Pontiac Repair: Idler Pulley, tight quarters, pontiac grand am

Question
I have a 92 Pontiac Grand Am with a 3.3 engine 6 cylinder. My question is how do you change the Idler Pulley? I was driving my car and all of a sudden it sounded like something in the engine just gave and it got real loud and sounded like something was locked up. After looking under the hood with car running, it seemed to be my Idler Pulley.

Answer
Hey LaJeanna:

The idler pulley/belt tensioner is part of a bracket assembly on that engine. It' a bit hard to change on that engine it's tight quarters. The top engine mount has to be removed in order to get you hands in thre and to get the bely off unless it already fell off. I think that engine has a pererate idler as well as long as the tensioner. They are all sold seperatly and more thna likely a delaer only part. The water pumps on these engines go bad to but the noise doesn't just start out of the blue it' builds over time. Good luck :}