Harmonic balancer?

Tiny
MARYKOVA
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 BUICK CENTURY
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
On 3 occasions in the last 6 months, my car made a loud siren like sound until it warmed up. What could it be? My nephew thinks it is the harmonic balancer which is a little wobbly. I do not notice a lot of vibration. Is this a costly repair?
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Wednesday, June 4th, 2014 AT 2:06 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
If the harmonic balancer is wobbling it is bad this video will show how you can replace it, it is a similar car but the job is the same.

https://youtu.be/NZIMNkLxCMA

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, June 4th, 2014 AT 2:23 PM
Tiny
MARYKOVA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Latest was less than 3 days after I had the serpentine belt replaced then the balancer, all fixed thank you
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Wednesday, June 4th, 2014 AT 3:44 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 AT 8:16 AM
Tiny
MARCUS CHRISTIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
  • 150,000 MILES
How long should it take to replace this part, only using jacks at home to lift it?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

I have included for you a video that will help show the job on a similar car down below'

https://youtu.be/NZIMNkLxCMA

Please go through the guide and if you need instructions on how to remove and install the harmonic balancer on your vehicle, please, feel free to ask.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHESTER306
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1993 BUICK CENTURY
Noises problem
1993 Buick Century 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive

I have a very loud knocking noise, which I believe is comming from the harmonic balancer. The noise is coninuous from start up. When the engine is not running I can turn the harmonic balancer approx 1/4 to a half turn and it stops making the same noise by hand. Is this a bad balancer? If so before replaing, could this have done other damage I need to be aware of and check before wasting time and money?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
You should not be able to move that by hand. There is rubber in the middle and if it's worn to the point you can move it. Replace it before it comes apart! Probably has not damaged anything yet!
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JLCCLJ
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Is the bolt that holds the pulley and harmonic balancer on, left handed or regularly threaded?
I am having a heck of a time breaking it loose?
Impact has no effect and it is a 750 ft pound wrench?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Its regular thread. Have you tried the breaker bar trick. Install a breaker bar and wedge it against something then hit the starter real quick and that will break it free.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JEANM82
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1991 BUICK CENTURY
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
I have a 89 buick century and a 91 buick century, would the harmonic balancer from my 89' work on my 91' as a
temporary fix?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
You can look up the part on auto parts stores' web sites to see if they call for the same part number. My listing shows different numbers for the two applications, but they don't show what is different between them. Both applications list the same "alternate part number", so whatever the differences are, they may not be of significance.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GIGGLES81974
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1991 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
I have a 1991 Buick century Limited I have replaced the harmonic balancer 3 time in 2 months and the crank seal twice, The seal popped out. I would like to what is causing this?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
Why did the balancers have to be changed?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GIGGLES81974
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The first one was replaced because the center was cracked and made less tension on the belt which caused the battery to die. It worked for about a month, Then the second one started wobbling like it was a defect and now the third one is doing the same like something is bent. Hope this helps on giving me advice on how to fix
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
That's pretty much unheard of. I would question whether something is wrong with the crankshaft leaving the Balancer loose on the shaft but there is no reason for a tight balancer to fail like that. The only way they fail is if the rubber attaching the 2 parts rots away and that's not happening on a brand new balancer.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JJ_FENTON2003
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1991 BUICK CENTURY
Engine Performance problem
1991 Buick Century 6 cyl Automatic

I just changed the Harmonic Balance in my 1991 Buick Century and after I put it all back together, serpentine belt and all, my car will not start and was chewing up the serpentine belt. A friend of mine told me to take off the belt and try starting it without the belt, and it still won't start. I even pulled off the new balancer and put back on the old one, and it still won't start. Any suggestions?
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JALOPYPAPA
  • MEMBER
  • 467 POSTS
Sounds like maybe it's not properly seated on the shaft. If it's not close enough to the timing cover, the interrupter rings on the back of the pulley won't activate the crankshaft position sensor behind the pulley, which would cause the no-start. And maybe the belt is getting shredded by the balancer being out of alignment with the other pulleys.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HDISCERN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1989 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • 150,000 MILES
I have a 1989 buick century, limited, 3.3 engine. The harmonic balancer fell off. The after market or the new balancer they make for the car are a lot thicker. And the mechancic who is suppose to be putting it on, says they don't fit. The balancer that came off the car is about as thick as a pulley, whereas the new ones made for the care are twice as thick. The guy told me the new balancer rub against the oil filter. That made me think back to when I had my oil changed. It appeared to me the new oil filter put on was longer than the one taken off. I mentioned it to the guy who changed my oil. He says that was the filter the book called for. Since it didn't leak, I dropped the subject. Could that be the problem? Have anyone heard of the harmonic balancers they make for that car now, not fitting? Or would you try to find one in a junk yard.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Any time you go to autostore, take the old part with you, and compare the parts. Did you compare the old part to the new one?

Different manufacturers can make filters longer or shorter for the same vehicle.
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JRS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • BUICK CENTURY
I have a 92 Buick Century, mileage 83598, engine size 3.3. Need to replace harmonic balancer. Having problems getting bolt off. Is it right or left threaded? Suggestions on how to get it off? Already tried impact wrench. Guess air compressor wasn't putting out enough air? Please help!
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 AT 9:11 AM (Merged)

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