- Engine Vibrations. The harmonic balancer’s job is to dampen vibrations applied to the crankshaft. ...
- Noticeable Harmonic Balancer Wobble. ...
- Unusual Noises. ...
- Illuminated Check Engine Light. ...
- Visible Wear or Damage.
How do you test a harmonic balancer?
Start your engine and check the harmonic balancer to see if it wobbles while the engine is running . Take a flashlight and shine it directly onto the balancer to see if it goes in and out while rotating. If it wobbles, the harmonic balancer is bad. Turn off the ignition.
How do you know when to replace a harmonic balancer?
- The engine is loud and you feel vibrations coming from your engine.
- The pulley belt may slip causing your vehicle to backfire or misfire.
- The vehicle’s ignition timing will be off.
- The vehicle will not start at all.
Will a car start with a bad harmonic balancer?
Without a functioning harmonic balancer your vehicle’s ignition timing will be thrown off. According to the automotive diagnostic website AA1 Car, bad ignition timing is due to an erratic signal from the camshaft sensor caused by harmonic balancer’s inability to stabilize the component.
Do harmonic balancers wear out?
Harmonic balancers do have many names, though, such as damper, crankshaft pulley and crankshaft balancer, among others. While this part may not wear, or be known to wear, as quickly as a traditional idler pulley or belt tensioner, balancers do in fact wear and eventually must be replaced .
What problems can a bad harmonic balancer cause?
If the harmonic balancer gets too old or fails and can no longer properly absorb the harmonic vibrations, the engine will shake excessively . The shaking will become even more pronounced, and therefore dangerous to the engine at high speeds.
How long should a harmonic balancer last?
On certain engines, sometimes these last forever, last the life of the engine. And certain engines they might only last 50,000 miles or less than 10 years . This is a good example – because it’s got such a massive piece of rubber – you can see the rubber literally tears apart into two sections.
Why is my harmonic balancer wobbling?
An over-tightened belt may cause crankshaft snout runout and harmonic balancer wobble.
Does a harmonic balancer need to be balanced?
Harmonic balancers are misnamed. They do not balance an engine , rather they absorb and remove unwanted vibration due to torsional twisting of the crankshaft. ... Dampeners are like torsional shock absorbers used to dampen torsional twist and vibration in an engine.
Can a bad harmonic balancer make a knocking noise?
The balancer should not move . You should have the crankshaft balancer checked for a broken one before condemning the motor for having rod or crankshaft knock. It can cause a loud knocking noise if it is bad.
Should I replace harmonic balancer bolt?
As long as it’s not over tighten (as with any bolt really) it still can be used. If it’s something as simple as a harmonic balancer bolt I don’t worry about it. Now if it’s head bolts or main bolts then I ‘ll replace them. Even though they generally can be reused.
What are the symptoms of a broken crankshaft?
- Your Check Engine Light is Blinking.
- It’s Difficult to Get Your Vehicle to Start.
- Your Vehicle is Stalling and/or Backfiring.
- The Engine is Making Your Vehicle Vibrate.
Do harmonic balancers have rubber?
The harmonic balancer (also known as the crankshaft damper) is a round disc made of rubber and metal that absorbs vibrations caused by the engine cylinders’ firing. It protects the crankshaft.
When should I replace my harmonic damper?
Signs that your crankshaft harmonic balancer needs to be replaced include: The engine is loud and you feel vibrations coming from your engine . The pulley belt may slip causing your vehicle to backfire or misfire . The vehicle’s ignition timing will be off .
Why is my crank pulley wobbling?
If the fan-belt pulleys that bolt to the harmonic balancer are dismounted, bent, or distorted , it may cause the crankshaft pulley to wobble. ... Sometimes, some dirt may get trapped under the pulley. Furthermore, the crankshaft pulley tends to wobble if it isn’t appropriately torqued.
Does the size of a harmonic balancer matter?
No matter what anybody tells you, size does matter when it comes to the harmonic balancer you use on an engine. Putting an incorrectly-sized balancer on an engine will do more than just cause it to not reach its full performance potential ... it will cause serious damage to the rotating assembly.
