My 06 RL starting making annoying accessory belt squeaking noises on cold starts a few weeks ago, which would go away after about ten minutes of either driving or idling. While cold, the noise would get louder or quieter based on cutting the steering wheel to either side or turning the AC on and off, etc. This was troubling since the belt had just been replaced a few months earlier after it had started squeaking all the time (cold or hot, dry or wet, AC on or off, didn't matter). Dealer kept the car overnight and diagnosed on the cold start in the morning that the crankshaft pulley had failed/separated. Which is now on backorder so I have a dealer-paid rental in the meantime.


Is it just me or does this seem like sort of an unusual failure for the mileage on the car...it has about 80K miles now and has been religiously maintained - and only at the dealer - since new.

 

It's not you that is unusual but it's not unheard of.

You might want to replace the timing belt/water pump early since the dealer is changing the c pulley. It might save you some money doing the t belt service now.

 

I had my pulley separate itself into 2 pieces not too long ago, managed to grab a used one from the wreckers off a TL for $80 & I was back on the road within the day. Hopefully the dealer doesn't hose you too bad.

Definitely a semi common occurrence on these cars..

 

It is actually happening quite often recently. This is at least the 5th occurrence documented in the last year.

 

^add one more on the TL side. a thread just popped up with the same "separated crank pulley" issue

 

I'm assuming because the crank pulley is exposed to outside elements, it rots the rubber faster than any other rubber in the car.

spinning that fast probably wouldnt help its case either

 

Yeah they showed me the toasted pulley, it had started to separate along a "seam" you can see in the assembly. It wasn't too brutal of a repair ($300'ish and this is canuck bucks of course) and definitely better than having it come apart on me while driving :ohnoes:

 

No it's not unusual it seems.
Here's one I made earlier: https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...lanced-934366/

Ours lasted 180k miles before letting go.
It is a poor design though.
My aftermarket jobby cost $80. Did the work myself so no (monetary)cost there.

 

Is this same pulley that the Unorthodox Racing Pulley replaces?

 

 

Just buy a stock diameter from XL8R and be done with it !!

 

^Thats the Unorthodox Racing pulley I was asking about.

 

Common problem, if you decide the factory route any 3.5 j series crank pulley will fit no problem