What happens when you turn off the harmonic balancer?
Without the harmonic balancer, the engine, pistons, rods, and anything else that attaches to the crankshaft would vibrate. The harmonic balancer keeps this vibration out of the engine. Start your engine and check the harmonic balancer to see if it wobbles while the engine is running.
What causes a crankshaft harmonic balancer to fail?
Separated harmonic balancer. If the rubber layer in the harmonic balancer dries or wears out, it can cause the entire harmonic balancer to completely fail by separating. If the harmonic balancer separates, the engine belts will usually come off and the vehicle will be left without engine accessories.
Do you need to remove serpentine belt on harmonic balancer?
The serpentine belt needs to be removed, then, the center bolt that holds the balancer in place. Some harmonic balancers can be simply removed at that point, but many are a press-fit and require a specific puller to remove.
What makes up the inner part of a harmonic balancer?
The inner part is made of molded steel with a hub that bolts onto the crankshaft. The harmonic balancer has three threaded 3/8-inch holes that are used to pull the balancer off the crankshaft. A rubber insulator separates the third part from the hub. The last part, the fan belt, goes around the outer ring.
What happens when a harmonic balancer is broken?
The belt in the pulley might slip which will cause the vehicle to misfire or backfire. The ignition timing in the vehicle will be off. The vehicle might not start at all if the balancer is broken. As soon as you get these symptoms, you need to call a mechanic or else replace the balancer yourself.
What to do if your crankshaft harmonic balancer is bad?
Separated harmonic balancer. For this reason, if you suspect that your harmonic balancer may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic. They will be able to determine if the vehicle needs a crankshaft harmonic balancer replacement.
How do you change a harmonic balancer in a car?
There is no specific way of changing a harmonic balancer in a car as almost every engine is different. You should research out on how to exactly replace the balancer in your particular model. First off, you will want to remove the belt from the crankshaft pulley and remove the mounting bolt off.
How is a harmonic balancer connected to the crank pulley?
It is connected to the crank pulley. It is the rubber inside the pulley which is responsible for absorbing the vibrations generated by the crankshaft and keep them at a safe level. This helps the crankshaft from failing. By dampening the vibrations, it literally becomes its lifesaver!