bad idler pulley

[kingc]

Can someone tell me what a bad idler pulley sounds like? There is a strange whining noise I can hear at idle. It sounds like an accesory pulley.
Thanks

 

[kingc]

nobody?

 

[propellerhead]

When the one in my Ford Ranger went out, it sounded like grinding. Like the cooling fan was metal and was missing a blade and it was hitting something. With the engine running, my mechanic friend pushed on the idler pulleys one at a time with a screwdriver blade until he found the one that was bad. The noise when away when he was pushing on the right one. Just a little pressure on the side of the pulley was enough to change its alignment.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Or you can remove the belt and just see if they spin freely with your hand. New ones are $14 at AutoZone.