mangled washer fell off ac idler pulley - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 01:09 PM

When I removed my ac idler pulley to do some work on the car a mangled washer fell off. I'm not sure where this thing goes. Is there a diagram online of the idler pulley?

lrak · 10-17-2011, 01:20 PM

Without a picture I'm guessing it is the bearing dust seal and you can't buy it separately. A new one comes with an idler pulley from the dealer but not Autozone, etc.

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrak

Without a picture I'm guessing it is the bearing dust seal and you can't buy it separately. A new one comes with an idler pulley from the dealer but not Autozone, etc.

I'll take a picture and post it if my camera still has any juice left in the battery. Wouldn't a washer from a hardware store suffice? That's all it pretty much looks like to me.

Woz2000 · 10-17-2011, 01:42 PM

Just did the timing belt/water pump on my car this weekend. What a PITA.

If I remember correctly, there is a washer on the front for the pulley bolt and there is a 1/4" thick washer like thing for the back, imagine it as two washers (but very thick) with different diameters stacked on top of each other.

If its the washer in front for the pulley bolt, then any good washer should do, if it looks like the thing in the back, I'd get a new part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benchmark

When I removed my ac idler pulley to do some work on the car a mangled washer fell off. I'm not sure where this thing goes. Is there a diagram online of the idler pulley?

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 01:49 PM

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Woz2000 · 10-17-2011, 01:53 PM

Doesn't looks like the thing behind the idler pulley. Do you have all the pieces I described? What is missing...?

Maybe a pic of the pieces you have.

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 02:06 PM

This is everything that came off.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Woz2000 · 10-17-2011, 02:10 PM

You might wait for someone else to chime in, but the piece in the back I was talking about is your 3rd item in your pic. So you should be good. Looks to be a plain washer.

I don't even recall a washer like that on my idler. Are you sure it was on there? Can you compare dirt/clean spots to see where it came from?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benchmark

This is everything that came off.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woz2000

You might wait for someone else to chime in, but the piece in the back I was talking about is your 3rd item in your pic. So you should be good. Looks to be a plain washer.

I don't even recall a washer like that on my idler. Are you sure it was on there? Can you compare dirt/clean spots to see where it came from?

I know it fell off when I removed the pulley. The inside diameter fits the idler pulley bolt perfectly as well. About 3 years ago there was a problem with the harmonic balancer/crank pulley and the car had to be taken to 3 different shops before they figured out why it was throwing belts. I wonder if one of the shops could have added this washer to the idler pulley thinking it was the problem.

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 02:37 PM

You know what, I bet it goes in-between the bolt head and the bracket of the bolt the pulley rides on.

lrak · 10-17-2011, 02:42 PM

I was thinking it was the one on the left that is probably rust welded to the nut. The one to the right of the pulley is just a hardware store washer so I figured you wouldn't be asking about that. The one on the right wasn't on mine at all.

Woz2000 · 10-17-2011, 02:54 PM

I didn't think mine had the washer on the right either. OP mentioned that a mechanic might have added that to help with belt breaks.

Maybe OP needs to spend some time to see if the pulleys are lining up correctly, only reason I can see of extra washer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrak

I was thinking it was the one on the left that is probably rust welded to the nut. The one to the right of the pulley is just a hardware store washer so I figured you wouldn't be asking about that. The one on the right wasn't on mine at all.

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrak

I was thinking it was the one on the left that is probably rust welded to the nut. The one to the right of the pulley is just a hardware store washer so I figured you wouldn't be asking about that. The one on the right wasn't on mine at all.

I bet its there. From looking at the bolt head that the adjuster screws through I can see a pattern on it. The washer goes on the opposite side of the bracket between the bolt and bracket. It's not on side with the pulley. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure this is correct. I'm off to the store to buy another washer, thanks for the help guys.

Dirty Dude · 10-17-2011, 04:34 PM

That looks like a regular flat washer that someone cut the side out of with some dikes, not something Toyota put there...

Benchmark · 10-17-2011, 04:56 PM

Well, the only other thing I can do then is go down and look at corolla in my local junkyard or look at the one that is 2 blocks away from me and is for sale. I guess I could always take it for a test drive.

I'll also check the pulleys and see if they line up correctly.