Idler wheels are a common component found on most vehicles on the road. Its main function is to provide tension and guide the engine drive belt. … Like many auto parts, idlers wear out over time. The pulley is spinning on the belt, wearing two parts.

Should the idler gear spin?

elder Idler wheel bolted to the engine spins freely. The new idler seems to be very tight when bolted to the engine. It definitely doesn’t spin freely.

What are the symptoms of a broken idler?

Visual cues for worn idler pulleys

This wear reduces the tension that can cause the belt to slip significantly.If the pulley or bearing Visibly damaged, cracked, broken, stuck, or otherwise detachedwhich indicates that it needs to be replaced in time.

Does the tensioner wheel rotate?

Check the tensioner

Turn the pulley to see if it turns freely. If you hear a grinding noise or if the pulley does not spin freely, replace the tensioner. When changing the belt, it takes a lot of muscle power to move the tensioner. If you can move it easily, the spring tension is most likely not tight enough.

Should the idler have play?

Should the idler have play? There should be no shaking, or the end clearance of the bearing. They should be completely free of thrust or axial loads. If you don’t, you’ll end up wearing out other pulleys and fittings.

Idler, how to replace (easy and cheap)

36 related questions found

Can I drive with a bad idler?

Driving with a bad belt tensioner is unsafe Because the tensioner is designed to guarantee adequate tension to the fitting. Wear on the belt tensioner can eventually cause the belt to slip, make a lot of noise, and also create unsafe heat on the accessory pulley.

What noise does a bad idler make?

scream. A damaged pulley may make a screeching sound when the engine is idling. This is due to a broken bearing in the pulley. Bearings can also make various other sounds, such as clicking or even rumble, making the vehicle sound like it has more errors than bad pulleys.

Should all pulleys spin freely?

The only pulleys you should be able to turn by hand when the serpentine belt is not in place are: the water pump, alternator and power steering pump pulleys. …you can’t rotate the cam or crankshaft pulley by hand yes completely normal. If you are able to rotate them freehand then you will have problems.

When should I replace the tensioner?

No recommended time frame Replacing the tensioner, especially the belt itself, usually needs to be replaced before the tensioner. However, the tensioner should be checked every time the car is serviced to monitor its condition and replace if necessary.

Should the idler be tight?

Too tight, just long Because the hydraulic tensioner stays in range, but is too loose, you’ll lose your head and maybe your bottom end. Don’t ignore it just because it’s difficult.

Can you get around the idler?

Yes, you might be able to get a shorter belt and route it Go around that pulley. The only problem is that the belt will most likely slip every time the A/C compressor clutch engages.

What is the difference between a tensioner and an idler?

The main difference between tensioner and idler is Presence of adjustable bolts. The tensioner is positioned on the bolt by mounting. The idler pulley is not installed on the adjustable bolt. … tensioner sends pressure to the belt driving the pulley while minimizing pressure on the belt.

What is a tensioner?

A drive belt tensioner is a pulley mounted on a spring mechanism or adjustable pivot point, Used to maintain tension on the engine belt.. Both are used to maintain tension on the engine serpentine belts so that they can drive various engine accessories.

Can you just replace the pulley on the tensioner?

The tensioner pulley is located at the end of the spring loaded tensioner. … usually it’s just the pulley on the tensioner that is broken, not the entire tensioner, and for most vehicles, You can buy and replace the pulley instead of the tensioner itself.

Should I replace the idler and tensioner?

if Malfunctioning automatic belt tensioner (and the engine has a lot of mileage), it might be a good idea to replace the idler at the same time. Why? Because the bearings on all pulleys will have the same amount of wear.

Why is my crankshaft pulley shaking?

If the fan pulley bolted to the harmonic balancer is removed, bent or twisted, may cause crankshaft pulley to oscillate. …sometimes, some dirt can get trapped under the pulleys. Also, crankshaft pulleys tend to wobble without proper torque.

What is the cause of crankshaft pulley failure?

Another way pulleys fail is during assembly Assembly press has been interrupted Or the friction bearing was pressed in by mistake. This can happen during the manufacture and installation of car parts.

Does the crankshaft pulley move freely?

Start manually rotating the pulley with the belt still open, and All pulleys move freelyincluding crank pulley.

What does a bad power steering pulley sound like?

A loose power steering pump pulley or mounting bracket can cause rattle and also. Rack may occur due to loose racks due to wear. It could also indicate that a loose serpentine belt or idler bearing is starting to fail.

How much does it cost to repair an idler?

The total price of replacing an idler is usually within the range Between $80 and $200parts cost between $40 and $90, and total labor costs average between $40 and $110.

Can a bad idler cause a fire?

as far as I know, Nothing to do with the idler pulley will cause the engine to misfire. Too coincidental, everything else goes bad immediately after this fix.

How long should the idler be used?

The idler pulley is expected to wear out over time and eventually cause the pulley to fail.Idler replacement intervals vary, but are usually 50,000 to 100,000 miles range. Replacement usually coincides with the expected serpentine belt/accessory belt replacement period.

What happens if the tensioner fails?

When the tensioner or tensioner fails, Loss of tension can cause sharp rattling or chirping of belts and pulleys. If the pulley bearing fails completely, it can also cause a screeching or even grinding sound.