What causes 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.
Is it bad to drive on 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. A worn-out crankshaft harmonic balancer will also cause a lot of noise in your engine.
Where is the harmonic balancer in an engine?
The crankshaft harmonic balancer is a device connected to the front of an engine’s crankshaft, usually built into the crankshaft pulley.
What should I do if my harmonic balancer breaks?
You can remove the device yourself by following the instructions in the succeeding section. You may also hire a professional mechanic to remove harmonic balancer. If you ignore the signs, the rubber will deteriorate, and the crankshaft will be damaged continuously. When it breaks, you can’t use your auto.
What are the symptoms of a bad crankshaft harmonic balancer?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Crankshaft Harmonic Balancer. 1 1. Engine vibration. One of the first symptoms of a potential problem with the harmonic balancer is engine vibration. The harmonic balancer is 2 2. Misaligned timing marks. 3 3. Separated harmonic balancer.
Why is the crankshaft pulley and harmonic balancer important?
You may think that the crankshaft pulley is not as important as other parts of your car’s engine, but actually, it is vital to the proper operation of your vehicle. The crankshaft pulley comes with a harmonic balancer. Just from the name, the crankshaft Pulley/harmonic Balancer is a mediator between pistons and crankshaft.
Tighten the center bolt with a ratchet handle or breaker bar until the balancer breaks free. Note: Most harmonic balancers are kept from rotating on the crankshaft by using a woodruff key. Don’t lose the woodruff key; you will need it for reassembly. Step 5: Install the new harmonic balancer.
Where is the harmonic balancer on a car?
Step 1: Prepare the vehicle. Jack the vehicle up high enough to obtain access to the harmonic balancer, located on the front of the motor and attached to the crankshaft. Step 2: Remove the accessory drive belts. On many modern vehicles, there is an automatic, spring-loaded belt tensioner that can be rotated to loosen the belt.
What causes a crankshaft harmonic balancer to fail?
On many engines, the harmonic balancer is integrated into the crank pulley. They do not fail often, but excess engine vibrations and misaligned timing marks are among the symptoms of a bad or failing crankshaft harmonic balancer