I have a 1996 f-150 4x4 with a 302. My question is about the serpentine belt idler pulley. The idler pulley (not the tensioner) looks very rough on the surface. It looks almost like it was melting, and it has flat spotts all over it. It seems to turn freely and noting appears to be frozen. Is this normal for this to look this way? the truck has 41000 miles on it.Anyone else have the same problem?

 

mine has flat spots but they are very small. did it do damage to your belt? does it smell like its burning ???

 

>mine has flat spots but they are very small. did it do
>damage to your belt? does it smell like its burning ???





The belt appears to be fine. it is nice and smooth on that side. There are a few cracks on the ribbed side so i am going to change the belt. I never smelled rubber burning or anything.The only thing i did notice is the belt would sometimes squeek a little. I have never seen a pully look like this before. ????

 

i would say not to worry about it. alot of the idler pulleys i have seen have these spots. what the cause is i have no idea and if worse comes to worse replace it.

 

I have a 95 F150 5.0, and the idler pully is doing the exact same thing. Its lookied like that for about 2 years now possibly more. I changed the belt on it 2 years ago and it hasn't hurt anything leaving it like that so I'm just gonna leave it alone unless it poses problems.

 

My truck has the same thing you guys are describing. The one on my '89 was plastic. I replaced it with a new metal one and it's still perfect 3 years later.



'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
Check my Gallery

 

Thanks for the advice everyone. This sounds like its a common problem with this pulley.I'm going to play it safe and put a metal one on.