I suspect the idler pulley was not replaced... unless it came with the water pump or the belt. Sounds like replacing the pulley is a good idea to me, and I am surprised that the guy at MoparPartz I spoke to on the phone didn't suggest it.
When I get a chance this weekend, I will pull the inspection cover off. I don't know what to expect, that could cause such horrific noise.
Remember my wife did mention hitting a pothole in a construction zone near our house the day before. She immediatly heard a realy loud squeal, but I already knew that the main serpentine belt was off by one groove on the crankshaft pulley (I noticed while changing oil a few weeks ago). That noise of course has nothing to do with the timing belt.
My worst fear is that a peice of the timing belt has shreaded, and that the noise I am hearing is that peice of the belt hitting the plastic timing cover. That would be consistant with the nature of the noise.
Question: The mechanic is only 2 blocks from my house, is it worth having it towed?