Alternator Belt

Remove and replace the serpentine belt driving the alternator on a 2008 Dodge Viper 8.4L V10. This procedure involves releasing belt tensioner tension and routing a new belt per the underhood diagram.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Serpentine belt × 1 — Gates K060965 or equivalent 96.5" 6-rib belt

Preparation

1. Ensure engine is completely cool to the touch
2. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
3. Open hood and locate the serpentine belt routing diagram on the radiator support or underside of hood

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect belt routing and diagram
   Verify the belt routing diagram is visible and legible on the radiator support or hood underside. If the diagram is missing or faded, obtain the correct belt routing from a factory service manual or take a clear reference photo of the existing belt path before removal, as the exact routing over the crankshaft, water pump, alternator, tensioner, power steering pump, and idler pulley is specific to this vehicle and must be confirmed. Take a reference photo if needed.
2. 2

   Locate the belt tensioner
   Identify the spring-loaded automatic belt tensioner on the engine accessory drive. The tensioner has a smooth pulley and a drive/socket interface (commonly a square drive or hex head) for a breaker bar or serpentine belt tool — confirm the actual interface size on the vehicle. This tensioner maintains constant belt tension and must be rotated to release belt tension.
3. 3

   Release belt tension
   Insert a 3/8" drive breaker bar into the square socket opening on the tensioner arm. Rotate the tensioner in the direction that compresses the spring and releases belt tension (verify direction against the actual tensioner geometry, as it varies by application). The tensioner arm will swing through its arc until belt tension is relieved.
4. 4

   Remove old belt
   While holding tension on the breaker bar, slip the serpentine belt off the alternator pulley or nearest accessible pulley. Once the belt is free from one pulley, slowly release the tensioner to allow it to return to its rest position. Remove the belt from the remaining pulleys and extract it from the engine bay. Inspect the tensioner pulley for smooth rotation and absence of play or noise.
5. 5

   Inspect pulleys and components
   With the belt removed, inspect all pulley surfaces for damage, grooving, or contamination from oil or coolant. Spin each pulley by hand to check for roughness, binding, or bearing noise. Check the tensioner arm for smooth movement and verify the tensioner pulley spins freely without excessive play. Address any pulley issues before installing the new belt.
6. 6

   Route new belt on all pulleys except one
   Route the new serpentine belt over all pulleys following the diagram pattern, leaving either the alternator pulley or tensioner pulley as the last pulley to install. Ensure the belt ribs are properly seated in each pulley groove and the smooth back side of the belt contacts the smooth tensioner pulley surface (not ribbed side).
7. 7

   Install belt on final pulley
   Insert the breaker bar into the tensioner socket and rotate clockwise to compress the tensioner spring. While holding the tensioner in the released position, slip the belt over the final pulley ensuring proper rib engagement. Verify the belt is correctly seated in all pulley grooves before slowly releasing the tensioner to apply proper tension to the belt.
8. 8

   Verify belt alignment and seating
   Visually inspect all pulley contact points to confirm the belt is properly centered on each pulley and fully seated in the grooves. The belt should not be riding on pulley edges or appearing twisted anywhere in the routing path. Check that the smooth back of the belt contacts the tensioner pulley smooth surface.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly was required for this procedure

Verification

• Start the engine and observe belt operation for 30 seconds, listening for any squealing, chirping, or unusual noises that would indicate misalignment or improper tension
• Verify the belt tracks properly on all pulleys without walking off edges or showing signs of misalignment
• Check that the alternator is charging properly by confirming battery voltage rises to 13.8-14.4 volts with engine running

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

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