I have a squealing pulley on my Mark and I'm wondering what the name of this pulley is so I can get a new one. I think it's the IDLER pulley. This pulley is right next to the tensioner and is just a free spinning pulley. Problem is, I think the bearings in my pulley have gotten wet or grimey and are now squealing like a stuck pig. I think I'd better swap the $10-20 pulley before it causes some serious damage to something else.
To make sure that it is the idler pulley and not the tensioner pulley, I'd use Driller's method of using a peice of heater hose as a stethescope. It works great but just be careful around the belt. Just hold one end to your ear and move the other end to the center of each pulley and listen for the difference.
I recently replaced my idler pulley (it was bad) and still had some noise. Then I replaced my tensioner pulley, it was bad too. Now the new tensioner pulley makes a different noise. I used the heater hose to make sure it was coming from the new tensioner pulley. I guess I got a bad one so I'll take it back and get another one.
It's probably best to just replace both of them to save time and work.
I did that with my green Mark and should have done that with my red Mark..
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To make sure that it is the idler pulley and not the tensioner pulley, I'd use Driller's method of using a peice of heater hose as a stethescope. It works great but just be careful around the belt. Just hold one end to your ear and move the other end to the center of each pulley and listen for the difference.I recently replaced my idler pulley (it was bad) and still had some noise. Then I replaced my tensioner pulley, it was bad too. Now the new tensioner pulley makes a different noise. I used the heater hose to make sure it was coming from the new tensioner pulley. I guess I got a bad one so I'll take it back and get another one.It's probably best to just replace both of them to save time and work.I did that with my green Mark and should have done that with my red Mark..
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So it is the idler pulley? I wanted to be sure I had the name right. The noise is loud and I've listened carefully and even put my finger on the bolt holding the pulley on the engine, you can feel the squeal right through the bolt. Though I'll check the noise with a tube tonight.
Sorry, yes it is the idler pulley. It's the same part as the tensioner pulley though. The tensioner pulley is mounted to the back side of the tensioner, so to replace it you'll need to remove the 3 bolts that hold the tensioner to the timing cover on the front of the engine.
I think I'd better swap the $10-20 pulley before it causes some serious damage to something else.