I've asked tons of people on the site and at the local dealership and nobody can seem to give me an exact answer. my only option is to start a thread. There are two pulleys on the left side (passengers) of the engine of course. I've been told this is the belt idler pulley pictured below. Mine chirps when cold still. Wanted to replace. No big deal right? hah!

Mine pictured is an older one with a lip as you can see. I got one from MotorcarsLtd from ken. One on my car pictured was with a lip, one I got was smooth. He told me it's an 'updated' belt idler pulley supposed to be smooth. Now I get my car back and my mechanic has put it where the old pulley of the belt tensioner was (pictured below). That's exactly where I didn't want it to go right? They are the same size i'm assuming? That was a mistake right?? Please confirm guys this is hilarious. Does it go where this lipped one is like I thought or on the belt tensioner pulley pictured below. Can anyone confirm this?!

 

Idler pulley or belt tensioner, same thing. I am sure that is the correct part, smooth or lipped will work.

 

Well after calling motorcarsltd just now and asking, I was told that yes my mechanic did in fact put it in the wrong spot :P He attached it to the belt tensioner not where the lipped pulley was (left side engine pictures below) that chirps.

I was told the idler pulley is on the left side of the car opposite the belt tensioner (which is on the right side). That would indicate they are not the same piece. The same sizes/dimensions perhaps but two different spots on the engine.

You're saying that they are the same pulley, same name? The one attached to the belt tensioner and the lipped pulley I have pictured (I know the revisions are smooth) on the left side of the engine are the same pulley? I just don't want to buy anything until I get that straight.

EDIT** funny check it, now you can see what I mean, that obviously doesn't go there :P Enjoy!

 

I bought this in the link below. (Got updated smooth version) Confirmed by Ken at motorcars

http://www.motorcarsltd.com/epcstart...torcarsltd.com

My mechanic put it here on the belt tensioner (Its circled red of course)

 

Ok, I haven't looked at the front of my Jag engine yet to notice if there were 2 of them... dang. Ok, let me state it this way on every other vehicle I have ever owned it only has one of these and I have heard them referred to as either name.

 

the pulley by the alt. is the idler, the 1 by the power steering and AC, is the tensioner....
Now heres the fun part, Jaguar updated and changed the pulleys and belt, all pieces are supposed to be changed now. Belt, tensioner, and idler

 

Correct you are fine sir! After some looking around it appears the revised belt idler pulley and pulley on the belt tensioner, are in fact the same one (oh my! :P) So yes, my mechanic was ok on that, and really didn't put it in the wrong spot as per say, I will pick another one up asap as after inspection the old belt tensioner pulleys bearings are dry as a bone as well, and are chirping a lil now until warmed up. Lesson learned, pick all up at once!

Anyways.. bad news guys after popping on the 98 this morning noticing a small coolant smell, I popped by the shop and bam! I got very lucky! my first-gen plastic thermostat housing literally crumbled under the new cap! :*( I had no net access so I called up our boys at Motorcars, ken hooked me up new aluminum set. Thanks man!

Took a few pictures there, oh bother!

 

I found out 2 that they upgraded the pulley tensioner aspect of some jags bcuz of belt sqeaking just like the other post said...they wanted me 2 upgrade the idler pulley..tensioner 2..it was a bitch 2 find and old supercharger belt so you probably should have upgraded the whole system if they had the old components, some parts would be mismatched...