2011 Kia Sorento - Idler Pulley

Find A Replacement Idler Pulley

An idler pulley is responsible for routing and maintaining the tension of the drive belts on your engine. The engine belt loops around or under the idler pulley and creates a path for the belt to travel, and internal bearings keep the idler pulley spinning freely. Your belt tensioner also features a similar pulley but is responsible for providing the necessary tension to keep the belt from slipping off the pulleys or suffering damage. It is often recommended that when the serpentine belt or tensioner needs to be replaced, the belt, tensioner, and idler pulleys are all replaced at the same time since these parts often wear out at around the same rate. When your idler pulley or belt tensioner fails, your belt can break, slip on the other pulleys, or suffer accelerated wear or damage. Poor belt performance or failure can prevent accessories, like your power steering pump, air conditioner, water pump, or alternator from performing as they should, and a belt that separates can leave your vehicle stranded or lead to driveability issues or overheating. At O'Reilly Auto Parts, we carry idler pulleys, belts, belt tensioners, and more to help you make your repair, as well as How-To Resources to help you learn how to replace your serpentine belt.