[s-cars] Harmonic balancers

[hoog23 at aol.com]

Has anyone actually seen a 'bad' harmonic balancer?  What does it look like?
 
The warranty company would not authorize the repair work based on just looking at the harmonic balancer still in place and wants the dealer to remove it so that they can inspect it closer.
 
So I really had no choice but to authorize the dealer to remove it.
 
If the warranty company does not feel it is bad then I will be into the dealer for about 2 grand.
 
Dave
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Mendel <brucem105 at comcast.net>
To: s-car-list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:33:27 -0400
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Harmonic balancers


I sheared off the keyway on the crank pulley at 140mph or so at VIR. The car
died
and went into limp mode with the check engine light on. I figured it was a
typical boost issue or ECU or something, and drove home 350 miles in limp
mode. Argh.

The car sat at the shop for a couple of weeks until the mechanic diagnosed
it, and then it was repaired. No engine damage.

And I'll be damned if the exact same thing did not happen again at Watkins
Glen less than a month later, also at very high speed, and I drove home 250
mile in limp mode this time!

Mechanic changed the crank pulley AND harmonic balancer that time, and
problem never occurred again.

Bruce
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <pkrasusky at ups.com>
To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>; <hahnmgh at peoplepc.com>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Harmonic balancers


>
> Mark postulated:
>
> <<<Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:07:00 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
> From: Mark Hahn <hahnmgh at peoplepc.com>
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Harmonic balancers
>
>  All this Harmonic balancer "Rubber" talk could be just like the plastic
> in the cooling system. A bit of age and heat cycles and ozone over the
> years and this maybe the first signs of an epidemic as it seems a lot of
> the cooling system plastic has been going lately compared to in the
> past.  MGH>>>
>
>
>
>
> I'm sure we all hope not.
>
> Personal anecdote...
>
> Back when we had Jen's old '98 ML320 a harmonic balancer issue reared
> its ugly head large and wide, or so it seemed on the internet forums.  I
> panicked and had it brought right in for inspection, as failures took
> out things like timing chain covers and oil pans and were leading to
> widespread catastrophic damage - damage that many MB dealers would turn
> their backs to that were to the tune of many $000's.  Apparently any '98
> thru early '00 3.2 V6s were affected, across all models, from mileage of
> ~ 45k and up.  Dealer said looked 100%, and apparently those affected
> tended to be in the southern / western, i.e. hotter states.
>
> Wasn't an issue later as we pitched it in favor of an '02 for the 3rd
> seat, so, who knows now.
>
> So in the case of our UrS's...  hoping maybe same holds true.  Us
> northerners 'may' fare better on this issue?  I'll assuredly have Dr.
> Rossato fully inspect my HB to his NASA standards and ensure it passes
> muster before reinstall.
>
> -Paul no thanks K.
>
>
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