What happens if your idler pulley goes bad?
They help to maintain control and tension on the belt as it rotates at high speeds. Failure in this pulley can result in a loose or dropped drive belt, noises from failed bearings, and or a damaged drive belt.
How do you remove an idler pulley from a car?
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the car battery to cut power to the engine. Set the cable aside where it cannot make contact with anything metal. Step 2: Remove the drive belt. To remove the drive belt, first release the tension to the belt.
Can a negative battery cable be replaced on an idler pulley?
Reinstall the negative battery cable. Replacing an idler pulley can be done in a reasonable amount of time and for a decent price.
What does the pulley on the idler do?
An idler tensioner pulley is responsible for tensioning the drive belts on an engine. The engine belt loops around or under the idler pulley and creates a path for the belt to travel.
How to replace idler and tension pulley in Ford F-150?
Pro Tip 1 Insert your 1/2″ drive ratchet or belt removal tool into the hole on the tensioner. 2 Rotate it clockwise towards the driver side to release tension. 3 While holding the tool, unhook the belt from a pulley 4 You can now release the tool and use both hands to remove the rest of the belt
What should I do if my idler is not working?
If the sound still persists then you’ll need to check the pulleys. One by one, apply WD-40 to each pulley and start the motor. If the sound goes away on that pulley, then that one is the problem pulley. Refer to the diagrams at the end for the pulley layout for your specific engine.
How much does it cost to replace idler pulleys?
So if you have the extra money, it won’t hurt to go ahead and replace them all at once. Pulleys aren’t terribly expensive. The tensioner will cost about $40 to $50 depending on where you buy it and shipping costs. The idler pulleys cost between $15 and $30.