball the belt agaisnt the tensioner idler and crank pulley make sure the serpentine is algined. That's It. Bill A Note: Make sure that you have identified the tensioner pulley as apposed to the idler pulley. With the 15mm socket on the tensioner pulley's bolt, rotate it clockwise and this will release the tension on the belt, or in the case of installing a new serpentine belt, allow you to get it where it belongs. This is the case on my 1997 Dodge Caravan, and probably other year makes. Best of luck- Bryan 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan: Rotating the tensioner pulley's bolt clockwise was the way to replace my belt. By the way, the tensioner pulley in my van was one of the smaller ones in the middle of the whole system, attached to a silver arm coming off the tensioner.
The 1998 Dodge Dakota tensioner pulley will be the top pulley on the left-hand side of the engine. The tensioner pulley will be able to slide back and forth.
If the idler pulley is frozen, it is high time to replace the timing belt and the idler. And while that job is being done, consider replacing the water pump and thermostat.