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Harmonic Balancer failure..again NAPA Dorman

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kalitzki

Probationary Member
12
1
Jan 19, 2006
Des Moines, Iowa
About a month ago, i learned that my harmonic balancer had faild after investigating a wierd knock. The rubber had deteriorated and the outer ring of metal had seperated and started slapping the crank case. Took it off and replaced it with one from NAPA, and within a day I could hear that same knocking noise. The replacement failed just like the first one did. Went back to napa and got another thinking that i could have possibly overtightened the belts. Replaced the replacement part and it was good. Now a few weeks later it has happened again. No bent pullys or overtightening. The manufacturer states that "because of my 600 watt amp, the alternator may be pulling too hard causing the balancer to fail." I know alot of people running big amps that have never had a problem like this. Im looking for any information that may help me out. Not interested in fluid balancers, i just want to know why im burning through facotry parts when i shouldnt be. Thanks in advance and sorry about the long story.
:dsm:
 
NAPA sells OEM Mitsubishi parts?

I have a 600 Watt amp and replaced my stock one with a Mitsubishi harmonic balancer about 5000 miles ago, no issues with it.

Try a Mitsubishi one.
 
Yeh. As though an alternator will put as much stress on the pulley as an AC pump will. My lardy ass.
Time for NAPA to give you a refund and an apology. Call San Rafael Mitsubishi.
 
Got an OEM balancer and installed it a few hundred miles ago. I leared that the piece offered from NAPA was made by dorman, and after inspecing both pieces side-by-side. I noticed minute differences between the two pieces. The OEM has been running strong for a few hundred miles now, so i think i made the right chioce. I also noticed that 90% of the balancers listed for sale on ebay are from Dorman. Not trying to bash on any companies, but to everyone else out there looking for balancers, BEWARE of DORMAN balancers.
 
This is an all too familiar story... Just over a month ago at 123k on the odometer, my balancer separated. I got a new one from a local parts place, which happened to be a Dorman piece. A month and 1,000 miles later, this balancer is worse than the first one. I'll be getting another Dorman one on Tuesday, and if that one fails, I'll probably get a Fluidampr one.
 
This is an all too familiar story... Just over a month ago at 123k on the odometer, my balancer separated. I got a new one from a local parts place, which happened to be a Dorman piece. A month and 1,000 miles later, this balancer is worse than the first one. I'll be getting another Dorman one on Tuesday, and if that one fails, I'll probably get a Fluidampr one.

Why don't you just get one from Mitsubishi?
 
Three in this post alone have failed . Why get another Dorman ? Just asking for trouble or you like to replace things . Do it once - do it right . This is where I begin chanting , OEM OEM OEM ...:D :beatentodeath:
 
How much is a factory balancer? I have an aluminum one on my car now that I want to replace with either the fluidamper one or a OEM
 
Why don't you just get one from Mitsubishi?

I don't have the money for one at the moment, so I have to do the whole warranty thing through Dorman... That's the reason I'm not getting OEM or the Fluidampr right now... I'm still trying to find money for rent coming up here soon, so I can't be spending more money on my car :(
 
Well, you need to have a running car to get to work in order to make money. As many times as you'll end up paying to send back the faulty HB, you might as well get the OEM do it once.
 
Well Defiant, did you have the 240z, 260z, 280z, or a wimpy model? That's ok, I know you're old. Of course I had a 260z & 280z - oops :shhh:
Oh, please. No, a '69 2000, and various 510s, including one with an L24 in it. But I never got around to picking up a Z. They were so slow compared to the roadster, and had that funny tin over your head..... well, other that the convertibles I'd seen a dealer in Baltimore selling. Nice jobs, too.
 
If you tighten down the belt tensioner on the alternator itll pull too much on the pulley cocking it and wearing it out. This may be what they were talking about at NAPA. Anyway thats what happened to my old one as the rubber got weak. I replaced it with a lightweight Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley that also under drove it and I love it! Its a solid piece so you have a little more vibration but no more worn rubber to worry about.
 
I'm really curious what makes DSMs so hard on harmonic balancers. I don't know if it's a design shortcoming, or crap manufacturing, or what. I'd never replaced a Datsun HB.

I noticed that 2G DSMs are having more harmonic balancer problem than 1Gs. You maybe right about design shortcoming or crappy manufacturing. My '90 Talon AWD still have the original harmonic balancer, I know this because I purchaced the car brand new.
 
One year later, I'm still running on OEM Harmonic Balancer. No issues at all. For all you guys lookng for harmonic balancer replacements, dont try to save money and buy from your local auto parts store. Buy OEM and be confident that your parts will sand tough! Thanks to all who gave insight on this thread.
 
The price of an OEM one is about the same as a tow truck ride and repairing snapped alternator/ac belts. Depending on how far away you are when it separates, and how many belts you plan on going through before switching, a fluidampr is actually a very reasonable deal.
 
Ok, Im kinda angry at myself for not further reading into this situation.... I also had a squealing sound coming from my car after already changing my alternator/p.s belts, and got help and came across the HB possibly gone bad. So first link someone posted for one that was linked "cheapest place I found to get one" or something along those lines, money being a little low at the moment, I was like nice.... Clicked on it... found the right HB for my car and bought the Dorman.... Picked it up yesterday and its sitting beside me in the box waiting to be installed until I searched HB and read all these posts.... I always go OEM so its annoying I bought on a whim right quick on that one... Can you guys give me a link where I can pick up an OEM HB... Also is there anything else that I should purchase along with this...?

-Any ideas of what I could do with this Dorman piece? keep it just incase on hand for emergency, contact company and ask if I can return it... and tell them what exactly, other than I read your item is a p.o.s... haha..? Thanks :)
 
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