98 S70 Idler pulley noise -

kevins s70 · Post by **kevins s70** » 10 Jun 2014, 09:05

I have a noise that i think is the idler pulley. Can't tell for sure as the pulley is behind the serpentine tensioner but that seems to be the area. I have listened to the water pump and it sounds normal. I have read that the idler pulley does have a tendency to wear and make noise. The complete water pump, idler pulley and tensioner was replaced on the previous belt replacement. The current belt was installed 12,000 miles ago. My question is should everything be changed every timing belt change?? I thought the recommended replacement was every other belt change? Is the idler pulley more prone to wear out??

Thanks

Post by **cn90** » 10 Jun 2014, 09:09

Timing belt idler pulley and tensioner are NOT Serpentine Belt idler pulley and tensioner.

Remove the serp belt and spin both idler pulley and tensioner pulleys, they last about 150K.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=53722

Post by **rspi** » 10 Jun 2014, 10:21

+1 Pull the serpentine belt and see if the noise goes away. If yes, deal with the parts in the serpentine belt area, if not, deal with the warn part on the timing belt path.

If you are NOT doing your timing belt changes yourself, replace everything except the water pump and hydraulic tensioner every time. Replace the water pump every 10 years, the hydraulic tensioner when it leaks or ever 20 years.

kevins s70 · Post by **kevins s70** » 10 Jun 2014, 17:51

Thanks for the input and information on life expectancy. The noise has been somewhat intermittent and when it starts up again i will pull off the serpentine belt and see if the noise goes away. I will do the work myself once i know for sure what is causing it.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Jun 2014, 19:23

Don't freak out after you start the car with the serpentine belt removed. The dashboard will light up like a Christmas tree with most of the warning lights lit. It doesn't hurt anything and everything will return to normal when the belt is back on.

I just wanted to give you a "heads up".

...Lee

Post by **Ben850** » 11 Jun 2014, 10:34

If the hydraulic tensioner was not replaced at the time of the timing belt maintenance, there is a definite noise that happens when the plastic retainer is the only thing saving your valves, and the tensioner has failed.

Like Robert had said, you may not have to change it on the first timing belt interval, but I would suggest it on the second.

It is an intermittent sound, and usually can be heard at idle after first starting.

I had to replace the hydraulic tensioner on both my '93 and '96. They were ignored while the previous owners did have the belts changed.
It is fairly expensive to buy the Aisin original tensioner, but it is what you want.

I do not have a video, but it sounds a bit like rattling a box of rocks. There is a You tube video somewhere on a Honda with a bad tensioner if you search. It has that exact audio.

: I tested this one twice to see if it leaked. It did.

: 6" C clamp works great. 1/4 turn every 15 seconds until you can pin the hole.