I have a rattle during idle and it sounds like it's coming from the Tensioner that holds the serpentine belt, is there any vendors who carry OEM ones, or if not any experience with any other aftermarket brands?

 

It's been a while but I don't think mine was too expensive from the dealership.

 

I took my car (94 GS300) to the dealership (Nalley Lexus) just last Friday because I was experiencing the exact same problems. They quoted me $237 for the belt tensioner (pulley) part and $400 installed (1 hour labor fee). I think the SC3 and GS3 use the same part.

I just hopped on ebay and found an aftermarket oem for $136 + shipping. I haven't attempted one before but I don't think it is a very difficult install. By the looks of things you will probably need to drain and remove the radiator to gain clearance to remove and install the new part.

 

Crap. I don't think mine was that much. I wanna say mine was around $130. It's not that hard of a job but you do have to drain the coolant, remove the battery tray, upper radiator hose, fan, fan shroud, serpentine belt, upper engine cover and front engine cover. The actual tensioner only has three screws.

It sounds like a lot but it's really not too bad.

 

That is not necessary, you can leave the radiator installed; there's plenty of room.


Good list! You don't have to drain ALL the coolant though; just enough to put the coolant level low enough so you can remove upper radiator hose without a mess. It probably less than a quart that you have to remove.

 

What year/model is your car?

 

Remove the belt off the pulley
Remove the spark plug cover and remove the timing cover
Remove three bolts holding on gemstones

I did it in the O'Reillys parking lot.

 

I can't edit. Stupid iPhone

Tensioner not gemstone.

 

You can buy just the bearring and replace that. Got mine for something like $15 at walnut auto in city of industry. Take off just the bolt, take the pulley off, couple hits with the hammer and it was out. Couple more hits and the new one was on. One bolt to put the pulley back on and put the belt back. Cheeper then buying the whole thing and easier to install.

 

it could just be the belt. same this happen to me. my tensioner made a knocking sound. dealer wanted like 200 for my 92 sc400 then i just replace the belt first and the knocking went away.

 

I had the same rattling "diesel engine idle sound" noise as well, I recently just changed the tensioner pulley, which ran me about $35 (Duralast brand) at my local Autozone, my car has been freakishly quiet since I've changed it.

 

LOL! I love it! but yeah, Damn that stupid autocorrect!

 

gemstones sounds better. LOL

 

I didn't know SC's had gemstones LOL!

 

Great suggestion BattleVer! I ended up buying a Duralast pulley from autozone for $19. I used a 20mm socket and hammer to knock out the center bearing and then inserted this into my original pulley wheel after I tapped out the old and damaged bearing. I saved myself well over a hundred dollars compared to buying the whole assembly and my baby is back to idling like a champ