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An idler pulley is expected to wear over time, and eventually the pulley will fail. Replacement intervals for idler pulleys vary, but are usually within the 50,000 to 100,000 mile range. Replacement often coincides with expected serpentine/accessory belt replacement periods.
Visual Clues of a Worn Idler Pulley
Such wear decreases tension that can cause significant belt slippage. If the pulley or bearing is noticeably damaged, cracking, breaking, seizing, or otherwise coming apart, it is an indication that it requires prompt replacement.
Idler pulleys are designed to last beyond the lifespan of the car, so it’s one of the car parts that you’re less likely to need to replace. … A failing idler can bring an engine to a grinding halt, so it’s important to self-service idlers despite their reputation as long-lasting engine components.
Squealing. When the engine is idling, a bad pulley may make a squealing sound. The bearings may also make various other sounds such as clattering or even a rumbling sound, making the vehicle sound as if there was much more wrong than a bad pulley. …
An idler pulley is a simple device used to keep tension on an accessory belt. The pulley will fail eventually because it will wear over time. Replacement intervals for idler pulleys range from 50,000 to 100,000 miles.
The cost to replace the idler pulley of your driver belt will usually be somewhere between $80 and $200. The cost for the new part should only be anywhere from $40 to $90, while the cost of the labor will be anywhere from $40 to $110. These prices do not include added taxes and fees charged by the auto shop.
The primary distinction between tensioners and idler pulleys is the presence of an adjustable bolt. Tensioners are positioned on the bolt through mounting. Idler pulleys are not mounted to an adjustable bolt. … However, if bearings fail, tensioner and idler pulleys both require replacement.
Most modern cars that roll off the dealer’s lot as a new vehicle will have a 60,000 to 100,000-mile life expectancy for the serpentine belt, tensioners, and idler pulleys.
As far as I know, nothing that has anything to do with the idler pulley could cause the engine to misfire. It’s just too much coincidence that something else would go bad immediately after this repair.
Alternators are DRIVEN by the serpentine belt. All that happens when the belt disappears or pulleys seize is the alternator stops turning; there is NO possibility of damage to the alternator.
Timing belt idler pulleys are replaced during a timing belt replacement service, either as preventive maintenance or due to suspected failure. This means the average idler pulley replacement occurs between 60,000 and 105,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer specified timing belt service interval.
Physical damage to the water pump pulley
There are multiple ways this metal component can be damaged, including having an incorrect sized or improperly adjusted water pump belt installed, vehicle accidents or problems with the internal bearings that allow the pulley to spin.
Grinding noises – Grinding and rumbling noises are another common sign of tensioner or idler pulley failure, usually due to failing bearings. Excessive tensioner movement – Worn-out coil springs can also cause drive belt tensioners to loosen their grip on the drive belt, resulting in excessive vibration and rattling.
In many cases it is possible to remove and install the overrunning alternator pulley while the alternator is still on the engine. The plastic protective cap cannot be re-used after it has been removed from the pulley. A replacement cap is supplied with the new part.
Technically speaking, yes, an idler pulley will result in a slight power loss.
Symptom 1: Squealing, rattling, or chirping.
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise.
Idler pulleys are used to take up slack, change the direction of transmission, or provide clutching action. Idler pulleys are rollers that do not produce any mechanical advantage, nor transmit power to a shaft. Idler pulleys are used to lead a chain around a bend or to take up slack in a drive chain.
Checking the Tensioner
Spin the pulley to see if it spins freely. If you hear grinding or the pulley doesn’t spin freely, replace the tensioner. When you replace the belt, it should take a lot of muscle power to move the tensioner. If you can move it easily, the spring tension is most likely not tight enough.
The idler pulley guides the drive belt in your car, maintaining tension as the timing belt rotates at high speeds. … However, you can replace your idler pulley quickly if you have the right tools and know how.
When a crankshaft pulley fails (or the timing belt due to a badly maintained crankshaft pulley), the timing of the engine is completely thrown off. Even a rotation or movement of a few millimetres can start to cause problems in a system so precise.
Poor Driving Experience
Vehicle performance issues can also indicate a problem with your vehicle’s serpentine belt because bad serpentine belt causes loss of power. … So if you have searched for answers to the question, can a bad serpentine belt cause rough idle? The answer is yes.
If the tensioner is worn, the belt will slip and then catch suddenly. Tensioners are more than just a spring. … The belt will slip and catch, causing noise and vibration. This can cause a change in crankshaft speed that is severe enough to cause the engine management system to think that a misfire just occurred.
Hi there – yes, a worn or stretched timing chain, weak timing chain tensioner, or worn timing chain guides can cause misfiring, cam timing problem codes, low power and generally poor running of the engine. … That would result in major engine damage.
It definitely will not spin freely. The new idler pulley doesn’t seem defective, it spins freely in my hand but once i bolt it to the engine it doesn’t spin free. Do new idler pulleys need to be “broken in”? Did you over torque the bolt that holds it down?
Generally, the idler pulleys, tensioner and water pump should always be replaced when the timing belt is replaced. In most cases, the timing belt drives the water pump, so it is the right time to replace the water pump. It is also recommended by the manufacturer.
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