Timing Idler Pulley – Important Component
This component is one of the important and consumable parts of a car engine. It consists of a sensitive bearing and a plastic housing on which the belt rides. The service life of the main timing pulley is up to 100,000 km, and it is usually replaced during timing belt service or replacement. Failure of this part can cause serious engine damage, including timing belt breakage and bent valves. Early failure at low mileage can result from dirt, water ingress, or engine oil leakage into the timing belt cover. The first sign of pulley failure is noise in cold weather. A more severe symptom is delayed engine start and the illumination of the check engine light. Our recommendation is to always replace this component along with the timing belt or purchase a complete timing kit to ensure proper engine performance.