Whining / squeaky idler pulley

Just want to say thanks to you guys. My 2000 Rodeo 3.2 had squeaky belts for about the last 30,000 miles. I had replaced the belts several times and kept squirting belt dressing on them constantly. Recently it started doing a whining sound that never went away. It took me about ten minutes of reading in your posts to realize it was the idle pulley that was bad. Bought a replacement and it took me about five minutes to put it on. I am amazed by the amount of Rodeo repair knowledge that has accumulated on this site. My next project is to replace the IMG and timing. Thanks:grinyes:

How bad was the idler pulley when you removed it? When mine started to go at 120,000 miles, and it went so fast I barely made it home.... Good work!

-Scott

It didn't lock up or anything, but it is difficult to turn and it sounds like it has sand inside of it. From the discussions here it sounds like when the pulley goes it can leave you stranded.

You are talking about the one on top, on the left-hand side?

You got it; when the pulley goes and you don't stop the engine in time, bye bye serpentine belt!!! Either way you are stranded..... :icon16:

Okay, so I am going through the same thing right now and my two local shade tree mechanics have pointed out the same pulley as the noise/whistler/whinning maker. Head off to OReilly's to put up the aftermarket plastic wheel to replace the metal one. Whistle is still there. :banghead:
I have a 99 Honda Passport with about 135,000 miles. I am also getting stalls after coming to stops along with high RPMs at times (2000 RPMS) even when I am not on the gas. Yes, the CEL is on along with I have cleaned the EGR. Plans for timeing belt/water pump are Jan 15 along with serpentine belt and plugs....any other ideas for whistle?

Hi, Yes the AtoZone pulley is pretty cheap. I'm thinking I'll add replacing this pulley as a regular maintenance item. As far as your other problems, I'm no expert, but some other posts have identified the culprit as the intake manifold gasket. Also did you clean the tube for the EGR. Take a look behind the throtle body and you can see where it comes in. Some other posts have also addressed how to clean this out.

The intake manifold gasket is one part that I did read about and I have brought that up to my two local (at work) shade tree mechs (same kind of guy who can coach a football team from the recliner) and one argues that it's not the intake mainfold gasket and has to be the water pump if not the tension pulley, which I priced around 20 bucks. If it's the manifold gasket then from what I have been reading, the noise should go away in about a week or so since the hole is getting bigger. I shall keep ya posted