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2003, w/88,000miles, Idler Bearing gone

Old 02-01-2010, 08:11 PM
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Cool 2003, w/88,000miles, Idler Bearing gone

hi ALL,
i just replaced the serpintine belt on my 2003 Bonnie, at 75,000miles.
and now at 88,000 miles, the Idler Pully BEARING failed,
1. ruined my brand new belt. shreaded it.
2. the bearing failed, so i replaced the Idler pully.
3. i started the car up, w/ new belt and pully
4. Power Steering leaks now.

THE BELT WORE A HOLE INTO THE PLASTIC POWERSTEERING RESEVOIR!!!!!!!
================================================== ==============

the power steering is a PITA to get out, cause you have such a hard time getting to the Hoses that connect to the pump!

SUMMARY,
replace the Idler Pully every 50,000 miles.
====================================

my car has 4 idler pulleys,
1 for the regular drive belt for engine accesories ( this is the one that failed)
3 for the SC (super charger)

REPLACE THEM ALL if you have a SSEi.

Old 02-01-2010, 08:14 PM
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Did it do any squealing before it failed?
Old 02-01-2010, 08:15 PM
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Thanks for the tip, will take a closer look at the pulleys.
Old 02-01-2010, 09:56 PM
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I don't believe you need to change the pulley every 50K miles. However; when something squeals like a stuck pig under your hood, better make certain it'* not a pig, and if it'* a pulley its time to replace it.
Old 02-02-2010, 07:10 AM
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I've had pulleys go before and with tons more mileage. The reality is that bearings do wear and go bad. At the first signs of issues, I pop the hood and make the needed repairs.....

Usually....

I'm currently putting off a noisy AC compressor. Don't doubt it'll bite me soon.
Old 02-06-2010, 12:26 AM
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You ought to check your tensioner.
My first pulley went at about that mileage too and the car kept eating pulleys every year until I changed the tensioner.
When you rotated the spring, it would stick slightly.
It’* been more than 100k mi since I changed it and have had no problems since.
Old 02-08-2010, 06:32 PM
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Cool

Originally Posted by Danthurs
Did it do any squealing before it failed?
well, yes it did, but while my wife was driving it. she came home and said,...
" honey, there is something wrong with the car, it made a noise on the way home".

so when i looked at it, everything was fine under the hood.

the next day, BAM, it failed again, taking out the power steering pump plastic resevoir with it,
when it threw the belt.

WOW, did i get lucky! :(
Old 02-08-2010, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Roadrunner
You ought to check your tensioner.
My first pulley went at about that mileage too and the car kept eating pulleys every year until I changed the tensioner.
When you rotated the spring, it would stick slightly.
It’* been more than 100k mi since I changed it and have had no problems since.
thanks, i checked it, it did not stick anywhere while rotating it.

i should be ok?
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