I have a 96 Explorer XLT with the 5.0L V8...and a loud buzzing/whining noise. I think I've isolated it to the idler pulley on the bottom right of the engine (the passenger side) just below the tensioner pulley. Apparently this pulley is actually known by some other name than "idler pulley" because there is one of those up top. The one I need is 3" to the outer edges, so about 2.5" diameter across the actual contact part of the pulley.

Does anybody know what this pulley is officially called, what its part number is (Ford or aftermarket), and where I can get one? The Ford dealer hasn't been much help besides providing the part number for the OTHER idler pulley (on the top of the engine).

Thanks!

 

Just replaced one on a truck. They call them idler pulley at the local parts place (O'Reilly) cost about $18.00. The bolt holding mine on was left hand thread. To unscrew it you have to go clockwise. Even the Ford shop manual does not tell you that.Good luck

 

Thanks for the left-handed tip...I would have been wrenching on that SOB for hours! :7

I guess I'll have to just remove it and go visit the stores to find a match. All the local shops (south San Francisco Bay area) show the larger top pulley but can't find the lower one in their database. Hopefully I can find the match in stock somewhere.

 

There are 2 idler pulleys on your engine. One is a 90mm flat pulley that is easy to see to the right of the waterpump. The other one is a grooved pulley very low and to the left, under the tensioner.
The tensioner pulley does have a left hand thread bolt but the idler is rh. Dayco has aftermarket replacements for both idlers.
The 90mm flat is 89006 and the grooved pulley is 89015. You should be able to get them from PEP Boys or CarQuest or any shop that sells Dayco parts.

 

My idler/tensioner fell apart on my 95' while driving down the freeway. Had to have it towed home. Next day went to Kragen Auto and purchased the Dayco.

The very next day saw it in Kragen's Sunday Paper Ad, on sale with a picture of the exact part that I bought. I would guess that they sell alot of them.

Factory part uses a plastic bearing, prone to heat damage, a poor design, doomed to fail.

borland

 

Interesting, same thing happened to me on my 1995, of course I was in the middle of nowhere and it cost a few hundred bucks to fix.

I can't believe the thing basically tore itself to shreds as the bearings have out, then the belt fell off and the radiator fan mangled it.

Something to beware of when you're driving, if that pulley falls off then you lose your belt and therefore brakes, engine cooling, etc., hopefully you're not in the middle of traffic when it happens!