Dodge: rattle noise in dodge v-6 motors, foot piece, pullies

Question
Ram man,
  I thought I would share this with you. I recently perchased a 96 1500 ram with a v-6. Naturally having a dodge in the past I also have had the rattle that no one knows what it is. I just had the cataylitic converter replaced,which quitened the noise somewhat,(it needed replacing), and the rattle was still there. The mechanic who seem to know a lot about the dodge line, took a 4 foot piece of garden hose and put one end to his ear and used the other end restening it on and around the different pullies on the motor,( not the moving part), He isolated the noise at the tentioner pully.

Answer
Have you replaced the pulley?There is also a tool made for what he used the garden hose for.It looks like what a doctor checks your heart with but has a metal piece on the end to listen for noises that can't be detected by ear.The idler pulleys are not just defective on the v-6 though,i just had to change mine on my RAM 1500.But i will tell you that it's best to replace the whole thing and not just the pulley itself.