Alternator Belt

Remove and replace the serpentine belt driving the alternator on the 2005 Dodge Viper 8.3L V10, including belt routing verification and tensioner operation.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Serpentine belt (alternator drive belt) × 1 — Gates K080950 or equivalent OEM

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake.
2. Allow engine to cool completely.
3. Photograph or document the belt routing path before removal — the belt routing decal may be faded or missing.
4. Verify the replacement belt matches the correct length specification for your vehicle configuration.

Procedure

1. 1

   Locate the belt tensioner
   Open the hood and locate the automatic belt tensioner on the front of the engine. The tensioner is a spring-loaded pulley assembly typically positioned on the passenger side of the engine block. Identify the tensioner drive receptacle on the tensioner arm — this may be a hex head or a 1/2-inch square drive receptacle; confirm the size before selecting a tool.
2. 2

   Document belt routing
   Verify your belt routing diagram matches the actual installed belt path. The serpentine belt on the 8.3L V10 routes around the crankshaft pulley, water pump, power steering pump, alternator, and idler pulleys in a specific pattern. If no diagram is available, sketch the routing path noting which pulleys have the belt ribbed side versus smooth side contact.
3. 3

   Release belt tension
   Insert the appropriately sized tool (hex socket or 1/2-inch square drive) with breaker bar or serpentine belt tool into the tensioner arm receptacle. Rotate the tensioner in the direction that relieves belt tension — confirm the correct rotation direction against the service manual, as it varies by application. The tensioner will move approximately 2-3 inches, creating slack in the belt. Maintain pressure on the tensioner throughout removal.
4. 4

   Remove the old belt
   With tension released, slide the belt off the alternator pulley or nearest accessible pulley. Once one pulley is clear, carefully release tensioner pressure and allow it to return to the rest position. Remove the belt completely from all pulleys, working it out from around the engine accessories and fan.
5. 5

   Inspect pulleys and tensioner
   With the belt removed, manually spin each pulley (alternator, water pump, idler pulleys, power steering pump) to check for rough bearing operation, wobble, or noise. Inspect the tensioner pulley for smooth rotation and verify the tensioner arm moves freely through its travel range with appropriate spring resistance. Check all pulley surfaces for excessive wear, glazing, or debris.
6. 6

   Position the new belt
   Route the new serpentine belt around all pulleys EXCEPT the tensioner pulley, following your documented routing diagram. Ensure the ribbed side of the belt contacts the grooved pulleys (crankshaft, alternator, power steering pump, water pump) and the smooth back of the belt contacts any flat idler pulleys. Leave the tensioner pulley for last.
7. 7

   Install belt onto tensioner
   Insert the tensioner tool into the tensioner arm receptacle and rotate the tensioner in the direction that creates slack (the same direction used during removal). Position the belt around the tensioner pulley while holding tension released. Verify the belt is seated properly in all pulley grooves, then slowly release the tensioner to apply proper tension to the belt.
8. 8

   Verify belt alignment
   Visually inspect that the belt is centered on all pulleys with ribs fully seated in the grooves. The belt should not ride on pulley edges or show any misalignment. Check that no belt sections are twisted between pulleys.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly was required for this procedure — belt replacement is complete after installation step.

Verification

• Start the engine and observe belt operation for 30 seconds — the belt should run smoothly without squealing, slipping, or chirping noises.
• Verify the belt tracks properly on all pulleys without walking off edges during operation.
• Shut off the engine and re-inspect belt seating on all pulleys after initial run.
• Check that all engine accessories (alternator, power steering, water pump) are functioning normally.

More procedures for this vehicle