What to do if your idler pulley is frozen?
This is a frozen pulley. To confirm if your idler pulley is frozen, you have to slip the belt off the pulley. Before you start, make sure the engine is off and the keys are not in the ignition, just to make sure no one attempts to turn on the engine.
What is the function of the idler pulley?
The idler pulley is crucial for power transmission from the vehicle’s engine to the alternator, air conditioning or power steering. Over time, however, the idler pulley becomes defective, making it difficult to turn the belt.
Why does the idler pulley make a squealing noise?
When the serpentine belt breaks, you have bigger problems to deal with. The engine might stall or overheat as a result. Plus, the squealing noise is going to become consistently louder, creating an annoying ride. The idler pulley and belt are located near the front of the engine.
Can a car run without an idler pulley?
An engine without a belt can quickly run into issues such as overheating and stalling, as it’s the drive belt that allows the engine accessories to function. Idler pulleys are a common component found on the majority of road going vehicles that will eventually require replacement, especially in high mileage vehicles.
What does the idler pulley do on a car?
The engine drive belts are routed in a specific manner around the various engine accessories, such as the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, and AC compressor. The idler pulley is meant to provide another smoothly rotating point for the engine belt to loop around, so that the desired routing can be achieved.
This is a frozen pulley. To confirm if your idler pulley is frozen, you have to slip the belt off the pulley. Before you start, make sure the engine is off and the keys are not in the ignition, just to make sure no one attempts to turn on the engine.
Why does my idler pulley squeal when I Turn on the engine?
Another common symptom of a possible issue with the idler pulley is squealing from the engine belts. If the surface of the idler pulley wears, or the pulley seizes or binds it may cause the engine belt to squeal as a result of it rubbing against the surface of the pulley.
What happens to the idler belt when the car is running?
If you look at the belt when the car is running at idle, it moves quite smoothly along the system. When there is significant deterioration of pulley hardware, the belt moves from side to side.