Did a search and didn't find all I needed. Have any of you replaced your idler pulley yourself and if so was it difficult?

I thought I had bad bearings in my a/c compressor since it only made the noise when the compressor was on (under load) on a cold startup. I listened very carefully today and I hear the squealing sound coming from the pulley on top of the compressor (shiny silver top--belt goes under it). The compressor itself does not sound like it's bad.

I called the dealer where I used to work and they told me $260..what a rip (99.50 for the part and 160 for labor) so much for my discounts anymore.....The OE part is online is only 45 bucks and I'm assuming they quoted 2 hours labor @ $80/hr.

I can get the OE part myself for the 45 or one from autozone from 30. Is this a pain in the butt to do for someone that isn't mechanically inclined? (the most I've done on my car is front pads/rotors).

 

I haven't done one on an Acura, but it should be easy. The idler is probably on a spring tensioner thingy. Usually, there's a way to use a wrench to unload the spring tension from the belt. Use that to get the belt off, replace the tensioner, the use it again to get the belt back on. You're done. It's probably only the 1 bolt that holds the tensioner on.
Piece of cake. 5 minutes.

 

Has anyone actually done this job of replacing idler pulley? Gen 2 TL

I have the new unit- the $30 part is the pulley only, not the spring tensioner unit you really need- about 80 bucks parts store purchase for complete unit

There are 2 bolts- one on top - one below-
it looks like remove the lower panels of the bumper/under car panel to get it- or remove entire lower bumer for access?

Figures I had the whole front off recently to replace headlight housings
If it all comes off again I am installing some blaster horns for the car and alarm-
the alarm horn is hidden in there~~

 

you can get all 3 from the top but its tricky. You can remove the splash shield to get the lower bolt.

Torque specs are 8.7lb/ft for the 3 bolts that hold the tensioner on and 28 lb/ft for the pulley bolt

 

fyi the bolt on the tensioner is reverse thread.

Well, in order to get the tension off the belts to remove them, you will need either the belt tensioner tool(easiest) which can be rented or borrowed from you local autozone or so. Or you will need a 14mm long offset wrench. Im sure that once the belt is off all you will need is a ratcheting wrench, and it's probably pretty straight forward.


see that nut in the center of your new pulley. Well there is a bolt just like that one on your old pulley. Get a serpentine belt tensioner tool, or a 14mm offset wrench with a pipe attatched to the other end, and get on the bolt and push towards the rear of the car. This will relieve your tension and you can move the belt away from the pulley.

Now, remove other bolts to remove the pulley.