Can a bad harmonic balancer cause engine damage?

Products Mentioned in this Guide One automotive part that frequently gets overlooked is the harmonic balancer (also known as a vibration damper or crankshaft damper). Although the component is often forgotten, when it fails, it can cause major problems—including severe engine damage.

What do you need to know about harmonic balancer?

The harmonic balancer is an engine component found on virtually all rotating internal combustion engines and plays an important role in protecting the engine from dangerous harmonic vibrations and potential damage. For this reason, if you suspect that your harmonic balancer may be having an issue,…

Can a bad balancer cause an engine to make a clicking noise?

In some cases, the noise is bad enough to be mistaken for an internal engine problem. Also, a balancer that’s beginning to fail can cause abnormal movement from the drive belt or automatic drive belt tensioner, resulting in clicking or squealing noises when the engine is running.

What causes a crankshaft harmonic balancer to slip?

The harmonic balancers found on many vehicles are constructed as two pieces of metal with a rubber layer in between to dampen the vibrations. If the layers separate or slip, the timing marks, which are usually stamped into the front of the pulley, can shift and thus throw off the placement of the timing marks.

What to do if your crankshaft harmonic balancer is bad?

Separated harmonic balancer. For this reason, if you suspect that your harmonic balancer may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic. They will be able to determine if the vehicle needs a crankshaft harmonic balancer replacement.

Where is the harmonic balancer in an engine?

The crankshaft harmonic balancer is a device connected to the front of an engine’s crankshaft, usually built into the crankshaft pulley.

Is it OK to use a bolt on a balancer?

There is a tool that screws into the bolt hole to install the damper with, that is what should be used. As far as using the bolt goes, if the crank has been drilled and tapped for it, then by all means use a bolt. It certainly cannot hurt anything.

What are the symptoms of a bad harmonic balancer?

They are usually made of rubber and metal, which easily absorbs any harmonic vibrations that could harm the engine otherwise. Usually a problem with the harmonic balancer will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential problem that should be serviced.