Pulley rattle

Ever since replacing my serpentine belt about a year ago, I've started to get a rattle from the front of the engine. I'm fairly certain it is a pulley. First, I replaced the tensioner pulley (not the whole assembly), and the rattle continued. My next suspect is the idler pulley (the sound comes from that side of the engine). I've had some trouble locating just the idler pulley though.

Can anyone get me the a part number for that pulley? Per a local Jeep dealership, they only have the whole assembly (idler pulley, tensioner pulley, and tensioner). The part number I have been given by them is 5303958AE.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You need to replace the whole tensioner assembly with both pulley's attached to it.The tensioner has a internal spring that weakens and wears out like the serp belt and why they both should be replaced at the same time.

That will cure your ticking noise since that noise is the tensioner spring making the noise.I'll bet it get's worse if you turn on the AC right?

That is correct that it gets much worse with the A/C on. Thanks for the info.

Next question: Where is the best place to get good pricing on Jeep parts?

blastmotor said:

That is correct that it gets much worse with the A/C on. Thanks for the info.

Next question: Where is the best place to get good pricing on Jeep parts?

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Dayco and gaterback makes good tensioners and found at many autoparts stores,the OEM tensioners kinda suck but there belts are the best ones.

blastmotor said:

Next question: Where is the best place to get good pricing on Jeep parts?

Click to expand...

www.rockauto.com has "most of the parts your car will ever need" and their prices are good.

jnaut said:

www.rockauto.com has "most of the parts your car will ever need" and their prices are good.

Click to expand...

X2.... Good place to go!

Sorry to bring this back, but I was having the same problem with my wifes 06 liberty. At first when the AC was turned on it didnt make any noise, but after a few minutes it would start marking this rattling noise that I first though was the AC clutch. But after looking under the hood I noticed the tensioner pulley violently moving moving around.

Told my wife to turn the AC off and the tensioner pulley stopping shaking and the noise was gone.

I got the Dayco 89254 tensioner and Gates K060863 belt yesterday and install was pretty simple. Started it up and it ran for a few minutes and no rattling, so I hope its gone.

My real question is though I noticed the "idler"? wheel that doesn't have ribs in it (to the right when your looking at the engine bay that is part of the new tensinoer) was noticably larger than the OEM wheel. Everything fit, so no big deal I guess, but should I have taken the wheel off the OEM tensinoer that is smaller and put it on the Dayco one?

I am thinking prob not, but anyone else that installed the Dayco 89254 notice this?

Thanks