Crank pulley bolt ejects itself
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Crank pulley bolt ejects itself
I got on the car on the freeway this morning and the car started screeching and shuddering at the top of Fourth gear. Upon popping the hood, I saw that the crank pulley bolt had backed almost entirely out and was rubbing against the steering rack. In fact, the contact with the steering rack is the only thing that prevented the bolt from dropping onto the pavement. Now the freakin' crank pulley is walking off of the crank snout! My A/C belt popped off not that long ago, and while fixing it I noticed that the serpentine belt was misaligned. That means the belts aren't misaligned, but instead, the pulley's misaligned.
I bought this car used with 51K miles, and it now has 68K miles. I'm willing to the bet the former owner had installed an aftermarket pulley, and didn't torque the stock pulley tightly enough while demodding the car before he sold it. Any tips on torqueing the bolt back on? I know it's some crazy *** spec.
I bought this car used with 51K miles, and it now has 68K miles. I'm willing to the bet the former owner had installed an aftermarket pulley, and didn't torque the stock pulley tightly enough while demodding the car before he sold it. Any tips on torqueing the bolt back on? I know it's some crazy *** spec.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
I've found a lot of complaints through searches, but the problem is almost always associated with a wobbling pulley. The weird thing is the pulley never wobbled. The bolt just backed out one day.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Is the balancer new? The bolt doesn't back out on its own, it is likely the balancer that has an issue. In my opinion, do it once and do it right. New balancer, bolt and front timing cover seal. The installation and removal procedures require some special tools, don't use "longer" bolts and such, that's how guys usually get in trouble and strip the crank snout threads.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Newcastle OK
It might even be a re-used bolt. 
Just get a new bolt and tighten it according to spec (do a search and it'll pop right up for ya). Hey, while you are in there, you might as well do a cam!
Good Luck!
Brent
Just get a new bolt and tighten it according to spec (do a search and it'll pop right up for ya). Hey, while you are in there, you might as well do a cam!
Good Luck!
Brent
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
As far as I know, the balancer isn't new, but I don't know the full history of this car. I think I'll just get a new bolt, and new underdrive pulley, and a new front seal and timing cover/water pump gasket.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
And while your there pin the balancer or you'll have the same problem again.
The fact is the pressed on balancer sucks and they all walk on the crank causing the bolt to walk out.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: V town california
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,352
Likes: 103
From: In the pit, trying to love someone.
Yeah, considering you have to remove the steering rack and some other bs to get at it properly, you might as well go ahead and do a cam swap. You're only a few bolts away!!! This is the exact reason I am pinning my crank when my new shortblock gets here.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Loveland (Cincinnati) Ohio
The bolt is a "once and done" bolt from the factory.....someone may have had an underdrive pulley and before selling it....put the factory pulley back on and may have used the old bolt. 
YOU CANNOT use the old bolt....
Once the pulley slides out.....the seal is likely torn, crank snout scuffed and is leaking......not that big of a deal, but fairly labor intensive to get to that darn bolt.
polish the crank snout...check to make sure the pulley isn't scarred and replace the seal, new bolt and you'll be fine!
It happened to me once....good luck!
YOU CANNOT use the old bolt....
Once the pulley slides out.....the seal is likely torn, crank snout scuffed and is leaking......not that big of a deal, but fairly labor intensive to get to that darn bolt.
polish the crank snout...check to make sure the pulley isn't scarred and replace the seal, new bolt and you'll be fine!
It happened to me once....good luck!