How Much Does an Idler Pulley Replacement Cost?
The idler pulley is a part responsible for guiding and maintaining the vehicle’s tension with the drive belt or as some people know it as — the serpentine belt — the part responsible for connecting the engine to other components such as the power steering, water pump, A/C compressor and alternator. As this power is transferred from the engine via the drive belt, the belt, as it moves, will be held in place by the pulley.
As this part degrades over time, your vehicle will either start to overheat or you may notice your car won’t run as it should. If it breaks completely, then the drive belt will not work at all, unfortunately meaning your car won’t run at all.
The average idler pulley replacement cost
The cost to replace the idler pulley, as with any car repair, will depend on the vehicle you drive, your geographical location and the dealer/mechanic you choose. From our research, the costs of replacing this part on its own is almost the same, regardless of the vehicle you drive, with the average professional cost, including the parts, ranging from $90 to $150.
The parts, on average, can cost anywhere from $25 to $45, whereas labor can take about an hour, meaning you will have to pay the shop minimum, which is often $65 to $100+. Granted, these prices can be much higher for a luxury branded car.
In some cases, the serpentine belt/tensioner and/or bearings may be replaced at the same time, often increasing the price $100 to $150.
RepairPal.com notes the average cost of labor will range anywhere from $77 to $186, whereas the parts can cost $42 to $86.
At AutoZone, for instance, a complete kit, including the idler pulley, , but the idler pulley on its own will cost $17 to $35+. The best sellers on Amazon retail for about $15 to $35.
Faulty idler pulley symptoms
Odd noises are coming from the engine such as a chirping-like or grinding noise from the front side of the engine. In this case, as the pulley wears out, the surface will rub against the belt, causing the belt to squeal as its turning.
The “check engine” or a warning light illuminates on your dashboard.
A loss of power steering as the drive belt is no longer able to transfer power.
The car is overheating.
Visually inspecting the pulley, it will show signs of wear, often with scoring marks due to the contact with the belt over time.
The repair and diagnosis process
To confirm the part is, indeed, the problem, the mechanic will first physically inspect the part by loosening the drive belt to relieve it of its tension. Once relived, the pulley will be turned manually to see if there is any vibration, looseness, grinding-like noises and/resistance. If the machanic notes any of these symptoms, then the part is more than likely to blame.
When replacing the part, the entire pulley system will be inspected first to make sure the idler pulley is the issue. In most cases, a mechanic will want to play things safe and replace the belt tensioners as well. If the entire drive belt is broken or faulty, then all of the pulleys and its components will be replaced as well.
When does the idler pulley need to be replaced?
The pulleys tend to last quite some time, but the longevity will greatly depend on the operating environment. In most cases, the part can last up to 100,000 without fail.
What does an idler pulley do?
This part is designed to take up any slack and change in the direction of the transmission, proving a clutching-like action. These rollers do not have or produce any mechanical action, nor does the part transmit any power — it’s simply a part which leads a chain around a bend or takes up any slack in the drive. Being used for a variety of ways, the part can provide the correct tension for th driving belt by moving the tensioner idler, route the belt around a larger fraction of some pulleys and/or route the belt away from other surfaces. In short, the idlers are simply subordinate pulleys which is able to create a better working system.
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