Every now and then I hear a loud squeel up there, and when I listen under the hood it sounds like fast rattling right around the tensioner. Sounds like small pieces of gravel (or bearings). Also, I can move it side to side about a mm. I just did a water pump change and shortly after I started hearing it. I obviously had to fool with it to get the belt on and off for the water pump. Is this what they do when going bad?

 

You need to replace that pulley before it fail and you loose a bely. I would also suggest you check the other 2 pulleys also.

 

I wouldn't mind loosing some of my belly, nor would my wife , but just to confirm that is normal when they are at the fail point?

 

Well, just ordered a tensioner and idler pulley kit (all 3) for $152 shipped from AB. Just when you think she's running well...

 

Tell me about it - I've had tensioner problems on three vehicles this winter.