I need some help. I'm sure it'* simple, but I can't figure it out yet. Last night my car started making a repetitive squeeling noise. I opened the hood, it was obviously coming from the belt area, and when I looked closer I noticed the smooth tensioner pulley was not spinning- the belt was just dragging across it. This is the pulley just below the SC and towards the front of the engine.

So today I buy a new pulley, get my T50 Torx, and pop off the old pulley. When I did this, metal went everywhere. The old pulley was completely toasted- the balls inside of the bearing were completely exposed on both sides, and some of the balls were missing. So I think, "Obviously just replace this and we're good to go."

15 minutes later I have the belt back on, and start the car. Pulley is still not moving. I turn the car off, loosen the bolt just a little, pulley moves, start the car- and it runs PERFECT for about 5 seconds. Then I see the pulley move and the bearing stops spinning again. So I take it off, look at it, and pretty much repeat the same thing.

Any ideas what is causing this? The tensioner I'm assuming is working right- since it slides to the side when I tighten and pops right back, and seems to get a good amount of tension on the belt.

My thought is that there are some washers that I did not find when I took the pulley apart? Now the plate that the screw goes through is directly against the pulley and causing it to not spin?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks![/img]

There is a washer that goes between the bolt and the pulley that applies force just to the bearing when the bolt is tightened. If you can't find the original washer, try to find a washer that has a large enough hole to allow the bolt through, yet a small enough diameter to not contact the pulley. Another option is to purchase a pulley that doesn't require that washer. One that I bought a couple of years ago could be used with or without that washer. I don't remember the brand, however.

Archon,
Thanks for the reply, as always. Turns out it is a 20 minute job like everyone said. My original pulley was so beat up I just threw it out and went to put the new one in. The pulley went in the middle of a move between houses (ideal time huh?) so I was rushing and the trash bag got thrown out.

I finally decided to pull the other tensioner pulley off the back of the engine and have a look. After about 2 minutes of looking at them I finally took the plates the screw goes through off of the pulleys and realized that the part I got at NAPA was different. The plate was hitting the new one, but there was a space in the other pulley. I headed back to NAPA and the guy took some measurements, found me the right pulley, and I had both pulleys installed and the belts back on in about 25 minutes (in 23 degree weather!). Maybe I did it a bit faster because it was so cold out and I couldn't get the car in the garage......motivation huh?

Thanks for the help!

Glad that you got it going! I had forgotten that I had run into the same problem you had with the replacement pulley on a '93.