92 Integra Idler problem

Hi,

I recently got my timing belt (along with water pump and
seals) changed. The shop told me my idler was noisy and should be
fixed sometime. I noticed after getting the car back from the TB
change it seemed louder on idling than it had before taking it in.
Anyways a week later and it stalls while at a stop sign. Realizing the
engine would run but not idle I attempted to drive it by applying a
little gas instead of idling. For some reason the car wouldn't shift
into drive so I abandoned that idea. I did notice however some smoke
coming from the side of the car where the belts are.

While I wait for the shop to have a look at it can anyone tell me if
the smoke is likely to be anything I should worry about other than the
idler itself (which I assume will be repaired)? And if its just the
idler what kind of expense can I accept this to be?

Thanks,

Jesse

 

wrote in

The belt might have been overtightened. Is there a hissing or whirring
noise?

The "idler" would be the A/C idler. If it's worn it will get noisy, then it
will seize if you leave it long enough.

Smoke can also result from a seizing alternator, power steering pump, or
anything else attached to the crank by belts. It can also be caused by a
timing belt tensioner seizing.

I'd suggest you get this vehicle back to the garage as soon as you can. If
the A/C idler seizes, the belt will eventually jump off or break, and may
take out the alternator belt or P/S belt as well. If it's the timing belt
tensioner, the damage can be very severe.

 

It's hard to describe the sound but whirring is about what it was like.
I thought it might have been a good sign at first thinking perhaps the
engine was running "tighter".

Would this cause the engine to not idle at all though or is idler not
actually responsible for anything but the a/c running (which I don't
think I had on at the time).

The vehicle is already there, had it towed as soon as this happened. I
just hope trying to start it that one time didn't cause anymore damage.
The smell of the smoke seemed electrical in nature as opposed to just
rubber (or whatever the belts are made of)

If it is indeed something to do with the timing belt is this something
the shop should be responsible for? Considering it was already a $600
investment I don't feel like paying anymore if they messed it up
obviously. The shop came highly recommended by the little dealer I
bought the car from so I assumed I was getting top service.

Thanks for the help,

Jesse

 

wrote in

If the idler seizes it can drag the engine to a stop.

The A/C belt is always turning when the engine is turning, even if you're
not actually running the A/C. If you turn the A/C on, you are simply
engaging a clutch inside the A/C compressor.

Depends what's wrong. If they recommended that you get something done and
you turned them down, they may refuse to take any responsibility for the
problems you've now got.

You might be. Too many details not stated here.

Let us know how it goes and what they say.

 

I didn't turn it down so to speak, they just had it on the reciept I
got as a future repair needed, there was deffinatly no urgency implied
on their part.

But as far as them being responsible I meant than in the event that the
TB was adjusted too tightly and that in of itself caused failure beyond
the idler itself (which they made me aware of). This is in response to
the possibility you put forth that the tensioner might have failed,
which I assume would be because of improper adjustment of the TB.

To make matters worse I just found out the towing company (paid for by
insurance) took it to the wrong place.

I'll let you know how it goes, thanks again.

Jesse

 

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As you note below, it could also be the timing belt tensioner pulley -
while "idler" may be a slight misnomer here, it wouldn't be the first time
a mechanic applied his own terminology. If it looks like it might be an
idler it's an idler.... though why anybody would put a new timing belt
on a bad tensioner pulley, knowing all the work to do it again, is beyond
me.

Yep, when the magic smoke gets out that's bad. If it's the tensioner
pulley, that timing belt is already toast. I'd pull the valve cover
immediately to check. If it's the A/C idler, the effects should be pretty
obvious just by lifting the hood with the engine running.