Rattling pulley wheel

[RAW]

i\'ve got an increasingly loud rattle coming from one of my pulley wheels under the bonnet, particularily when cold. it is only a spacer i think - the un-numbered wheel to the left of the number 5 on the diagram below. can anyone tell me if it is likely to be a bearing and if so how easy/expensive it is to replace.
 
Thanks!
 
http://photobucket.com/albums/a233/rawbhp/?action=view¤t=pulleys.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/a233/rawbhp/?action=view¤t=DSCF0421ciurcle.jpg

[wedgiekray]

That\'s just to keep the belt between the power steering pump and the drive tense. Undo the little screw slightly just to the upper left of the pulley, this will bring it off the belt slightly so you can remove it. Use an impact wrench on the bolt and pull the whole lot off, check everything looks okay, use teflon spray or machine oil on anything that looks worn or dry. Put back together again, and tighten it back down until its back to the normal tension on the power steering. Then try again. If it\'s still rattling are you sure it\'s not the power steering pump? These can get worn bearings and need replacing, sound is like a \'mechanical chattering\'. Either replace it with another, or buy an electric ps pump. Do make sure you don\'t over tighten the belt when you put it back on btw. Hope that helps.

[RAW]

thats quality-cheers. i\'ll have a closer look at it tommorrow...

[RAW]

def sounds like that pulley - if it was the ps pump would the speed of the rattle/chatter increase with throttle speed?

[wedgiekray]

Yep, they all would. When you take it off make sure where the pulley touches the belt is dry and it\'s not got some oil on there causing slip etc.. There\'s nothing special about how that tensioner works so if it is the cause of the noise then will be an easy fix. My guess is it needs a little grease, it\'s too tight, or too loose, or it\'s not bolted on tight enough, in which case tighten it asap or you end up like me at the bottom of this thread in the second paragraph..

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20973&highlight=clutch+noise

[RAW]

sound advice! i havn\'t got hold of an impact wrench yet anyway but i\'ll be suprised if it\'s loose-more likely needs some grease as you suggested...yet more jobs to keep me busy :Hammer