Dave’s Free Car Repair Advice

I want to explain a couple things that people should do when they buy a used car, just to prevent any future unforeseen breakdowns. This will go just a bit beyond lifting the hood or listening to the running machinery while the engine is running or while driving.

I have found that with the day and age of serpentine belts with a tensioner and an idler pulley that these two items can go out without too much warning and should be replaced as soon as you buy a used car.

When I say the pulleys I also mean the bearing that the pulley spins with. It is the bearing that will wear out and the pulley will actually be fine, but it’s much easier to replace as a set that will come together anyways.

The idler pulley bearing can be dealt with a bit easier than the tensioner. The idler pulley is usually a bolt through the bearing with a spacer for the bolt shoulder to tighten on to. The tensioner at times is attached with a left handed thread bolt, meaning that you turn the opposite direction to tighten or loosen the bolt, to replace the tensioner pulley and bearing, which will come off together since the bearing is pressed into the pulley.

It is also wise to replace the serpentine belt while you are at it. This should help your vehicle go many miles more without an unforeseen breakdown, and give you more confidence knowing that you have taken the proper steps to insure the reliability of your car.