Quote:
Originally Posted by Pittsburger
What if you have just a idler pulley that free spins? Meaning if you rotate it, it spins without any resistance? It doesn't make that sand grainy sound. Is it still bad?
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It means that the bearings aren't bad (making the sand grainy sound), but that the lubrication is not would it should be (spinning freeing), and it's only a matter of time, perhaps short, before the bearings will be shot.
I was in the same boat with mine, at 80K mls, and decided to replace them both with the belt. The chances are I won't have this car at 160K, when they'll need to be replaced again, so why risk them breaking the belt and leaving me stranded, and possible damage to my A/C compressor, which is on a lot in Phoenix (so more risk.)