Pulley bearing?

[wrecker03]

I've searched on the forums regarding a noise that sounded like a bearing or pulley that has gone bad. I found a couple of things regarding the serpentine tensioner pulley but it has mostly been for earlier model years. I have a 2003 4x4 with a V8 and makes a sound as described above. Has anyone had this same type of thing?

 

[Johnny Glenn]

Be more specific - location, when does it occur, how loud, etc.

 

[wrecker03]

The sound is coming from, it seems, the front of the engine. I hear it mostly when I accelerate but doesn't change with the RPM. I know it's not transmission related, just had a complete rebuild and I don't hear it as it runs through the gears. When I get up to speed and I'm cruising I don't hear it. When the wife pulls in the driveway, I can hear it. It sounds kind of like a whirring sound. I started thinking timing chain or something of that nature?

 

[xlt03]

Try using mechanic's stethoscope or a heater hose in the area of the idler pulley to listen for excessive noise. Next squirt some belt dressing on belt and run engine again to check for noise. My guess is idler pulley and not tensioner. Post back your results.

 

[jakedrew]

I got a 04 explorer with the v8 and i had a bad pulley noise. Not too loud , but noticeable.

I loosened the tesnion on the belt and spun the pulleys and sure enough the belt tensioner pulley had a bad bearing ( 45k miles). Instead of the 80$ they wanted for a tensioner/ pulley assembly, i just found the pulley (Advance auto) for 17$ as i knew the tensioner was still good.

Good luck. I didnt remove the fan and it wasnt too bad , not that easy though.

 

[Opera House]

I have an 02 with 100K and have been pulling the pulleys out for a couple years, removing the dust caps and greasing them. You have to be more than due for bearing problem, though the noise is more continuous. I actually bought a new pulley at a garage sale for a Ranger. It was just 1/4 inch smaller and it started making a noise. That difference was enough to cause the belt to occasionally hit the radiator hose.

 

[Cobra Jet]

On our 2004 4.0, the belt tensioner pulley bearing also went bad - get this - with only 23,000 original miles... I just replaced the entire tensioner set up, as it is only $30 for the part which includes a new pulley anyway...

To locate the actual bad bearing, as others stated above, remove your belt and w/ the engine OFF, manually spin each front accessory pulley - you will eventually find the "squealer".

I don't understand how a bearing or part can go bad w/ less than 25,000 miles on it...