Driving with a bad idler pulley can vary in duration depending on the severity of the issue, but it's generally advisable to limit driving as much as possible. A failing idler pulley can lead to belt misalignment, increased wear on the serpentine belt, or even belt failure, which can cause engine overheating or loss of Power Steering. If you notice unusual noises or performance issues, it's best to address the problem promptly to avoid further damage. Ideally, you should have it repaired as soon as possible.
The idler pulley has nothing to do with the brakes. If the idler pulley is bad it could throw or break a belt, and then your engine will stop.
you probably have a bad bearing
An accessory drive belt idler pulley bearing going bad.
The idler pulley is a unit connected to the engine via a brace or bracket. This part merely routs the belt in a certain direction and, if bad, will cause a failure of the total serpentine system or cause belt wear as with any bad pulley in the system.
you have another pulley and that the tensioner pulley and it is spring loaded and it keeps the belts and pulleys tighten .If its bad it will cause that sound
Yes, a failing idler pulley can become louder as you drive faster. The increased speed causes the pulley to spin more rapidly, which can amplify any noise resulting from wear or damage, such as grinding or squeaking. Additionally, the vibration and stress on the pulley at higher speeds can exacerbate these sounds, making them more noticeable. It's essential to address any unusual noises to prevent further damage to the engine's belt system.
The idle or pulley will have movement in it, when the engine is shut off. It can also have a visible wobble while the engine is running.
This is almost always caused by worn drive belts. Replace all the belts at the same time. If it has a serpentine belt, then replace it. Be sure and check the idler pulley to make sure the squeak is not coming from the idler pulley itself. Another possibility is a bad alternator, water pump, or power steering pump. Check them all.
There should be a sticker under the hood on the radiator support that shows proper belt routing. Alo check belt tensioner for weakness and idler pulley bearings for wear. They go bad very often. The belt goes over the alt,under the idler pulley,over the a.c. comp,under the crank pulley,on the inside of water pump, and around tensioner pulley. There should be a sticker under the hood on the radiator support that shows proper belt routing. Alo check belt tensioner for weakness and idler pulley bearings for wear. They go bad very often. The belt goes over the alt,under the idler pulley,over the a.c. comp,under the crank pulley,on the inside of water pump, and around tensioner pulley.
Usually its a bad a/c compressor bearing or idler pulley. Something is stopped and its melted the belt.
Engine? bad serpentine belt? bad bearing in a belt driven accessory i.e. alternator, a/c compressor. idler pulley? belt tensioner? etc. Drive train? front pads need replacement? bad wheel bearing? cv joint?
the pulley is bad when it stops moving