Noisy Harmonic Balancer on 1st Gen CRV

[SiRDOHC]

Hey Guys,

Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXNgiEjzbLQ&feature=youtu.be

I’ve been trying to diagnose this noise coming from the drive-belt area on our 2001 CRV. At first I thought it was a howling alternator bearing, but further inspection shows that it is coming the crank pulley area. When I put a flashlight to this pulley it is noticeably wobbling, and its not only the belt wobbling. It is even digging into the timing belt cover on one small spot.

The CRV is automatic and it has 225.000kms on the clock. Timing belt was done almost 5 years ago, at 170,000kms.
Hard to see in the video that the Pulley is wobbling, you will have to trust me that it is, but the hollow high pitch sound that is coming from the area is captured perfectly.

Is this something that is causing damage to the crankshaft? ( Do I need to tear it apart asap?) or could it be a worn out crankshaft where I am screwed anyways?

Topic

[college man]

I would change it sooner than later. you don’t want that type of imbalance for long. shakes don’t get any better. an imbalance such as this
will affect everything connected to it. C8-) nice job finding the problem.

[Matt]

Also, since it’s been 5 years since you did the timing belt, if you are going to remove the crank pulley, you might as well do the timing belt while you’re in there. A worn balancer could wear the front seal/bearing on the crank if it’s bad enough.

[dreamer2355]

Good job in finding issue. That is something that needs to be addressed immediately though. It is a simple fix and Beefy also made a good point about the timing belt if you have exceeded the current mileage on it.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Yea don’t ignore this issue if you know it’s the balancer as it could damage the engine, the balancer actually helps absorb the pulses created during the power stroke of the crank shaft, without the dampening action of the balancer vibrations in the shaft could cause it to break. I also like the suggestion of doing the timing belt at the same time since you’d be in there anyway.

[SiRDOHC]

Ok, I pulled the bottom splash sheild cover to take a better look.
After a cold start the noise and wobble is not present at all.
As soon as the engine heats up, the wobble and whine become more apparent, and when the engine is full operating temperature, it is at its worst

Does this new information shed any light?

[Author]

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