Just wanted to throw out there that I did my Idler pulley, Tensioner pulley and belt today in 20 minutes. Since I bought the car a few thousand miles ago it was making such an annoying sound I almost couldn't take it. With the new pulleys and belt on, wow, it sounds like new. For those with this same issue, no worries, it is not hard and takes no time.

 

Would the idler pulley/tensioner cause a ringing sound when the car is first initially started? If so, then I might have to change mine too...grrr.

Mind does this on cold mornings then goes away after 10 seconds and she just turned 60K on the clock.

 

What would the annoying sound sound like? I have 78000 miles and I have the sound of a mini roots style supercharger. It a whine that follows the RPMs and never goes away.

 

Both of you seem to have a different issue. Sounds like an issue with an o-ring on the power steering pump from what I have seen in several posts here. My noise was more of a belt squeal until warm and an obnoxious "grinding" noise due to the bearings being bad in the idler pulley. Is your noise a squeal or whine? If you have a noise coming from the pulleys, I would recommend putting a stethascope(spelling?) on the bolt on the idler pulley and/or the tensioner pulley and you will know if the bearings are bad. That is how I found my culprit. If it is a whine, try the o-ring, if it is a squeal try the belt and pulleys. Good Luck.

 

Wife's tl type s sounded HORRIBLE...used this thread and changed the pulley with NOOOOOO problems.

1. Easy, very, release tension on pulley by pushing locked wrench toward fire wall.
2. Lay belt aside, with same locked wrench, unlock and remove by rotating CLOCKWISE or away from firewall looking at pulley.
3. Repeat step 1 and put belt back on pulley.
4. Sit back, relax, and get a BEER.

Thanks a ton to everyone on here that got me here.