Help diagnosing engine sound

I guess maybe a better question is this: what specifically allows that pulley to float freely? As far as I can see without having removed it, it’s just metal on washer on metal. With the bolt fully torqued, what allows it free movement? It seems that is what I just troubleshoot.

 

It should have a bushing inside the pivot point that is slightly wider than the tensioner thus allowing it to pivot when the bolt is tight.

 

Ugh. Sounds like I need to replace that then. Which sucks because I didn’t order that part, and it’s like $150 alone at the nearby parts stores. That’s a serious downer. Can’t be out of a ride long enough to wait for it to ship.

 

Yea something is either missing or siezed where it pivots, I've done multiple timing jobs on the 5VZ and the tensioner should pivot when the pivot bolt is torqued down.
The hydraulic piston is what keeps constant tension on the belt.

 

I don’t suppose there’s a way to check on that without having take the hydraulic part or the tensioner back out… is there

 

Not really, I guess you could try to carefully nudge it with a prybar but beyond that not really.

 

Well, fuck me i guess. Starting to hate the previous owner more and more with every fucked up piece of kit I find on this truck. Might as well just order an entirely new timing kit at this point.

 

I just looked at pics of the tensioner and bolt, the boss is on the bolt and the tensioner pivots on that. The boss is slightly wider than the tensioner allowing it to pivot when it's tight.

 

Thanks for that. Currently trying to see if there are any parts stores around that carry it for an easier to swallow price. Autozone seems to be the only one and they want a ridiculous amount of money for it.

 

So, assuming I can get my hands on a pulley:

• Set engine back at TDC
• Take tensioner back out, compress and insert pin
• Remove tensioner pulley bolt, replace part
• Make sure it floats freely
• Reinstall tensioner
• ???
• Profit

accurate?

 

Yea, may not need a tensioner, may just need a cleaning and some grease on the pivot...

 

I’ll hope that’s the case. I’ll be digging back into it tomorrow so I’ll see what I can do with it. I at least have a decent method worked out for getting to the hydraulic bolts so while it’s a PITA it shouldn’t take me as long to get it back out. Thanks for your advice, I’ll report back.

 

Alright, final update:

There indeed was something wrong with the pulley assembly. I took out the tensioner and it was still frozen. Replaced it with a new Gates part and we are officially in business. The engine sounds better than it has since I bought it.

For posterity, I can’t say exactly what was wrong with the old pulley. It wasn’t corroded or rusted, but it didn’t want to spin freely on the bolt shaft. The new one was perfect right out of the box. Old one was still in good shape aside from the fact that it wouldn’t pivot. Very strange.

thank you again everyone here for all the help. Really appreciate all of your help.