Signs of a belt tensioner pulley going bad?

acr2002 · Post by **acr2002** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:05 pm

My 2000 Neon has a terrible noise coming from either the P.S. pump or the tensioner pulley. If I take the belt off it goes away and it's not the AC comp, as I tried a shorter belt and it still made the noise.

I can not pin-point the exact location of the noise. I tried the long extension to my ear with no luck. I can spin the power steering pulley freely with the belt off and the power steering works fine. No sound at all coming from the PS pump while I spin it. Does this mean the pump is fine, or could it still be "whirring" when spinning really quickly?

The idler pulley on the tensioner is what I assume it is. When I spin it without the belt on, it makes a noise, but I can't tell if it is the noise I am hearing while it is running. It does spin very freely, though. I have read on here that when they go bad, they are hard to turn.

I really hope it is not the tensioner pulley, as I don't want to go through all of that trouble...

Lantern04rt · Post by **Lantern04rt** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:27 pm

I just had this exact issue with my 04 it was a horrible noise then it locked up and I lost the belt. The idler pulley on the tensioner is shot and thats what you are hearing its god awful sounding.You can replace just the idler pulley if the tensioner is still good that's what I did otherwise its a expensive price for the whole thing.

As for your ps pump if it spins freely its fine I originally thought it was my ps pump too that was making all the noise but it was the pulley , in my case though the ps pump wasn't quiet and had a fair bit of play to it so I replaced both.

acr2002 · Post by **acr2002** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:40 pm

That's what I figured. I am tempted to take off the belt and loop the P.S. line so I don't have to do that labor...

Lantern04rt · Post by **Lantern04rt** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:44 pm

I hear ya man I was tempted too especially with the season almost being over but meh my rims and tires make driving without power steering suck.

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:24 am

Being an '00, unless it is low miles, (not too likely if the idler pulley is losing it's bearing) you may as well suck it up, and replace the timing belt/water pump while you have the motor mount plate off. It isn't really that bad, well once you have done it a few times.

acr2002 · Post by **acr2002** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 11:44 am

occasional demons wrote:Being an '00, unless it is low miles, (not too likely if the idler pulley is losing it's bearing) you may as well suck it up, and replace the timing belt/water pump while you have the motor mount plate off. It isn't really that bad, well once you have done it a few times.

Yeah that is why I am in such a bind. The car only has 118k miles on it and I have no history on the car at all. I bought it to fix up and daily drive for a while and eventually sell. When I test drove it, I could have swore it was the power steering pump which I wouldn't have minded changing that. I actually ordered the p.s. pump and its on the way to me. I just don't know if I want to put that much time/$ into it, even though I have always wanted to know how to change a t-belt...

Oh well. I might just resell the car as it is and take the loss. Live and learn I guess.

I still want to find which dummy Chrysler hired to design the tensioner like this...and punch him in the wiener.

Thanks for the advice guys.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:42 am

The timing belt and such should be changed at 105,000 miles. If you aren't positive the belt was changed then, It'd be better to change it than risk the engine IMO. As for the "design" of the tensioner, at least it isn't a common wearing item. I need to change the serpentine belt on another car, and I have to take off an entire engine support plate to change the belt.

acr2002 · Post by **acr2002** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:48 pm

Went ahead and changed the pulley...pretty tough job but was able to finish it in about 2 hours. Sounds SOOOO much better. It is amazing how much noise a bad bearing can make.

I should have changed the t-belt, but I am really short on $the right now.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:03 pm

IIRC, there is a member that bypassed the tensioner with a shorter belt. They loosened the A/C bracket to get it in place. But in all, IDK what would be more hassle.

I guess if the tensioner spring failed, and funds are tight, it would be worth it.