Harmonic Damper/Crank shaft, etc.

[Delta2Echo]

Ok...yesterday on my lunch, car made a sound I have never heard before when I turned the AC on. Came and went, knew something was wrong, but nothing I could do. Went to leave last night, started the car, turned the AC on...bam, starts happening again, but worse. I left it running, popped the hood to go see if I could see where the noise was coming from. Before I got to the front of the car, I heard a "pop" and the noise stopped. I immediately went and turned the car off...got under the hood, saw that the belt was no longer on the alternator.

So I was poking and prodding around trying to find out WTF happened. Thought the belt snapped or something, then I noticed the harmonic damper wasn't square to everything else. I got a hold of the belt and pulled it, it moved. Shoved my arm down there and got my hand on it and I could move it around pretty easily, so much so that I could slam it into the frame. I hitched a ride home from work, now I'm back here.

I'm working on getting a tow back to my house 40 minutes from my workplace. I already have an OEM damper coming into Autozone from Dorman. I have a few questions for you guys:

1. How concerned should I be with something really important breaking from this? I know from what I see, the belt didn't make it into the timing belt or anything like that. Engine kept running until I cut it (within seconds of the pop). Is it possible I damaged the crankshaft, bearings, anything like that?

2. I know the OEM part is the best choice for a stock engine. Although I'm not currently racing the car at all, I am running about 13.5 lbs of boost and it's a daily driver...keeping my budget in mind, or lack thereof...is a Fluidampr worth the extra $220 to avoid a huge headache in the future?

3. While I'm doing this, is there anything else that I should be checking, adjusting, or replacing while I"m doing this besides the accessory belt itself?


Any input you guys could give me would be awesome, and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[punxnotdead185]

Are you sure none of the bolts came loose on you? My balancer did the same thing kinda, the big center bolt came loose and the whole balancer and timing gear came off the crank enough for it to pop off the keyway and it cost me and entire motor. The belt started squealing right before it happened too and I didn't notice the balancer coming off so I just tightened the belt and it came apart literally one mile down the road. I would check the 4 bolts that hold the balancer to the timing gear and the big center bolt to make sure they are tight.

 

[serrilion]

I did some work to a friends GST a month ago. I haden't gotten the AC or Alt Belts on yet and the balancer was off on my shop floor when he came in and started his car, and backed it out before I got over to him to kill it.

We did nothing but put the blancer back on + belts he has been driving it for 14K no problems thus far... But for it just to come off? that is strange to me

 

[007jimmy]

You will be fine. The rubber on the inside of the balancer just seperated. Most would not reccomend the Dorman units but it will get you where you are going untill you decide to upgrade. While you are down there with the bad pulley off check for any damage that might have occured from the bad pulley.

 

[pauleyman]

It's a well documented failure on a harmonic balancer. I've started to include them as a maintenance item as I feel it's cheap enough to do so. Check for damage around the cover, replace the broken part and move on.

 

[red_devil]

Yeah it should be fine. It seems a lot of the time turning on the A/C is what finally breaks it due to the added stress. Just get an oem one if you dont want to spend the extra $$.

 

[Delta2Echo]

Thanks guys. New damper is on. $80 part, pretty easy and straight forward repair. The the outer ring did separate from the inner at the rubber dampening part. I wasn't aware the part was supposed to be swapped every 6-8 years...mine made it about 23 years.

To 007jimmy, I only had one other option besides the Dorman. Went with it as it had a lifetime warranty. I needed the part ASAP so I can get to work Monday morning. I would love to have put a Fluidampr on there...but right now it's overkill, don't have the extra $230, nor could I really justify it or wait for delivery.

Didn't see any damage while we were in there. Accessory belt was totally fine and the car even seems to run smoother now. Now I have to get a new gasket for the oil return line from the turbo to the oil pan...it's leaking pretty good.

Eventually I will get my damn 3" MR downpipe, test pipe, and new exhaust on!

Thanks again guys. I love this community!!