Idler Pulley Bearing Question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Classic Car Guy, Dec 2, 2019.

  1. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Hey Patrick. Sorry to interrupt nothing to do with this topic. I wanted to ask you something about the 2007 Prius. There was one thing that I need to replace besides all the pumps that I changed including the mechanical water pump and the belt. I have time tomorrow to replace the idler pulley complete with the bearing. The one I bought is comes complete and exact same fit and part number but well just call it "Not Original Toyota." I'm just a bit worried maybe I should just get the original one.
    I don't mind using aftermarket as long as its not critical function. My motor mounts are aftermarket. One blows up I got 3 more. Lol...
    years ago 2012 I replaced my wife's Honda CRV water pump. That was a bit of work for I have to tilt the engine to pull out the pump. No wonder they were charging $600.00 for that job.
    The dealer didn't have the part, so I ended up getting one from pepboys. popped it in, change the tensioners, idler bearing, did everything the right way.
    after 3 years.. boom! Over heat. parked it and towed it to the house.
    I saw the pump.. the pumps front shaft split into 2. I been working on cars for a very long time. I've never seen anything like it. The pump is not even leaking. Meaning I can use all the belts, idler bearing, tensioner I ended up putting a new pump from the dealer. Running beautiful since.
    Left side is original, Right is aftermarket.
    Scary they can copy these stuffs close enough..
    What do you think?
    Or maybe I could just press that bearing out of the aftermarket assy, then install the aftermarket bearing into the original Toyota pulley?
    Thanks,
    Joe
     

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    #1 Classic Car Guy, Dec 2, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The bearing is the component of the idler pulley that is likely to fail, if you are concerned about the quality of the aftermarket part. However the pulley is not very hard to replace. Since you already bought an aftermarket part, I would suggest you install it. Good luck.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Dec 2, 2019
  3. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Good thought. Ill just install it and call it the day.
    If I ever get a US SK bearing then I'll just press in the factory one and replace it later.
    Thanks Bro.
    Joe
     
    #3 Classic Car Guy, Dec 3, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2019
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Lots of mountain and using lots of B is extremely hard on the engine. The engine is screaming. You better have good oil in and it better be at the full line.

    Do not be surprised if the engine is damaged from lack of oil. The traveling misfire is usually blown bottom end. We see this alot
    on this site. People never check there oil especially on this car with its tiny engine (2.5 quarts is the engine is out of oil) until the red light flashes and that means the oil pump is sucking fumes.Most of time we see people posting about all sorts of lights flashing go through the hassle of joining this site before they even open the hood and check things. Crazy but we see it all the time.

    Misfires that move around are because the engine has bottom end damage and the vibration from that distorts the pg & fg pulses from the cam and the crank sensor and the engine sees those poor waveforms as missfires.It cant decode timing relationship between those 2 waveforsm and defaults to missfires. Lots of them.

    Go on you tube look up PRIUS INSPECTION it will show you how to put the engine in inspection mode where it will run endlessly. Get that engine running in that mode and get under the front of the car under the engine and listen for ominous sounds like thuds or vibration.
    harbor Freight sells mechanics stethoscope that works great for this. You may hear some bad sounds coming from the oil pan.

    This is really common here.
     
    #4 edthefox5, Dec 3, 2019
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