Pulley Incident

[MMcCowan]

Got in and started the truck this evening after work and heard the scariest banging, breaking, and snap, crackle, pop noises I've ever heard. Shut her down immediately, popped the hood and got out. The pavement under the engine compartment was littered with the remnants of a pulley and the serpentine was hanging off. It looked like the bracket of the farthest left(passenger side) pulley had broke causing that pulley to take a trip or two round and round. Does anyone know which pulley that is and how much I may be looking at to replace? What would cause this? The truck was just fine up until this. I didn't see, feel, or hear any warning signs. I appreciate any help. Thanks.

 

[seafish]

Farthest left up high is the alternator pulley, farthest left mid engine is the belt tensioner... BUT you had better check EACH and ALL of the pullies that the serpentine belt rides on. There is a TSB out on the alternator pulley to replce it with an upgraded "over-running" pulley that lets the belt slip a little on shut down. Some people also suggest checking the water pump while you are in there.

Just last week, the dealer replaced my alternator pully, idler pully, and belt tensioner after the belt started riding forward and shredding itself. One day all was fine running, the next day I heard a whining sound as the belt started to rub against the pulley rim. Before I could even order parts, the belt started shredding, thankfully I was working by the truck as it was idling, and heard it start to got. I was able to shut down before it broke completely, thus averting perhaps more damage to fan and/or radiator. Towed it to the dealer, and all was covered by my MaxCare extended warranty. Seems to be a small rash of these going bad now, if you search the threads. Good Luck, let us know what happens. Check out here for more info--

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...16921-serpentine-belt-bad-luck-good-luck.html

 

[MMcCowan]

I looked up a diagram and it was the automatic belt tensioner pulley. The bracket broke right off. Doesn't look like the part is too expensive. Now just worried about any other damage it did while getting thrown around in there.

 

[sid325]

I have my original belt, 30,000ish miles, and the squeak is slowly getting worse. It bugs the heck out of me. I think i'm gonna replace the alternator pulley with the upgraded one, the belt tensioner/pulley assembly, and the belt. Hopefully that solves my squeak. Does anyone know where I can order the parts? I'd rather stay away from "Made in China" what are my options?



Thanks,



Jacob

 

[seafish]

I have my original belt, 30,000ish miles, and the squeak is slowly getting worse. It bugs the heck out of me. I think i'm gonna replace the alternator pulley with the upgraded one, the belt tensioner/pulley assembly, and the belt. Hopefully that solves my squeak. Does anyone know where I can order the parts? I'd rather stay away from "Made in China" what are my options?

Thanks,

Jacob

Jacob, please read the thread that I linked to in my above post. Though likely the tensioner, the squeak COULD be any number of things. My idler pulley was loose, and others have had the idler pulley come right off. That could also account for a squeak. Someone on TDR has also suggested using soap on the running side of the belt--if the squeak goes away, it is likely the belt, if it does NOT, then it is likely the pullies or bearings that are going bad.

 

[sid325]

Fish,



I've read your thread and I've checked most everything. I can't find anything loose or an obvious squeak. I'm somewhat frustrated; my squeak isn't consistent, it comes and goes. My belt looks good, no shredding or fraying. I don't want to through parts at it, but everyone I talk to seems to think it's the tensioner. I figure while I'm at it I'll do the alternator pulley at the same time. Anything I've missed?



***Tell me about this soap on the belt test. Rub the belt with bar soap or drip of liquid? Help me out.



Thanks,

Jacob

 

[seafish]

Well, check the water pump and DEFINITELY the idler pulley on the block above the fan.



PS--Just noticed in your sig that you have both the ute front bumper and reunel rear--that's the same as my set-up after I get the ute mounted that has been sitting in my shop for OVER a year and a half. The Reunel polished stainless with back-up lights was installed by Reunel at the factory and is awesome. Can't wait tilll I get time this winter to install the Ute. It will have the torklift front reciever mount behind the plate, and I will also be mounting the foldaway license plate step that Genos sells to cover the hitch access, as wellas use for a step to access the engine. I have also already customized some Warn 6" dual beam foglights to mount in the fog location, and some Stainless KC Hilites Daylighters on the bumper itself.

All the parts are in my garage, only need the TIME!!

 

[sid325]

**Don't mean to hijack this thread**



Fish,



You still haven't mounted your Ute, lol? How long has it been since I met you in Orinda? You were talking about that back then. I know how times flies and pending projects are. I bought the winch mount, but have never done anything with it. I have been thinking about mounting a set of Lightforce lights on the front tabs of the Ute. But, want to fix this squeak first.



Jacob

 

[seafish]

well, it's been about a year I guess... Lightforce are really nice, I hear, I just wanted to stick with stainless and aluminum instead of plastic.



Anyway, no more bumper talk here, only... Belts and Pullies!! :-laf

 

[MMcCowan]

I got the truck out of the shop today. My mechanic had to replace the idler pulley, the tension pulley, and the belt. That was all. He said the idler had a seized bearing. He guessed that the idler stopped and when it did the tension on the belt snapped off the tension pulley. There was no other damage for which I am thankful. The total bill was $440. 00. The tensioner was $200, the idler was $90 and the belt was $40. He did me quite a favor on labor so I'm not complaining. The only thing that still throws me for a loop is that there just didn't seem to be any warning. The belt wasn't singing, no weird noises, nothing. Oh well, I'm up and running.

 

[rscurtis]

One thing you can do as a preventive measure is remove the top idler pulley, remove one of the bearing shields, add grease and re-install it, provided the bearing is still in good shape.

 

[steved]

One thing you can do as a preventive measure is remove the top idler pulley, remove one of the bearing shields, add grease and re-install it, provided the bearing is still in good shape.

You can do this to the tensioner pulley as well...

 

[MMcCowan]

That's good to know. I'm gonna do what I can to see to it that this doesn't happen again. Although this was an unfortunate situation that ti happened at all, I was very lucky it happened where I work, where I know the local towing guy, and where my mechanic is located. Otherwise, i'm usually out in the middle of nowhere. Thanks guys.