Nissan Repair: nissan 200sx smoking engine

Question
I was stopped at a red light in my 1998 200sx when the engine started smoking. It came in through my a/c vents and smelled like burned plastic. when i pulled over and opened the hood i seen smoke coming from one of the pulleys. It looked like it was coming out of one of the big bolt screws that hold the pulley in place. I am not sure though. should i go ahead and replace the pulley or could something else be causing the burning.

Answer
Hi Eric -

Yes, you are on the right track. It is the idler pulley, and the bearings probably fried, freezing up the entire thing. So replace that and you should be good to go. I would also replace the belt, it probably is burned.

Hope this helps -
aloha
calvin