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Replacement Idler Pulley is Smooth (not grooved)?

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#21 ·
I'm not even convinced that we are talking about the same part any more.
Typically, the idler is on the back side of a belt, which means it's smooth....
The tensioner pulley is typically on the grooved side of the belt, which means it has grooves in it....
If whatever system you're putting your VIN into is giving you a different part than what you are taking off, it's NOT the same part.... I'm not there, so I can't explain why.... I just know that if one has grooves and the other doesn't, they are different... regardless of what some system tells you.
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Discussion starter · #22 ·
We are indeed talking about the idler pulley located just below the Alt and above the AC comp pullies in your diagram. If you trace the belt counterclockwise from the damper pulley, you will notice that the AC is driven on the "back" side of the belt, which I agree is typically smooth, but this is VW so nothing is typical. It's a double sided belt (as I refer to it) and therefore one would expect a grooved idler and not smooth.

The rabbit hole is pretty deep now. I think the short answer to my question is that the smooth pulley is the current part offered by VW but one may be able to source a grooved pulley.

Thanks all. It's been a fun chat. Up next, what do i do when I snap a sparkplug off!!! Let's hope not.
 
#23 ·
I know the OP is probably done with this rabbit hole but I had ordered part # 022-145-276-A. INA brand. I thought it was odd that it wasn't grooved also as the serpentine belt is grooved on both sides.
I wonder if the OP would want to check the metal grooved idler pulley for a part# or brand for clarification.
 
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#24 ·
Lacudda said:
I use parts.vw.com, enter my vin, and select the local dealer. Unless I'm mistaken, that is the official VW parts site correct? In this case, I was able to get the pulley 022145276A from FCPEuro for half the cost. Again, assuming it's genuine and not counterfeit. And to be honest, the dealer parts department in my area act as if I'm a fool for putting any money in a 16 yr old vehicle so I try to avoid like the plague. Just my experience, your experience may vary.

I think what's missing here is that the current part is smooth while what's on the vehicle is grooved. So either the one on my 08 is an older part which VW replaced with the new (smooth) version or perhaps there's a grooved pully from another motor or application (like a 3.2 as rgh0 suggested) that the dealer elected to install and others may use on the Touareg. Who knows. I'm sticking with the grooved one until it starts humming. If I'm stuck in the mountains and end up hiking 8 miles out of my property because my belt snaps, I'll be sure to share my experience

If someone knows the part number and supplier for the grooved idler pulley, that would be great.
Click to expand...
Maybe is this one -> 03H145276A


Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley - 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 3.6L V6 A/T Base Sport Utility - OEM Volkswagen Parts

OEM Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley for your 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 3.6L V6 A/T Base Sport Utility
parts.vw.com parts.vw.com
 
#25 ·
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Discussion starter · #26 ·
I can't quit now, right!? And the part you listed was spec'd for my 08. Looks like you have a T3 so my guess is there was a revision for T3 and applied to T2.

I mis-typed. My other vehicle (ford) has metal idlers. The grooved one on the Treg is plastic. I'll see if I can get a number off it but at this point I don't want to tempt fate and risk snapping a bolt while trying to take the pulley off. I have a ~700mi round trip scheduled for this weekend. The salt has corroded every damn piece of metal, including the cast block, which is shedding rust flakes as large as quarters from time to time. One of these days that front freeze plug is going to rip through the radiator.
 
#28 ·
I found this topic about this issue in a russian website -> Link

That’s the Google translation:


What conclusions did you come to:
1. The outer diameter of the “groove” roller is 65 mm, and that of the “bald” roller is 60 mm.

2. installing a “bald” roller did not affect the belt tension in any way (the test was carried out by touch)


3. on the “groove” roller the original VAG number 03H145276A is clearly stamped (I apologize for the quality of the photo),

Photo in the logbook of Volkswagen Touareg (1G)
which “does not interfere” with any catalog I know, and to be precise, “does not interfere” with its applicability on a car. Only in one of the catalogs was a non-original replacement RPK 009755/4 found, the applicability of which extends to the Q7.


It’s strange that the outer diameter is larger than the original one by as much as 4 mm and surprisingly coincides with the roller from the 3.0 TDI. Most likely the replacement in the catalog is incorrect.

Photo in the logbook of Volkswagen Touareg (1G)
Based on the results of the investigation, it was decided:

Photo in the logbook of Volkswagen Touareg (1G)
1. Vasya and Tolik are fully acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

2. The version about a new generation of details is considered more consistent and the case materials are sent to the competent authorities for further investigation.

P.S.: Separately, I would like to note that when replacing the roller, several cracks were discovered on the drive belt. After replacement, this product (Contitech 7DPK2074) did not travel even 7 thousand kilometers!

Revizorro does not recommend this product for purchase! Wasted money. Does anyone have positive reviews of Gates? Or is it still worth taking the original?
Click to expand...
 
#30 ·
Lacudda said:
Nice find. So despite the smooth appearance in the sketch on all parts site, this is the original grooved pully part number: 03H145276A.

So who's going to purchase one and post the pic?!

Thanks again all.
Click to expand...
OK, I ordered one.
Cheapest I could find was ~$38 w/shipping. I don't know how long it will take to get here but I'll post a pic and check what material it is when it arrives.
 
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#32 ·
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#34 ·
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#36 ·
Just got an Email back from the online parts place I ordered the pulley from. Their message:

" Hello Customer, we are contacting you to let you know that the part you ordered is currently on backorder. As of right now, we do not have any ETA for this item. Would you like me to proceed with the order?"

Of course I told them to cancel the order and refund the money. Looks like unless someone can find a parts supplier with the new old stock part on their shelf we'll have to go with the VW bean counter theory of they cheaped out on the replacement part.
@Lacudda hold onto the part, looks like it's gold. Hopefully you can replace the bearing in the center of it if it ever fails.
 
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#37 ·
I would just get the current part everyplace is showing as in stock. The plastic one will be fine. The flat pulley will work. If you think about it, the grooves are there to both keep the belt aligned and to provide surface area for traction on the driven pulleys. Neither of which this pulley needs to do. It just has to spin.
There’s 2 idlers on our TDI, both are the same part number and plastic. I changed them in 2021 with 200,000 miles on them and they were still good. Granted it’s not running a double sided belt, but those double sided belts are thicker and should track fine on the flat pulley.
 
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#38 ·
Just for S&G's I ordered a used OEM 03H145276A pulley from Ebay.
I want to see what the pulley itself is made of and also see if the bearing in the center can be replaced.
It was fairly cheap so it'll be a test unit.
 
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#39 ·
racer4 said:
Those double sided belts are thicker and should track fine on the flat pulley.
Click to expand...
Mine does seem to be tracking fine. Even looks like it's wearing the grooves into the pulley ever so slightly.
The thing that's interesting is how in post #28 the translated text from the link says the grooved pulley is 5mm wider.
 
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#40 ·
UPDATE
I received the OEM 03H145276A pulley. The grooved part of this pulley is made of plastic, which is what I thought my original I removed was.
The bearing seems smooth but I'll either look for a replacement if I can or if not I'll pop the seals off, clean out the old grease, and put in new high quality grease.
 
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New2Tregs
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