Idler pulley failure 97 5.0

[scrogathon]

Well I just experienced a bearing failure of the idler pulley, Im pretty sure its been giving me signs the past couple of months and today less than 1km from home it starts making a horrible sound and then the smell of burning rubber and lack of power steering made me realize i lost the serpintine belt. I limped home for about 1 minute and the check gauge light came on and it was overheating, im mainly wondering if I did any damage to my engine.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

you should be ok, as long as you wernt nailing the gas peddle to the floor. i have driven (mind you it was when i had the v6 in the truck) over a kilometer home and was ok.

 

[jremington59]

How hot did it get? It literally can take only seconds for the temp to start rising once the belts off. When the vehicles already warm it doesn't take long to peg the gauge.

 

[scrogathon]

it did get pretty hot, I wasnt beating on the engine but I was trying to get home quickly so I didnt end up on the side of the road. I did notice the rad overfill tank filled up about halfway.
IM off to get the idler pulley in the morning and hopefully have it up and running shortly after, I have my fingers crossed it wasnt damaged from the short drive home.

just checked google maps it was 1.8km from home and aprox two minutes.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i dont think that will hurt it. i have seen guys pull belts at drag strips, do burn outs, run the 1/4, and drive back without doing any damage.

 

[scrogathon]

that makes me feel alot better.
Should I replace the belt also? it looks to be in good shape but I dont know how old it is. I am just trying to save any money I can.

 

[BurnTheLight88]

If it looks good and it still fits correctly when you replace the idler, just keep it if you're looking to save money

 

[swashbuckler]

that makes me feel alot better.
Should I replace the belt also? it looks to be in good shape but I dont know how old it is. I am just trying to save any money I can.

Belts are cheap, and do you want to be 20 miles from home if/when it goes? I say replace the belt and keep the old one in the jack compartment for a spare.

 

[bobflood]

Belts are cheap, and do you want to be 20 miles from home if/when it goes? I say replace the belt and keep the old one in the jack compartment for a spare.

+1 on this. Remember Murphy, the belt will only fail far from home - at 2AM - in a driving rainstorm/raging blizzard - with no cell coverage!!

 

[96eb96]

If you still have your original idler pulley by now you are asking for failure. They have a considerable failure rate. Probably a good idea to change the belt too, and even the tensioner pulley. Change it ASAP, instead of on some mountain road at 3AM.

 

[Tom G]

You smelled burning rubber, replace the belt.