How To Locate A Noisy Idler Pulley
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- In this video Eric O. shows you an in the shop "life hack" so come along as he shows you a safe way to locate a noisy pulley on your engine with out the risk of injury or expensive equipment using a really simple trick!
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair.
I use temperature sensor gun and point at each com .. The bad pulley usually get about 20-30 degrees hotter.
THANK YOU! Just confirmed my tensioner pulley is bad without turning a wrench.
Is ther a specific one to use
That's a smart idea! I'll have to go and buy one
Good thinking will try that.
That's a good idea
I've been working on cars for a long time, but I learn something new every time I watch SMA and I add them to my daily arsenal at the Ford dealer.
Me too
Hey Eric, I would trust you to work on my vehicles anytime. Your one heck of a mechanic and your honest about it too. That is very RARE nowadays .Keep up the great work and videos. I enjoy them very much. God Bless you and your family .
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
An honest mechanic?? That I can believe but you start saying honest lawyer/politicians.. im drawing the line!
Great tip Eric. I have glued two jugs permanently to my ears and when my wife starts talking I screw the caps on!!
Works for mother in law's too ...
omg...That's funny right there!
I'm a woman but I had to laugh too. 🤷
😁🤣
My wife's jugs used to be up by her ears.
Holy cow man...Thanks Eric. My ears are pretty damaged from hitting an I.E.D. in Fallujah back in '07. I do all of my own maintenance on my family's vehicles. I really appreciate this tip man. It's going to make a world of difference to me. I've tried to get by with just the screwdriver to the ear method, but many days my ears are so shot I can't hear/feel a thing. I really appreciate it man.
Thank You for your Service, Sir!!!!
Yes, thank you for service and sacrificing your hearing among many sacrifices. America needs more people like yourself.
Thanks for serving John. My hearing is 50 % impaired, although not due to military service, so I agree good trick Eric.
I was at cob spiecer 07 08
John if you are within 100 miles of Orlando, I will help you. That would be my thank you for serving our country. James
Give it a month and Snap-On will bring out a half jug with a nice paint job
and a 100 buck price!
Don't forget the Snap-On logo, just like the Harley logo it inflates the price 400%.
Yeah but it'll be more aerodynamic.
you beat me too it!
Dorman will make one that will break after the third use
Robert Gestier you mean those Dorman guys are still in business? Lol
You kill me Eric. Reminds me of my old man, WWII Combat Engineer. He'd use common sense and Critical Thinking to solve most any problem.
He told me on real old cars you had to change the "bushings" on the crankshaft/rod connections every 30,000 miles or so. Metals were not as durable or hardened at that time.
You would drop the oil pan, R&R the bushings, put her back on the road.
Ehh.. couple of hours, you're done.
Good Work, My Friend. 👍
One of my favorite tips is how to find a bad wheel bearing. Lift the car in the air and hold each spring then spin each wheel. The bad one will vibrate right through the spring and your hand/arm. Works every time;)
ALSO A GREAT TIP AND LIFE HACK
Hell yeah!
@@Goosetavula 😂😂😂😂😂😂
You can also have a friend tied to the hood with one of these screw drivers and a bottle on the end, have him press the end into the hub while hanging off the side..
Wheel bearings do not have Springs
Ok,, how many guys want to go try this out right now.
Victor Villasana I just did, at least up until my screwdriver caught wind of the pulley and the jug smacked me upside the head.
My wife and I had a good laugh, but that was short lived once I found out that it had ripped a piece of my scalp off and now I am currently bleeding to death.
I've got an annoying squeak on my 7.3L Ford. Man I want to go do this in the dark in my wet drive at 40 degrees. Ahh I can wait til tomorrow.
I'm going to go chug my gallon of milk right now!
@@SpeCifiC0507 Glad you were able to post on UA-cam before you bled out.
@@deplorableb.r.4211 important stuff first
A tip for you that will save you time and your customers money. You do not have to purchase the tension arm and the pulley. (Unless the tension arm spring is broken.) The pulley itself can just be replaced. The pulley itself is usually in stock, the tension arm is specific to models and usually has to be special order.
He used this trick when he diagnosed my truck. I can tell you from watching him it works great!
My old man taught me the screwdriver trick when I was a kid! Never thought about making a funnel. Smart.
Where exactly is he touching the screw driver to ? And is it a flat head ?
Thank you so much for this great idea. It is amazing how the simplest things are the most effective. I tried using a Harbor Freight stethoscope, and I could hear noises OK. However, once I attached a plastic bottle to a long screwdriver like you did, WOW ! The noise just amplified to the point that there was no mistaking which pulley was bad. Saved me lot's of guessing and "throwing parts at it". My Acura noise was sounded like a bad alternator, but the noise through the megaphone screwdriver was so minor. However, once I put it on the tensioner/idler, man the noise was loud. I found the problem, had it fixed in an hour. Great idea, thanks again..
OMG !!! Thanks so much!!! Lady Home Mechanic. Did all the work on my airplane, now having to do the same on my car and truck. Not to bad at 70 :) udabest!
Thank you - I knew the screwdriver trick from an old school mechanic who could diagnose pretty much any problem inside an engine with his long "stethoscope". Adding a jug makes it so much easier!
Amazing! I had this whining noise that developed about a month ago and it was driving me nuts and I could never pinpoint where it was coming from, with this method I can now confirm it was coming from the alternator, thank you!!
Hi Derek. How can i contact u? Want to ask about whining noise from my 3.0 v6 toyota engine. How can i send u the video so that u can tell me is it the same sound as yours?
Been using the stethoscope for years. I also have a 3 foot long piece of plexiglass rigid tubing to slip on the rubber hose end of the stethoscope. Helps with finding the general area of a noise.
I will definitely be adding the jug method to the arsenal . Thanks Eric O.
Smart man right there always thinking!
FordTechMakuloco I have a 99 ranger with the same issue and I replaced the idler on it and the noise is still there and the tensioner looks good
@@brandonwebb1819 what kind of noise, is this still a problem a year later?
@@brandonwebb1819 bvh9oo~
Lol
Said smart man also has a Jasper Engine & Transmissions banner proudly displayed in the background which I know you think are junk. Sorry, couldn't resist lol
What a way to create a tool that even the camera can pick up. Nice work
Screwdriver works great to find stuck/failed injectors too. You can hear them clicking clearly as they open and close. Relays and stepper motors(like throttle plate motors and EEGR) are also easy.
Thanks! You really know what your talking about. I've got a squeelimg pulley bearing on my truck and I'm definitely going to try this method. It really sounds like it works great!
Thought we were going to hear " Mr. Watson come here I need you". Very good hack especially for your older viewers or your hearing challenged ones.
Thomas Niner Of
Man I am always impressed with your videos! Yours are some of the best auto repair vids on the internet. You have helped me several times in the past. Thanks for all you do!!! Dave
What an excellent idea! I also use an old medical stethascope with the end replaced with a drinking straw. That way if it tangles with something moving it doesn't do any damage.
This guys channel is already on 110k lol, I subscribed to this channel when it had like 4k subs, awesome.
Great idea...I swapped out several components trying to figure out what was squealing including the alternator twice. One minute with this device and the bad pulley became obvious. Thank you thank you
The first time I've seen this trick with a plastic bottle. Thanks for sharing!
One kick ass life hack. This is going straight in my tool box
Great tip! Really enhances the sound...
I just used my stethoscope on a truck the other day, truck had a bearing noise, but with stethoscope they all sounded the same...ugghh hate when that happens... lol
Good safety tips too! Very important, usually people joke about it, like its never gonna happen to them. Yrs ago, i was installing an electric fan on my 85 Camaro Iroc-Z and not knowing if i wired for push or pull, i went in a little closer to determine which way the air was moving, and wham! It bit me! Lol
Needless to say, 7 stitches on my index finger, 1 stitch on my middle, and 3 severely bruised fingers later, you learn to be more cautious about this stuff...
Lol
I couldn't find the sound, thought it was the alternater. Swapped it out that wasn't it. So did some more searching on UA-cam and found you. I used your technique and wouldn't you know it, I found the rascal making the embarrassing high pitched noise. Wish I would've found you a year ago. Thanks and keep the hidden gems coming to us home garage mechanics.
also use a 3/8" or 1/2" hose about 3' long.
Eric,
Thanks for doing this video 7 years ago. I'm having a squealing noise on my 08 Sequoia 5.7L, but then goes away after about 12sec. My belt is fairly new, maybe 20k on it, but never changed the tensioner pulley, so maybe that's it. Thanks again for show us your bush made megaphone! Go get that patented!! 📣
Love This....over 20 years and never thunk of this!!!!
Sweet trick. You are a very good mechanic and your customers are lucky to have you near by.
Most informative and entertaining person on this Tube thingy. I've seen a lot and hope to see much more. He defines the point where I can do it myself and when professional help is due. Thanks for that!
Brilliant. I’m digging into a pulley noise tomorrow on my Jeep TJ. I was going to do the screwdriver trick, but adding that container is genius. I will be using that trick. Thanks!
Wow, that's an amazing trick. Thanks for giving up your secrets.
Cool, bro! I just had to change the tensioner on my Montero because the pulley on it had seized. Good stuff!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was tired of guessing!! Thanks for sharing your time!!
That has to be the best check I have ever seen . Always used screw drivers and stethoscope but the jug trick is very unique.
Thats great, so simple and effective. Everybody knows the screwdriver trick but really getting your head into the engine doesn't seem like the best idea depending on where you need to listen.. So this is awesome, thanks for sharing! :)
I didn't know it..... am I nobody..... aww man fuck my life
Neat tip,and it doubles as a funnel. I have also cut off the top in a manner that leaves the handle for a parts bucket or a scoop for grease sweep.
Eric O you are the man such a simple test method with great results.
That's a brilliant idea! I've always used an old medical stethoscope with some rubber tubing or a hard plastic straw to extend it. Perfect solution for those that don't have access to an in-ear stethoscope!
this is perfect! i have a stethoscope but no jug😂 gonna try this
By the way this should be the first video that pops up whenever someone looks up pulley, belt tensioner, belt noise
Not quite the first one, but towards the top of the list after clicking on the first video! I now have the solution!
Excellent trick Dr. O !!
could have used that on the ex-wife before marriage to determine if she had a screw loose. nice work.
lmao
Haha
ha ha
Hahahahaha
Lmao
Learn something new every day!
Used this this morning.Worked like a charm! Thanks for posting.
Love the tip good sir. Well, this invention worked like a champ. Was able to find the culprit on my 2011 Avalanche with ease, thanks for taking the time to share. I'm starting to think the 5.3 in my truck was changed at one point as mine has an a/c tensioner but all the other 2011's I see people work on don't have a tensioner on the a/c belt.
Great tip about the jug, thanks !
BTW, love the 7/11 doorbell @ 4:44, must get that one also.
That is a friggin GREAT idea! One of those, "why didn't I think of that" deals.
In the past I never used the screwdriver trick. I'd just remove the belt and free spin the pulleys, then put my weight on them & flick my wrist back and forth - I can usually feel any roughness doing that.
In my own truck ('07 Silverado), I pried the seals out of the bearings, and gave them a little smear of John Deere Corn Head Grease - works wonders. Made it all nice and quiet again. 90k miles on the truck, and I'm still on the OEM bearings and belt, except for that tiny little 6001 bearing for the A/C - the Corn Head Grease was a little too thick for that little guy - must spin at 18,000 RPM just at IDLE. In that case my grease trick actually made it worse. Live and learn. Would need a NGLI #00 in there, I think. Bearing is only $6, but saves you a trip to the parts store - after all, we don't get paid for wrenching on our own crap!
I learned quite a few automotive tricks from my grandfather, but most of those can no longer be applied to these electronic wonders of today. This one is definitely a keeper - thanks!
Nice to see Doug's got his channel up and running - just watched his before I came over here. :)
Fantastic!, tried just the screwdriver before but this works great! found it’s my water pump!
Awesome brother! i have been listening to a whine in my Silverado for a long time I grabbed a long screwdriver wrapped some electrical tape around it to give it a tight fit and without a doubt it turned out to be the AC tensioner it was very loud through the megaphone! Thank you.
Great tip! Now I have another use for my extra washer fluid containers other than old oil and antifreeze. :)
Thank you I couldn’t find the where the noise was coming from in my truck this saved me a trip to the mechanic
I going to patent that noise detector and charge you royalty whenever you use it.....hahaha Great lifetime hack, worth the 7 minutes 43 second that I spent on watching it.
And here all along I thought all Ford F-150s just sounded that way from the factory. Learned something new today!
ERIC YOU CAN ALSO JUST A LONG PIECE OF 3/4 HEATER HOSE UP TO YOUR EAR AND ITS A LOT SAFER WORKS GOOD FOR EXHAUST LEAKS TO.
GARY C One-Upper?
GARY C how do you use it to find exhaust leaks
excellent jug tric Eric, for finding a noisy pulley. I shall remember that one.
Love the Jug Trick. Clever. Thank you.
Great idea! Think my '14 5.0 may have this problem. Will go check!
I like by longer vids, but it's great anyway, thanks Eric.
At 1:03, darn a few months ago I purchased the Snap-on/Bluepoint stethoscope for $25. I already have a gallon water bottle and long 28" Snap-on screwdriver and from this video it is CLEAR that your method works better and is easier and safer! Thank You! This video may get almost as many views and that Jeep coolant in the oil pan video did.
Aircraft mech. for 30 years, awesome idea
Great tip Eric. That amplified the sound quite well!
DUDE!!! Thank you....great trick....worked like a charm,
Came across your video and I must say that is one heck of a trick to identify the problem .... thanks
Nice, I'll remember this, thanks for sharing.
omg thats the exact sound my 03 cadilac is making. It started a few years ago and has got worse. I just replaced the alternator and plan on getting a new belt. No clue it could have been that. Thank YOU!
Wooden broom stick handle cut to length works, too. Have used that to diagnose rod bearings. Great work as always!
I had to do an idler and tensioner pully bearing on my 08..i found the bearing alone for 7 bucks vs 90 for the complete tensioner..press bearing out and press new one in :)...love the vids!!
Nice, I'm trying this life hack today. thanks Eric O
Dr.: "how the hell?!
Me: "Eric O. said try this"
Thank you sir, I've used just the flat head to this but never with the jug nice work!!
Great tip, Eric. I usually use my stethoscope until it hits the fan and blows my ears off. {:>)
Haha exactly!
NOT MUCH FUN.
lol. thats what happens to me too. when you miss your mark you blow your ear drums out.
Yeah, or you just accidentally bump something and it’s crazy loud...
THE WORST
Awesome! Used this today and saved a bunch of time and money (after replacing a alternator that didn’t need fixed, but kept me from replacing more! Was idler pulley bearings)
Great video, it really gave me a couple of great ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome idea never thought of the gallon jug. Thanks
I have always held a tin can to the screwdriver. I didn't know a plastic bottle would work. Putting the screw driver in the bottle makes it a one handed tool. Good to know.
Great video man, I’ve got a pulley on my truck driving me nuts, I’ll figure it out now, awesome -thank you!
where do you put the batteries?
You have to download the App and Bluetooth it to the vehicle’s diagnostic system
How come I've never seen this jug method before?!?! You totally changed my life!!
Excellent tip, thanks!
I have a fairly new 2019 Grand Caravan I purchased for Ride Sharing and the 3.6 Pentastar under the hood whines like heck at startup then quiets down a lot but is always present even at low noise, it gets to be annoying at times. I don't want something crapping out on me on the road... Will use the magic noise rod trick... Thanks for the tip brother! Nice work!
Thank God for people like you!..meaning smart people
Ingenious using that jug. Gave me an idea. Duct tape a cheap stethoscope to the screwdriver handle. In troubleshooting my Tundra, I noticed an orange stripe on the water pump pulley. When it makes the noise the stripe wobbles, sometimes the noise stops and the strip doesn't wobble. Great video, thanks.
we use a automotive stethoscope. always works well
Dude you are a genius. So simple but yet so effective. Thanks for sharing.
Is that tool available in your Amazon store???
Upallnight hahaha
HOMEMADE LOL
Cheap Harbor Freight tool $ 7.00
I had an idler pulley seize up & fall apart in cold, cold, weather, I was lucky to take belt off & drv to a junkyard 20 min.away, which was about all the truck would run, no power brakes, alternator, water pump, I got a used one for cheap, & now I even carry a spare used idler pulley & belt, good cheap , light spare parts to have in truck in case you need on a long weekend, or freeway, middle of nowhere
Here's a hot tip. If you have a local bearing supplier in your area take the bearing out of the pully and have them match it. Press a new one in and I doubt you would pay more than $5. Of course, you'll have to learn how to press a bearing in and out, but it can be done with a socket and blocks of wood. I've done it just for fun because it's so cheap and it's great insurance for an older vehicle, particularly if you are going to be traveling. You DO NOT want a bearing to seize more than a block away from home. It'll melt your belt and then your engine.
I've done that numerous times with great success. However, some of these are pressed into a plastic (or phenolic) pulley, and they have a small lip on either side of the bearing and covering about 60% of the outer race, usually on an idler pulley. You'll break the lip if you press them out.
However, if your running a for profit business, 2 things to consider: is the money you save equal to or greater than the difference in cost? and then there's the warranty the customer expects should it fail again in the near future. It's great for the DIYer, though.
just a point of clarification...you are touching the screw driver blade on the bolt securing the pulley you are testing....correct?
Great vid. my friend I just love low cost tools!
PS do not let snap on see this.
That has to be the best tip I've ever seen.
West Main Auto Repair.
Awesome trick!! But knowing my luck I send the screw driver flying! 😂
Well, I can say that trick just gave me back my sleep cuz I just had my pump fixex n it was still hummin away but after checking it with this method I now know its the tensioner. Sadly enough I need my lines replaces on the steering pump now but the humming is gone and that is gonna help me sleep better at night. Thanks for this excellent tip brotha!
I dig the Jeep hat brother!
Thank you for this suggestion. I have watched a number of your videos to help me keep my 2011 Dodge Caravan up and running. You are the GOAT! Subscribed and video liked. Man you need some merch brother. I would support the cause. You are doing great things for DIY mechanics.
Thanks for the tip!