[Tutorial] How to Replace a Belt Tensioner, Idler Pulleys & Serpentine Belt on a 2005-2015 V6 Tacoma

This is my first in-depth tutorial, so let me know if there's stuff I can do to make future guides better. I've learned a lot from Tacomaworld and similar videos, so I hope this can help someone else.

I couldn't find any videos on Youtube on how to do this with a V6 2005-2015 Tacoma, so I tried to make it as in-depth as possible.

 

The entire tensioner assy doesn't need to be replaced for the pulley issue you showed. It's far easier to just to repair the pulley, all that's needed is the correct double row bearing. It saves literally hours of work compared to replacing the tensioner, work smart not hard.

Toyota doesn't sell the bearing or the pulley by itself but it's available;

5203-2NSL Nachi Double Row Angular Contact Bearing 17x40x17.5 Sealed

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045DWDJE?ie=UTF8

I'm not knocking your video skills, you did a pretty good job explaining the stuff and filming what you're doing.

 

I appreciate the insight! And no offense taken. I didn't mention it directly in the video, but in my situation, the bolt for the tensioner pulley was seized on and I couldn't even get my impact wrench to take it out.

 

You know that bolt is reverse thread right?

 

Now I'm second-guessing if I tried backing it out the opposite way! Lol.
Oh well. Here's to another 200k miles with this tensioner

 

You can get the pulley

https://www.toyotapartsdirect.ca/p/...ve-Belt-Idler-Pulley/48437636/166030P030.html

Pulley. Idler.
Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley. From 03/07. From 05/2016. From 10/2010. From 11/2008. Location-Between Comp and Crk. Location-Between Ps and Wp. To 10/2010. To 11/2008. To 11/2018. SUB - Assembly, IDL. Accessory Drive Belt. Serpentine. Tension. Included with: Tensioner.

 

If it's now available from toyota that's pretty cool, if that's it the one you linked is $140 kinda pricy, almost what the tensioner with the pully runs, the Nachi double brg is $48.

 

And the $140 price was Amazon.ca so in cdn$. Found it here for $88 US$

https://parts.longotoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-accessory-drive-belt-idler-pulley-166030p030

And for sure just replacing the bearing is the more cost effective way to go.

 

Does anyone know what the whole kit oem part number is? I'm gonna do all pulleys on mine just wanted to get the tensioner pulley kit with the bracket and all.

 

Was just wondering, why is it that some of the pulleys in the belt system use just a single bearing and some like the one in the tensioner use a double. They would all be subject to the same force since the tension on the belt is felt the same across all of them. From user experience, do the single bearing pulleys wear out faster that the double ones? Anyone tried (if possible) to replace the single bearing ones with double if it would even make a difference (maybe just need a longer bolt?)

Note, I haven't reached the point where I have needed to replace the belt or any on the pulleys so its all just musing at this point


And for anyone that has replaced the tensioner and pulley assembly with an aftermarket, is the bolt that retains the pulley also left hand threaded ?

 

This pulley is the #1 idler pulley - it goes next to the AC. It will fit the tensioner but due to the width you lose more than half thread engagement. Last I checked, Febest (

$44 0187-GRJ200 OEM 16620-31012

0187-GRJ200) is the only company selling the proper dimension pulley for the Taco V6 tensioner. It uses a China no-name bearing. I have it as a trail backup. As mentioned, the best practice is replacing the bearing in your pulley, assuming the pulley and tensioner are undamaged.

 

Same part on different toyota dealers part listing.. I think I will believe Toyota on this one

https://parts.brantfordtoyota.ca/oem-parts/toyota-accessory-drive-belt-idler-pulley-166030p030

• SKU: 16603-0P030
• Positions: Lower, Upper
• Other Names: Idler Pulley, Serpentine Idler Pulley, Tension Pulley, Pulley Sub-Assembly, Idl
• Condition: New
• Notes: Included with tensioner.

• Brand:
  

 

and if you look at this diagram that pulley is held on by a left and threaded bolt.

https://autoparts.toyota.com/products/product/pulley-sub-assy-idler-no-1-166030p030

Tensioner pulley bolt: LH thread
bolt: 91552-81050

The only pulley that uses a LH thread bolt is the tensioner pully.

 

And and in this diagram the tensioner assembly at the top part # 16620 explicitly show pulley 16603
Not the tensioner assembly for the tacoma but still show this pulley as being part of it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155829102570

 

@babylon5 When/if you get it, you will see how much wider it is and how it reduces the thread engagement. I saw this with my oem pulleys and with the Gates #1 replacement pulley, #36174.
I hope it works but have my doubts based on personal observations, and to update my thread on it. Let me know of direct on-hands experience.

 

When the time come way in the future I will give it a try. Worst case is that it is actually the other double bearing idler pulley near the A/C compressor so it would have a place.And having read many notes I know exactly what you mean about the

$42 gates 36174 idler pulley

gates 36174

Just strange that all the toyota parts listings say "included with tensioner"

 

I see that. I do know, from direct experience, that it fits some, if not all, of the 3.5 V6 tensioners because the

$42 Gates 36174 Idler Pulley

Gates 36174 fit perfectly in my, then, wife’s 07 V6 Lexus ES350 tensioner. I found that out fortuitously.

 

After going back and reading all the note on replacing the bearings in the pulleys i think I finally get it.

The tensioner pulley uses a single 17X40X17.5 5203-2NS bearing as its replacement with a total width of 17.5 mm

The #1 idler uses 2 10X42X13 as a replacement ; bearing type 6302RMX bearings and this has a total width of 26 mm (2X13)
Apparently the single double wide original bearing for the #1 idler isn't available so thats why 2 6302RMX are used in its place

This explains why if you use a pulley designed for the #1 idler on the tensioner the addition width (26 vs 17) of the bearings will reduce amount the normal bolt will thread in..

 

One thing I did notice is that both the gates and ac/delco 36174 pulleys have bearings with a 17 mm bore diameter which is the same as that of the tensioner pulley. But they both come with reducing adapters to bring that down to 10 mm which is the diameter of the #1 idler.

As mentioned the extra bearing width makes it a not great idea to use as a replacement on the Tacoma tensioner but could it have been designed this way to be dual purpose for other applications which use both a 17 mm and 10 mm bearing diameter. If was designed exclusively to be used as a #1 idler replacement why not just give it a 10 mm diameter to begin with??

 

Found this on the previous mentioned rodavictoriausa.com source for bearings. And mentions koyo bearings.
Price is good for $59

https://rodavictoriausa.com/product...ioner-idler-pulley-oem-2014-2019-pu107016rmx/