Preventive maintenance and you - timing idler pulleys

[Turn in Concepts]

Very simple. Replace them when you do the timing belt. Here's why.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[dirtbikeridr12]

ouch...any damage done to your internals?

[Turn in Concepts]

He called us when it happened and we told him to stop driving. Wise thing as it had only slipped one tooth. Likely not, but we'll be checking anyway.

[Big-E]

Time and again I will post and say basically that when you do the timing belt you should also do the idler and tensioner pulleys as well as for the water pump.

I would say that probably 97% of the time I am presented with people who say that this is overkill and/or just too expensive to do. What's the cost of cooking the engine? Many however will drop big $$$$ into "enhancement parts" but scoff at performing the basic maintenance needs. Go figure?!

I've worked in the automotive industry and have actual related experience. Have you ever had a customer come back after you told them, both verbally and in writing, that you need to replace just more than the timing belt itself? They don't get it. Even when presented with facts they can't understand that they should have spent, for example, $500 on a complete timing belt & accessory service, not the $100 on just replacing the belt as requested, to end up spending $1,000 (or more) on a 'new' engine. (NOTE: I used these dollar amounts for demonstration purposes only.)

[yankeesfan]

Yeah the pulleys aren't that much more expansive. I always think about it like this...now often are you going to be in there anyways to do it again? Not very

[tom@kartboy]

Oh come on fellas. ITS ALL Ball bearings these days...

[Turn in Concepts]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

Oh come on fellas. ITS ALL Ball bearings these days...

Actually it is.... or will be if we can get some things worked out with Koyo.

[09rexwagon]

Originally Posted by Big-E

Time and again I will post and say basically that when you do the timing belt you should also do the idler and tensioner pulleys as well as for the water pump.

I would say that probably 97% of the time I am presented with people who say that this is overkill and/or just too expensive to do. What's the cost of cooking the engine? Many however will drop big $$$$ into "enhancement parts" but scoff at performing the basic maintenance needs. Go figure?!

I've worked in the automotive industry and have actual related experience. Have you ever had a customer come back after you told them, both verbally and in writing, that you need to replace just more than the timing belt itself? They don't get it. Even when presented with facts they can't understand that they should have spent, for example, $500 on a complete timing belt & accessory service, not the $100 on just replacing the belt as requested, to end up spending $1,000 (or more) on a 'new' engine. (NOTE: I used these dollar amounts for demonstration purposes only.)

I agree quite a bit with your sentiment. I'll expand it slightly further and say that way way way too many people who have a car do not know very much about the 'whole picture' when it comes to cost of ownership. A person gets to the point where they can afford payments on a 72 month loan (not wise) and think they can afford a WRX or Escalade or Lexus GS (pick your poison). They NEVER think about insurance, maintenance costs (including oil changes, routine replacement items, labor to work on the car) or tires. Then they skimp on tires and run the cheapest crap SUV/truck tire they can find and think 4wd is infallible in the snow ice just up to the point they rear end you. Or they cannot believe an oil change and check up is $150 or more so they don't get simple maintenance things performed on time. Or they can't believe a timing belt, idler, water pump job is $800 so they only do the belt. The list can go on. Or they don't get good insurance (or any) and cost responsible people who do a lot of money. It's not only younger folks either. There is a 35+ year old guy in my neighborhood with a GX470...thing sounds like it has a spun bearing and the tranny is smacking when it engages...why? because he can't afford to maintain it because his payment and insurance is too high.

Phewwww end rant, sorry .

[quazimoto]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

Oh come on fellas. ITS ALL Ball bearings these days...

[emsfd125]

ouuchhh makes me sad to see that

[dem1k]

Dude before I bought my car it had a rebuilt motor (new pistons, brand new heads, etc.) previous owner over heated it and got it rebuilt at Kearney Mesa Subaru. When they did it they only replaced the tiny little idler pulley and the same exact thing as you posted happened to me that toothed idler failed throwing ball bearings everywhere when I was going 25mph. It just instantly failed exactly like those pictures in the other thread no warning squeal or anything. Left me with bent valves so pissed at Kearney Mesa!

[ej25lol]

How many miles did it have?

[dem1k]

I had put less then 20,000 since the rebuild I don't know if the previous owner changed the pulleys at 105k but I bought the car with 128,000 on it with 7,000 miles on the rebuild didn't read the invoice throughly until after it broke and realized they only replaced one of the pulleys that little tiny one that only costs 35 dollars ><

[LatentWagen]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

Oh come on fellas. ITS ALL Ball bearings these days...

better make it quaker state