- 1). Park the vehicle in a safe, flat place, such as a garage, and set the parking brake. Let the engine cool before working on the vehicle. Pop the hood and open it. Remove the negative battery connector and set it to the side, away from the battery. Look for the serpentine belt routing diagram, which will either be on the hood of the vehicle or on the radiator shroud cover, depending on the make/model of Dodge you are driving.
- 2). Refer to the diagram for the exact location of the automatic belt tensioner and find its physical location on the engine. Place an appropriate socket over the bolt that sticks out of the side of the tensioner pulley and attach the breaker bar ratchet to the socket. Turn the tensioner in the direction indicated on the diagram chart. This will be clockwise in most Dodge V6 engines, but if you have an older Dodge it may be counterclockwise. Allow the tensioner to release the pressure and slide the belt off the tensioner pulley. Remove the belt from the rest of the pulleys within the V6 engine.
- 3). Reinstall a new serpentine belt in your Dodge V6 engine by reversing the entire process. Route the new belt through the pulleys according to the diagram on your vehicle and work your way up to the tensioner pulley. Release tension on the pulley and slide the belt back in place. Replace the battery lead and close the hood. Start your vehicle and let the engine run for several minutes to allow the automatic belt tensioner time to adjust to the new belt.
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