Harmonic Balancer??

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 07 Jul 2011, 18:59

1996 850 Wagon N/A 120,000 miles
Okay, Once again I am stumped. After hearing a "clattering" noise coming from the serp belt area ever since I bought the car (about a month ago), I have slowly tried to narrow down the cause. I've replaced the AC compressor (AC didn't work anyway and clutch was shot), the serp belt itself, new tensioner and guide pulley. I thought I had it, but it's back again. It's a intermittent "clattering" when car is at idle. It's definetly coming from the serp belt area and not the timing belt. Motor runs great. Hamrmonic Balancer?? What is the normal lifespan of the HB and how hard is it to replace? Anyway to check it's condition before pulling it off?? Any help is once again greatly appreciated.

goatcheez

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Jul 2011, 19:13

Have you tried just removing the serpentine belt and running the car? The dash will light up like a Christmas tree but it won't hurt anything.

I can only remember one member that had a harmonic balancer problem and it screwed up his timing since it slipped on the crankshaft. He was going nuts for weeks until he figured out the root cause of the problem.

If it were me I would pull the serpentine belt and see if the noise goes away.

...Lee

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 07 Jul 2011, 19:32

Good idea! I'll give it a try this weekend while I'm working on my rear wiper / washer issue. If it is the HB (I'm betting that it is), how tough of a fix is it?? Thanks Lee!!

goatcheez

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Jul 2011, 19:39

If it is the HB (I'm betting that it is), how tough of a fix is it?

That kinda depends on where it broke (if it broke). If it is just on the front end it is plug and play and it is very easy after you jack up the car and peel the inner wheel well up.

If the woodruff key broke and the timing slipped then that it is a different kettle of fish since you will need to re-time the engine.

...Lee

goatcheez · Post by **goatcheez** » 07 Jul 2011, 20:00

Do they normally rattle in the final stages of life or do they just break. As I mentioned in my previous post the motor is running perfect so there is no key / timing issue. Clatter disappears upon acceleration. Could it be one of the other pulley's going bad or loose. Alternator? Power Steering?? I did check for play / loosness in the other pullies when I installed the new tesioner and guide pulley. Didn't notice anything substantial in my "wiggle" test. I'll try to gather some more info this weekend by using your serp disconnect idea.

goatcheez

ed7 · Post by **ed7** » 07 Jul 2011, 21:03

Get a chunk of hose about 2' long, stick one end in your ear and wave the other end near every moving thing on the front of the engine and see what you hear.
Ed

Post by **bigdaddylee82** » 07 Jul 2011, 21:06

Have you checked your engine mount down there? If it's wore out metal-to-metal it'll be vibrating/rattling, and sound like it's coming from the same area as the balancer.

- Lee

chax · Post by **chax** » 28 Aug 2014, 19:26

I once installed a brand new tensioner that had a bad pulley: put the previous pulley on the new tensioner, and the sound went away. Could be that your old pulley had gone bad, and your new one started out bad. I mean, c'mon: it's plastic! Maybe some lubricant on that pulley would eliminate the problem.