On a 1993 Honda Civic what is an idle pulley what does it do and how much is

[michellec]

it to replace (approx)? And does it always cause the water pump to need replacing next?

 

[Duke]

About $41.99 for the pulley http://www.autozone.com/N,15300442//shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm

 

[michaelB]

The "idler pulley" is used to apply constant tension to the serpentine belts used to drive the alternator, water pump, a/c compressor, etc. on most cars today. as long as it didn't disintegrate the water pump shouldn't be a problem. Waterpumps usually wear out on their own.

Just replacing the tensioner (idler assembly) shouldn't run more than about $200

 

[chevy74454]

Idler pulley is what takes the slack out of your belt, the pulley itself should be about 20-30$ if you have to buy the whole tensioner it'll probably be 50-75$