I posted about 3 months ago asking about engine noise. It started making a god awful clanging racket but without any noticable effect on performance. There were a few suggestions but they didn't pan out.

 

So, in case anyone was wondering...turns out the bearing assembly on the belt idler pulley disintegrated. BBs bounced around the garage as soon as I removed the timing belt cover. The pulley gear was left to bang against the middle bolt. The timing belt still did it's job though so the engine still ran OK.

 

Are you supposed to grease these pulleys or something to prevent this?

sealed bearing...

 

same old same old

 

requires no love till it dies