nissanowner1

hi guys, i would like to know where i could purchase a tension pulley for a 1997 nissan pathfinder v6 3.3L 4x4. the tension pulley is located close to the alternator. when i start the truck, it makes a loud squeeking noise and then it stops. my son told me that when he tries to move the pulley, it seems like it's lose. but when he tightened it it still moves. he said it might be the bearing that's no good and it needs replacement. i don't want to go to a dealer because it's too much. but i would like to get the OEM. do guys know of a couple of places that i can order them from online. pls. let me know. thanks a bunch.

slasher

just replace the sealed bearing. you can get one at carquest or napa for @ $20. a new pulley assembly will be like $50 at a dealer. just take off the pulley, undo a c-clip, pop out old bearing, take it to part store so they can # match it. install is simply reverse.

nismobleed

You could go to the dealership and buy the OEM part made for your vehicle, and replace it so you won't have to do it again in a few months. We're not talking about Equate Ibuprofen versus Advil, we're talking about generic parts that were cast for generic use. Bearing wear causes excess heat and could cause the pulley ID(Inner diameter) or even the OD(outer diameter) to swell or even warp. Leading to more frequent problems later on.

At any cost you should replace that part very quickly. Parts like that one never break in your driveway, always on the road somewhere...

nissanowner1

thanks for the response guys. maybe i should just buy it from a dealer then. i was wondering if the belts arent tightened to manufacturer's specs, that it would cause a premature wear out on the idler pulleys? i had the belts change about 5 months ago and the guy that changed them didnt really know what he was doing. my son ended up tightening the belts 3 months later. i saw a pic by lewisnc100 on how to tightened the belts but he had the arrows pointing from the bottom of the belts. in the haynes manual, it shows that you check the belts from the top and pressing downward. im a bit confused. im not mechanically inclined perhaps you guys can help me out. thanks a bunch.

slasher

i ve done this procedure many times (over 30 times on different vehicles) and with no failure. what nismobleed said is just not true. sealed bearings usually dont die an early death if installed correctly.