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What does it sound like when a pulley goes bad?

Posted on by Arif Clayton

What does it sound like when a pulley goes bad?

When the grooves on the pulleys are not holding on to the belts, you will hear a loud noise coming from the engine. The bearings will make a rattling sound if they’re worn out. They will remove the belt from the pulley and try to turn it on their own. …

Can a pulley make a whining noise?

Damaged or worn pulley bearings may cause a whining noise as the pulleys spin. In cases like these, it’s generally best to replace the pulley or pulleys entirely.

Why is my pulley making noise?

An engine pulley is mounted to the engine of an automobile and drives all belts. Belt and pulley noise is usually a screeching sound that has a repetitive pattern screeching on each revolution. The screech can be caused by a worn out belt or by the pulley attached to an engine accessory that is starting to freeze up.

Can you drive with a bad tensioner pulley?

Driving with a bad belt tensioner is unsafe since the tensioner is meant to guarantee ample tension that powers accessories. Wear on the belt tensioner will eventually cause the belt to slip, generate loud noise, and also create an unsafe level of heat along the accessory pulleys.

Can a tensioner pulley squeak?

1. Grinding or squeaking noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started. It is also possible for the tensioner pulley or bearing to wear out, in which case the vehicle will produce a grinding noise from the pulley.

What causes a high pitched whining noise in car?

Usually, high pitched noises like a squeak or a squeal are caused by your engine belts. The engine belts are typically made from a hard rubber and run on metal and plastic pulleys. If a pulley is misaligned or seized it will rub on the edge of the belt causing this squeaking or chirping.

What causes a whining sound when accelerating?

A whining noise while accelerating it can causes by several things, including low levels of steering fluid, the steering pump, a leak in the pump, the alternator, wheel bearings, loose or worn belts, the transmission, and the exhaust.

What does it sound like when a pulley goes bad?

Posted on by Arif Clayton

What does it sound like when a pulley goes bad?

Squealing. When the engine is idling, a bad pulley may make a squealing sound. This is due to the bearings in the pulley going bad. The bearings may also make various other sounds such as clattering or even a rumbling sound, making the vehicle sound as if there was much more wrong than a bad pulley.

Can you drive with a noisy pulley?

A damaged pulley can cause the drive or serpentine belt to dislodge. The safety recommendation is not to drive the car at all and take it to a mechanic immediately. You should be concerned if the vehicle makes squeaking or rattling noises. The car can still run for months or break after a few days.

Why does my idler pulley make a squealing noise?

When the idler pulley becomes worn out, it makes a squealing noise. You may hear the noise coming from the front assembly or the timing cover. There are a number of causes for the idler pulley to make noise. You should also pay attention to the type of noise the pulley makes.

What should I do if I hear an engine noise?

Whatever noise you are hearing, it’s vital to have it diagnosed immediately. Otherwise, the problem could lead to irreversible engine damage. Luckily it is often enough with smaller repairs when you experience any engine noise. If the engine becomes damaged beyond repair, you are going to need a replacement.

Why does my car make squealing noises when I start the engine?

A lot of engine noises do come from low engine oil or other fluids. Always start by checking the engine oil level with the dipstick if you hear any noise. The other most common thing is a bad serpentine belt which can cause squealing noises. Remove the serpentine belt to see if the noises disappear.

Why does my car make a loud noise when I change gear?

This noise is usually heard when you drive your car, change gear and accelerate. The sound seems as if something inside the engine is knocking hard against the engine. Usually this is the result of early ignition of the air-fuel mixture, which is supposed to burn at just the right time to produce optimum performance.

Why does my pulley make a noise when I spin it?

If there’s evidence of glazing on the pulley surface, the belt has been slipping on it. Spin the tensioner pulley by hand and listen to it. If the bearing is good, the pulley will spin freely, straight and true, without any noise. If that’s not the case, you have a bad bearing and must replace the tensioner.

How to troubleshoot a tensioner pulley noise?

Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise just far enough to slip the serpentine belt off the pulley closest to the belt (or pulley easiest for you to reach, depending on what kind of vehicle you’re working on). Rotate the tensioner back into position. Shine the flashlight on the tensioner pulley and examine the pulley face.

How can you tell if a tensioner pulley is glazing?

Shine the flashlight on the tensioner pulley and examine the pulley face. If there’s evidence of glazing on the pulley surface, the belt has been slipping on it.

What to do when you hear a tensioner noise in your car?

Start your vehicle, leave the transmission in park, set the parking brake and open the hood. Listen to the tensioner noise to note if the sound is intermittent or constant.