noise coming from idler pulley, not squeeling

[wade1485]

I noticed a noise coming from the idler pulley in my 2000 explorer V8. It's not a squeeling noise but more of a "clanking" or "ticking". Could this be the idler pulley bearing? If so can I just re-grease this bearing?

 

[Tbars4]

...it sounds like a really bad bearing and grease won't help...if you pull the belt and spin it to verify, i would rush to get a new one...

 

[dogfriend]

Mine self destructed last year but it was squealing for about a week before it exploded into several pieces. I second the suggestion to remove the belt and check it out. If it fails, you lose your water pump drive, alternator drive, power steering drive and A/C compressor drive. In other words, you won't be able to get far without it.

 

[phatjoe04]

I had the same problem with my 00 limited V8. I replaced the pully 3 or 4 times and after a few months it would start clicking again. Found out the bolt holding the pully on was bent. If you go to a dealership and buy a new pully it comes with a new bolt for about the same price as buying just the pully at a parts store.

 

[wade1485]

Found Out What Problem Was

well, it was the ac compressor pulley that the noise was coming from. I know this because it broke a couple weekends ago because of the ac compressor pulley freezing up.

 

[Tbars4]

...i'm not sure if that is good news or bad compared to the idler, but thanks for letting us know what the problem was...

 

[wade1485]

no ac this winter

well, they were able to run the belt around everything but the ac compressor so my explorer is back in action. the bad news is i have no ac but being that the winter is around the corner i'm not too disapointed. it will take a few hours of work this winter and about 250 to have it blowing ice cold air by the spring.