How hard is it to a DIY tensioner pulley replacement

[nazcardan]

On an '02 Explorer we just dropped $1600 into it on a timing chain/valve job and now we just found out the tensioner pulley that is chirping needs to be replaced. How hard is it to do this? If anyone has done it yourself, please provide as much details as possible. Thanks.

 

[scottfab]

On an '02 Explorer we just dropped $1600 into it on a timing chain/valve job and now we just found out the tensioner pulley that is chirping needs to be replaced. How hard is it to do this? If anyone has done it yourself, please provide as much details as possible. Thanks.

It'd be nice to know what engine is in it? (4.0 or 4.6)
Also, I'd be sure that was the tensioner. After getting that far into the engine some or all of the coolant was drained.
Until you get full circulation in the coolant the water pump will sometimes chirp. This involves either running the engine up to temp once and letting it cool or burping the coolant system to get the air out. If you run it up to temp once when it cools it self burps by pulling in coolant from the reservoir.

 

[thammel]

Hint on this..try replacing the belt. You can get chirping just due to an old belt. And replacing the tensioner pulley is easy, as I recall. I did it on my 2002 xls.

Tom

 

[nazcardan]

It is an '02 with the famous 4.0no. Is it something an amatuer can pull off with little to no problem or should this be given to a mechanic. I was told by a mechanic that I could probably get it but considering the events over the past 3 weeks (timing chain/valve job) I don't want to screw anything up.
Thanks.

 

[nazcardan]

If it's something I can do... just let me know the "shade tree mechanic" version and I should be fine. lol. Or any good advice I should know about would also be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ld50]

Ditto on the easy replacement on those things, you just have to remember to relieve the tension and remove the belt first. You will see a nut on it that you put a ratchet and socket on and pull on it against the spring mechanism to get the belt free. Then look to find the mounting nut, or nuts? can't remember.
You will usually have a sticker under the hood showing the belt route for re-install in case you get confused.

You can also verify if noise is coming from your tensioner's bearings by spraying a little WD40 or lubricating spray (with straw tube)into the bearing, It will go away...for a little while. I would do it while running cuz I am crazy like that but I would tell others to shut the engine off first. This is a good trick because sometimes a squeak or squeal can be hard to track down for sure.

 

[nazcardan]

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get to back to you guys, been working like crazy lately but will be doing the WD-40 test first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks again.

 

[scottfab]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get to back to you guys, been working like crazy lately but will be doing the WD-40 test first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks again.

Carefull about using WD40 on bearings. WD40 is not a lubricant. It is a water displacement solution. It attacks oil and grease. It turns grease into a tar. Yes it may make the chip go away but if it doesn't you WILL need to replace the idler pulley very soon after.

 

[waskly]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get to back to you guys, been working like crazy lately but will be doing the WD-40 test first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks again.

if you think its the belt, get belt dressing, wd40 makes belts squeak more then silence them.