My 2001 3.5L HO Chrysler LHS is making its usual winter squeel again. It happens at 700 RPMs or so when idling to warm up or idle at a stop light. I have replaced the [censored] idler pulley three times already on this car and they always fail around 14k miles, or 2k out of parts and labor warranty. What can I do...the part is inexpensive but I am sick and tired of replacing the same part over and over. It is not like it is a routine maintenence item, you know?
Idler Pulley Bearing....UGH!!!
- Thread starter dwcopple
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What brands of pulleys have you tried? What brands of bearings are in those?
Check the alignment of the pulleys. Sounds like one or more may be off. This would stress the bearings and/or the idler pulley and cause early failure. The fact that you've had this happen 3 times indicates something is out of alignment. How does the belt look? Is it chewed up?
Lastly, if everything does checkout ok, maybe rpn453 is right and you need to try another brand of idler part.
Lastly, if everything does checkout ok, maybe rpn453 is right and you need to try another brand of idler part.
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Check the alignment of the pulleys. Sounds like one or more may be off. This would stress the bearings and/or the idler pulley and cause early failure. The fact that you've had this happen 3 times indicates something is out of alignment. How does the belt look? Is it chewed up?
Now that you mention it, the idler on my mother's Sunfire 2.4L seemed to be squealing a bit couple of months ago. She complained about a noise, so I looked at the belt, and it looked good and was riding properly on all the grooved pulleys. I then pulled the belt off and the idler seemed fine when I spun it with my fingers, so I started it up without the belt to make sure it wasn't something else. No noise. When I put the belt back on, the noise was gone and hasn't returned. This all happened a couple of weeks after reinstalling the belt following a water pump replacement (timing chain driven), so I did consider the possibility that the belt wasn't riding properly on the pulley, but dismissed the idea because I thought it would self-correct and return to its natural state regardless.
Check the alignment of the pulleys. Sounds like one or more may be off. This would stress the bearings and/or the idler pulley and cause early failure. The fact that you've had this happen 3 times indicates something is out of alignment. How does the belt look? Is it chewed up?
Now that you mention it, the idler on my mother's Sunfire 2.4L seemed to be squealing a bit couple of months ago. She complained about a noise, so I looked at the belt, and it looked good and was riding properly on all the grooved pulleys. I then pulled the belt off and the idler seemed fine when I spun it with my fingers, so I started it up without the belt to make sure it wasn't something else. No noise. When I put the belt back on, the noise was gone and hasn't returned. This all happened a couple of weeks after reinstalling the belt following a water pump replacement (timing chain driven), so I did consider the possibility that the belt wasn't riding properly on the pulley, but dismissed the idea because I thought it would self-correct and return to its natural state regardless.
Shoot the bearings with some MC chain lube.
Often I see OE parts that contain plastic where metal should have been used.
That is why in many cases, Gates tensioners and idlers are better than factory. I haven't seen many Dayco or Goodyear replacement tensioners or idlers, so I don't know if they also put metal where it belongs.
That is why in many cases, Gates tensioners and idlers are better than factory. I haven't seen many Dayco or Goodyear replacement tensioners or idlers, so I don't know if they also put metal where it belongs.
Sometimes belts squeal for not apparent reason, they just do not like their home anymore and start to squeal. 90% of the time nothing is wrong it just squeals and the belts look great, belt replacement usually does the trick sometimes not. If it goes away in all probability it is not a pulley etc.
My tracker would have terrible accessory belt noises, it sounded like a flock of birds was trapped under the hood. I switched to a belt that looks like it could run on gears, kind of toothed on the inside and its been quiet ever since. Maybe give that a shot.
Ian
Ian
If the pulley is metal, replace the bearing, it's a 6203-2rsj(they almost always the same bearing)
Fix the problem first.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
My tracker would have terrible accessory belt noises, it sounded like a flock of birds was trapped under the hood. I switched to a belt that looks like it could run on gears, kind of toothed on the inside and its been quiet ever since. Maybe give that a shot.
Ian
Goodyear Gatorback?
I love Gatorbacks.
My tracker would have terrible accessory belt noises, it sounded like a flock of birds was trapped under the hood. I switched to a belt that looks like it could run on gears, kind of toothed on the inside and its been quiet ever since. Maybe give that a shot.
Ian
Goodyear Gatorback?
I love Gatorbacks.
Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
My tracker would have terrible accessory belt noises, it sounded like a flock of birds was trapped under the hood. I switched to a belt that looks like it could run on gears, kind of toothed on the inside and its been quiet ever since. Maybe give that a shot.
Ian
Goodyear Gatorback?
I love Gatorbacks.
Goodyear Gatorbacks and Dayco Poly Cogs are the only car serpantine belts I have seen with that feature.
Interesting you say you have a Chevy Tracker. I have replaced many belt tensioners on them, I guess the OE belt tensioner is not very strong.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
My tracker would have terrible accessory belt noises, it sounded like a flock of birds was trapped under the hood. I switched to a belt that looks like it could run on gears, kind of toothed on the inside and its been quiet ever since. Maybe give that a shot.
Ian
Goodyear Gatorback?
I love Gatorbacks.
Goodyear Gatorbacks and Dayco Poly Cogs are the only car serpantine belts I have seen with that feature.
Interesting you say you have a Chevy Tracker. I have replaced many belt tensioners on them, I guess the OE belt tensioner is not very strong.
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