Harmonic balacer gone bad?

[93GreenLX]

Harmonic balancer gone bad?

My engine has been shaking here recently and I can't find the culprit. Checked plugs they are fine, the engine is not missing, motor mounts are fine(not that there is anywhere to buy new ones if it needed them). I'm left thinking it's the harmonic balancer. I got underneath the car and looked behind the crank pulley but could really see what is going on, if anything. Is there an easy way to tell if the h.b. is gone bad. I see no rubber protruding but really I can't see anything at all. Do I just need to pull the crank pulley off and check it out or what? Any other ideas as to what it might be causing the shaking?

 

[Red_LX]

Well, four cylinders don't have harmonic balancers so you can rule that out. I can't really say I know what is causing the shaking though.

 

[Pro-Hawk]

My engine has been shaking here recently and I can't find the culprit. Checked plugs they are fine, the engine is not missing, motor mounts are fine(not that there is anywhere to buy new ones if it needed them). I'm left thinking it's the harmonic balancer. I got underneath the car and looked behind the crank pulley but could really see what is going on, if anything. Is there an easy way to tell if the h.b. is gone bad. I see no rubber protruding but really I can't see anything at all. Do I just need to pull the crank pulley off and check it out or what? Any other ideas as to what it might be causing the shaking?

Thats a weird one. Like Red said these motors don't have H.Bs, so its puzzling. Does this shaking around happen while driving only are does it happen while in park? I'm just wondering if something else like the weigh that balances the drive shaft fell off. Maybe the Gear box mount broke and the transmession is causeing things to shake around.

Good Luck and let us know the out come.

 

[93GreenLX]

Only at idle, never while driving, can be in park, neutral or in gear.

 

[93GreenLX]

http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/Ui...ore|~REGULAR+PARTS+LOOK+UP|~HARMONIC+BALANCER any idea what this is then?

 

[93GreenLX]

Different part number than that of the 5.0

 

[Pro-Hawk]

Only at idle, never while driving, can be in park, neutral or in gear.

What RPMs does it do this at idle ?

As for the H.B I'm not sure what that is at AZ.

 

[93GreenLX]

Around 800

 

[Pro-Hawk]

Around 800

I wonder if its just trying to die because of low idle? Does your car give you any codes are has the Check engine light on ?

 

[93GreenLX]

Hmmmmmmm...well it never really tries to die, just shakes. How do I adjust the idle up to normal. and what is normal?

 

[Pro-Hawk]

Hmmmmmmm...well it never really tries to die, just shakes. How do I adjust the idle up to normal. and what is normal?

Its the only thing I can think of so far.

Not really sure whats normal I think its 900-1000 rpms at idle. As for adjusting it look up IAC adjustment, I think that is the one that controls the idle. There should be a easy test for the IAC like unpluging it at idle and if it dies than the IAC is bad I think. I've never had to mess with this so not to for sure on it.

 

[i4power]

That makes sense that 4 bangers don't have harmonic balancers (inline - inherently balanced), but I was told by the mechanic that fixed the major problem with my car that is was in fact the harmonic balancer that was messing it up. WTF is that thing that hooks up on the crank then? I remember the pulley wobbling excessively before it got fixed.

 

[Pro-Hawk]

That makes sense that 4 bangers don't have harmonic balancers (inline - inherently balanced), but I was told by the mechanic that fixed the major problem with my car that is was in fact the harmonic balancer that was messing it up. WTF is that thing that hooks up on the crank then? I remember the pulley wobbling excessively before it got fixed.

Heck if I know what it is if not a balancer I will have to check it out tomorrow

 

[JamesBaumann]

The only few things that I could think of may include:

- Low Idle Speed(If so, then go here http://projecthp.ford23.com/tech.html )
- Loose Driveshaft or Driveline part. But that doesn't really make too much sense considering this only happens at idle
- One last thing is that these catalytic converters have a habit clogging up a little, a change in backpressure can move the motor, so potentially it is an exhaust or more specifically catalytic problem. There have been posts on this forum explaining how to gut your cat(s), just do a search.

That's all I can think of, hopefully it gives you some ideas or atleast somewhere to start.