An idler pulley in a car guides the serpentine belt, also known as an \u201caccessory belt,\u201d around various parts of the engine, playing a role in the smooth operation of components such as the power steering pump, alternator, water pump and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When your idler pulley starts to fail, you might notice these symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Replacing an idler pulley costs $151 to $320 for parts and labor. Your repair bill might be higher depending on how many idler pulleys your vehicle has and if your mechanic suggests changing all of them at once. You might also want to replace the serpentine belt at the same time, which adds to the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An idler pulley generally costs $100 or less. For example, an idler pulley for a 2015 Ford F-150 with a 5-liter engine costs $105.88 from Ford. Note that there are two similar pulleys on this engine, called tensioner pulleys. Those pulleys can be adjusted to modify belt tension and generally cost more; one costs $119.30, and the other costs $176.72.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could also shop around for aftermarket replacement parts for a potential cost saving. Take a look at the first three parts from AutoZone and the last one from a retailer of original Ford parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Replacing an idler pulley takes 20 minutes to nearly an hour. Across the United States, labor rates range from $110 to $175 per hour, meaning the labor costs for your repair can range from $44 for 20 minutes at the lowest rate to $157.50 for nearly an hour at the highest rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Replacing an idler pulley is an easy to intermediate task; the labor hours estimates above suggest that a professional with the right setup can do it in less than an hour. Home mechanics should be able to swap out an idler pulley with typical tools. For example, working on a Ford F-150 will require only a socket set, ratchet, possibly a belt-removal tool and requires no lifting of the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Broadly, removal of an idler pulley follows these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there\u2019s no absolute requirement to replace both at once, some mechanics suggest you change the serpentine belt when you change the idler pulley, and vice-versa. However, replacement intervals for idler pulleys tend to coincide with the replacement schedule for a serpentine belt (50,000-100,000 miles), so in those cases, changing both at once is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCar<\/th> Part<\/th> Source<\/th> Price ($)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> 2006 Ford Focus<\/td> Duralast A\/C Drive Belt Idler Pulley 231107<\/td> AutoZone<\/td> 29.99<\/td><\/tr> 2006 Ford Focus<\/td> Duralast Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley 231611<\/td> AutoZone<\/td> 13.49<\/td><\/tr> 2006 Ford Focus<\/td> ACDelco Gold Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley 36328<\/td> AutoZone<\/td> 51.99<\/td><\/tr> 2006 Ford Focus<\/td> Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley – Ford (1S7Z-8678-AC)<\/td> Ford OEM Parts Direct<\/td> 36.80<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \n
How long does it take to replace an idler pulley?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to replace an idler pulley?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Should you replace the idler pulley when replacing the serpentine belt?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n