'01 Rodeo with 54k. Last night I noticed an intermittent low squeal coming from the idle pulley (I think I narrowed it down to that)
Went and bought one at the local auto parts store ($15) Will have my mechanic replace it this week.
Just wondering if anyone else has had an issue with this.

Jason in NYC

I know I've heard mine make a little noise.

I know I've read a couple of others with problems (I think there is more infor in the FAQ's).

I'll get some racket from mine on a cold start in temps way below freezing. Never was able to pinpoint it as it goes away in less than a minute. I'd pop the serp belt off and give every pulley possible a spins to see how they feel/look/sound.

G/luck
Joel

it's probably the idler pulley bearing, mine went out (and thus the belt followed). The dealer offers the pulley for about $80, though it's a standard size pulley, so I found an aftermarket one for about $20.

Blessings,
Ryan Jankowski

'01 Rodeo with 54k. Last night I noticed an intermittent low squeal coming from the idle pulley (I think I narrowed it down to that)
Went and bought one at the local auto parts store ($15) Will have my mechanic replace it this week.
Just wondering if anyone else has had an issue with this.

Jason in NYC

Just replaced the Idler Pulley on my '99 Rodeo. It went to hell while driving from Miami to north Florida. The bearings went bad and it apparently stop moving and shredded up my serpentine belt too. Limped into Orlando, after 3 hours searching, found a store "Pep Boys" with one in stock and was back on the road 5 minutes after replacing the pulley and belt.

I just did my timing belt, tensioner, water pump, as well as the serpentine belt, tensioner and idler. It was a piece of cake to do. The idler I think cost me $18 at Advanced.

I'm having my idler pulley replaced today.

Had a whining sound for a few days (started when temps really dropped here in Chicago).

Had the serpentine belt replaced (45K on the old one) because I thought it might be that, but I still had the noise.

Took it to the shop today, thinking it was either the idler pulley or the altenator pulley (although I've had no starting issues) and sure enough, the shop said it was the idler pulley, $38 for the part $45 for labor.

____________
2001 Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 Auto 4WD
140,000 miles

Yep had the same problem on our first cold snap here in Atlanta a few months ago. Replace the idle pulley, part and labor was about $75.00. Runs good!!

I had that problem for a month, didn't bother to replace it (no time). Last week, the idler pulley made a huge pop sound (while I was driving) and smoke start coming the pulley with a burning smell. I had to push the car to a save spot and went to the dealership and purchase a new pulley ($96) and he recommanded me to change the drive-belt ($30) too.

GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCES!