Howdy! I've got a '03 outback with 32k miles on it. I've been hearing a low "chirping" noise like a cricket coming from the engine for a long time. It was a sporadic noise, so i didn't pay too much attention to it for a year or so. Well, now its getting much louder and obnoxious, so i took it back to the dealer and they said i needed a new idler pulley. The mechanic said not to drive it until it is replaced or it may seize. I was wondering if i should be worrying about other damage to the engine caused by this...like perhaps the timing belt being off? I haven't noticed the engine running hotter than usual.

Howdy! I've got a '03 outback with 32k miles on it. I've been hearing a low "chirping" noise like a cricket coming from the engine for a long time. It was a sporadic noise, so i didn't pay too much attention to it for a year or so. Well, now its getting much louder and obnoxious, so i took it back to the dealer and they said i needed a new idler pulley. The mechanic said not to drive it until it is replaced or it may seize. I was wondering if i should be worrying about other damage to the engine caused by this...like perhaps the timing belt being off? I haven't noticed the engine running hotter than usual.

No worries as long as it's still spinning, the idler is just for the serpantine belt and not the timing belt.

Seems quite unlikely that an idler would fail so soon, but anything is possible.

 

The aircon compressor clutch can also make a chirp noise when it engages. The belt that drives it can also chirp as it engages the aircon. If the belt was tightened to hard, the compressor clutch might be busted.

I did not see in the oringal post where drewd said this was the pully that was on the outer belts. It may be the idle pully on the timing belt and if it goes out it could cause the engine to be destroyed.