Car guys/gals- Belt/Pulley Problems?

[Nutdotnet]

I know there are at least one or two fairly competent car people here....got a question for ya.

My car sounds like hell, and it isn't the engine. I think it is something to do with the belts or pulleys. Personally to me, it sounds like something is dry, like bearings or something. Plus when I look down on the pulleys one looks to be wobbling? That is as best as I can describe it. The sound changes from this dry nasty sound to a whining sound occasionally. My belts are indeed slipping occasionally, I know that for a fact. I have inspected the belts and they actually look in pretty decent shape.

Is it safe to assume that one or more pulleys is causing this? I am going to get it checked out tommorow, but am just curious if I am on the right track. Would it be just replacing the bad pulleys and maybe belts or is it more in-depth than that?

Plus, if anyone knows how much something like this typically costs please let me know. I have a bad feeling that it isn't cheap since the pulleys and belts are on the side of the engine. This is definetly the worst time for this to be happening too, I am dead ass broke and work doesn't start for another two weeks!

BTW- it is a 1990 VW Jetta....I plan on getting rid of it at the end of summer.

Thanks!

 

[Ronstang]

From the info given I would say you have a bad bearing on one of your pulleys. If it is an idler pulley it should cost under $100 with parts and labor but if it is the bearing on the water pump, alternator, or power steering pump then it will probably cost substatially more since most shops will replace the whole component rather than just replacing the bearing at fault.

 

[Squisher]

Not enough info.

Try taking the belt off and spinning the suspected pulley(s) by hand and see if there is something that seems to be grinding/wobbling.

Remember when trying to do car repairs on the cheap, look for someone parting out the same car or junkyards.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Hmm..well that is all the info I am able to provide. I ain't confident enough with my mechanic skills to start yanking off belts.

Shoot, yeah $150 for everything would be really the most I could spend....talk about bad timing.

Ronstang- so you are saying that for those objects (alternator, power-steering pump, etc) that the bearings are part of the unit? Meaning that one couldn't just replace the pulley on say the power-steering pump?

 

[HappyPuppy]

Pulleys are not supposed to wobble. Just get it fixed.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Yeah, it's fairly simple to take off the belt and check the pulleys yourself. You'll be able to tell if one isn't 'right' just by spinning it with your hand. Depending on the culprit you might even be able to replace it yourself.

 

[308nato]

With the scant info available, I would say your belt idler/tensioner pulley has went south.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Sorry about the lack of info guys, and I really do appreciate all the help!

I think I need to go pick-up a repair guide so I know which pulley is which....

Some more info, when the I hear the belt slipping while driving my car stutters....not like the engine is going to die, reminds me of the clutch slipping, but I am pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the clutch.

 

[Ronstang]

The bearings on such items as alternators, and power steering pumps are serviceable if the bearing is actually available through a parts house....but for a VW I wouldn't count on it. It is possible to source the bearings from a bearing supplier or a rebuiler but it takes a lot more know-how to rebuild the unit then just replace it and that is why most shops will just replace the entire assembly. By the time a bearing goes out the unit is probably in need of a rebuild anyway. If it is the water pump then there are almost none that can have the bearing replaced by anyone other than a rebuilder with the proper tools and such.

Good luck, if it is merely an idler pulley you can probably handle the job yourself.

 

[308nato]

AutoZone has the entire unit for 49.99 if you dont have a/c. Parts America has the bearing only for 9.99>15.99 with or without air.

if you have air you will be visiting the dealer it seems.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Yeah, I think I am gonna inlist a help of a buddy, pay him some money or somethin, to at least find out what the problem exactly is.

308nato- thanks for searchin around for me bud! So if it is infact the idler puller I would have to replace the whole thing? Not just the bearing? I did searches too and all I found were bearings....

 

[Thegonagle]

<< Sorry about the lack of info guys, and I really do appreciate all the help!

I think I need to go pick-up a repair guide so I know which pulley is which... >>

That's a good idea.

A word of advice: Sears Craftsman tools are excellent if you're just starting out. An alright metric socket set is like $40-60 and a set of metric wrenches is about $25. It's a good investment, as they will pay for themselves over the next couple times you use them.

It looks like these other guys are probably right about there being a bad bearing next to a pulley. If it's visibly wobbling, it's probably going to fail very soon.

All you computer techies really need to stop fearing your cars so much. Just like your comp, it's just a bunch of parts assembled to work together. It just sometimes takes more strength to work on them, that's all.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Yeah, luckily my roommates have a ton of tools.

And yes, I think it is going to fail VERY soon, that is why regardless of what it costs I need to get it replaced somehow.