Contents
- 1 What are the symptoms of a bad harmonic balancer?
- 2 Can you drive with a bad harmonic balancer?
- 3 How long does a harmonic balancer last?
- 4 What would cause a harmonic balancer to break?
- 5 How do you test for a bad harmonic balancer?
- 6 How much does it cost to fix a harmonic balancer?
- 7 Does harmonic balancer affect timing?
- 8 Should a harmonic balancer wobble?
- 9 Is a crankshaft pulley the same as a harmonic balancer?
- 10 Can harmonic balancer cause misfire?
- 11 How hard is it to replace a harmonic balancer?
What are the symptoms of a bad harmonic balancer?
10 signs of stock elastomer harmonic balancer wear.
- Cracked, bulging or missing rubber.
- Harmonic balancer wobbles.
- Separatation between the hub and outer ring.
- Timing marks slipped. Timing error code or mis-fire.
- Excessive wear on main bearings.
- Oil pump failure.
- Broken crankshaft.
- Loosening or broken bolts.
Can you drive with a bad harmonic balancer?
It’s not okay to drive with a bad harmonic balancer. The bouncing crankshaft will wear on the main bearings. It can also tear up drive belts and possibly come apart posing a danger to people and property.
How long does 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.
What would cause a harmonic balancer to break?
Over time, the crankshaft harmonic balancer can go bad from constant exposure to chemicals, the elements, or from old age. If this happens, the crankshaft may develop cracks and ultimately fail.
How do you test for a bad harmonic balancer?
Bad Harmonic Balancer: Signs to Watch Out For
- Engine Vibrations.
- Noticeable Harmonic Balancer Wobble.
- Unusual Noises.
- Illuminated Check Engine Light.
- Visible Wear or Damage.
How much does it cost to fix a harmonic balancer?
Cost of Harmonic Balancer Replacement
On average for most vehicles, it can cost about $200 to replace a harmonic balancer. The cost of replacing the harmonic balancer varies mainly due to the type and model of the vehicle and the type and brand of parts used.
Does harmonic balancer affect timing?
Another symptom of a potential problem with the harmonic balancer is; misaligned timing marks. If the layers separate or slip, the timing marks can shift. This will make it difficult; if not impossible to properly time the engine with a timing light.
Should a harmonic balancer wobble?
The balancer is packed with rubber that comes loose over time and causes a wobble. On one of mine it sheared the crank sensor and the car was dead. On another pretty new Buick it caused a leak from the front seal. So yeah, a wobble is not normal and the balancer needs to be replaced.
Is a crankshaft pulley the same as a harmonic balancer?
A harmonic balancer is a front end accessory drive component that is connected to the crankshaft of an engine. Harmonic balancers do have many names, though, such as damper, crankshaft pulley and crankshaft balancer, among others.
Can harmonic balancer cause misfire?
Noisy Belt Operation or Damage
The harmonic balancer also acts as a pulley for your vehicle’s drive belts so when it begins to fail your engine’s belts may slip, operate noisily or become damaged. You may experience this as an inability to accelerate efficiently, dips in fuel economy and engine misfiring or backfiring.
How hard is it to replace a harmonic balancer?
Replacing a harmonic balancer is a three-step process. In many cases, the hardest part is removing the center crankshaft bolt. For that you’ll need the proper ½-in. drive size socket and an air, electric or battery power impact wrench.