Need advice(long)
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Navarre Florida
Need advice(long)
Had squeaking belt/pulley issue a few weeks ago, got the serpentine belt tensioner and idler pulley replaced, couple days later the noise reoccurred, as loud as ever. I took the vette to a mechanic, it looked like one of the new belts (which were also replaced couple weeks ago) was missing a rib, I had that belt replaced. The squeaking disappeared thank god, but I was told that the cause off all this was my wobbly Harmonic Balancer. I looked at it and it did not seem wobbly to me but I do not have enough experience to be completely sure. I decided to take it to my Chevy dealership. After waiting almost 4 hours despite having an appointment(while they were working on several Grand sports that came behind me
)I was ready to take the vette somewhere else, when the guy from the service office ran to the mechanic and told him to look at the car. 5 minutes later he came out and said that Harmonic Balancer is coming apart and needs to be replaced most definitely.
Now my dilemma is wether to trust them or not. I know a lot of mechanics will tell you that this part and that part needs to be replaced but half the time they do not! plus I did tell them that I was specifically concerned with Harmonic Balancer, so they were more likely to say that it needed replacement.
How much wobble/ vibration is normal for harmonic balancer if any at all? Should I pay 700-800$ and replace it now or drive it for a few more weeks and see if the wobbling progresses ? It is wobbling but so little that you have to really look at it for a while to notice slight vibration.
Thanks for suggestions ahead.
)I was ready to take the vette somewhere else, when the guy from the service office ran to the mechanic and told him to look at the car. 5 minutes later he came out and said that Harmonic Balancer is coming apart and needs to be replaced most definitely. Now my dilemma is wether to trust them or not. I know a lot of mechanics will tell you that this part and that part needs to be replaced but half the time they do not! plus I did tell them that I was specifically concerned with Harmonic Balancer, so they were more likely to say that it needed replacement.
How much wobble/ vibration is normal for harmonic balancer if any at all? Should I pay 700-800$ and replace it now or drive it for a few more weeks and see if the wobbling progresses ? It is wobbling but so little that you have to really look at it for a while to notice slight vibration.
Thanks for suggestions ahead.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,877
Likes: 254
From: Hillsboro OR
Had squeaking belt/pulley issue a few weeks ago, got the serpentine belt tensioner and idler pulley replaced, couple days later the noise reoccurred, as loud as ever. I took the vette to a mechanic, it looked like one of the new belts (which were also replaced couple weeks ago) was missing a rib, I had that belt replaced. The squeaking disappeared thank god, but I was told that the cause off all this was my wobbly Harmonic Balancer. I looked at it and it did not seem wobbly to me but I do not have enough experience to be completely sure. I decided to take it to my Chevy dealership. After waiting almost 4 hours despite having an appointment(while they were working on several Grand sports that came behind me)I was ready to take the vette somewhere else, when the guy from the service office ran to the mechanic and told him to look at the car. 5 minutes later he came out and said that Harmonic Balancer is coming apart and needs to be replaced most definitely.
Now my dilemma is wether to trust them or not. I know a lot of mechanics will tell you that this part and that part needs to be replaced but half the time they do not! plus I did tell them that I was specifically concerned with Harmonic Balancer, so they were more likely to say that it needed replacement.
How much wobble/ vibration is normal for harmonic balancer if any at all? Should I pay 700-800$ and replace it now or drive it for a few more weeks and see if the wobbling progresses ? It is wobbling but so little that you have to really look at it for a while to notice slight vibration.
Thanks for suggestions ahead.
)I was ready to take the vette somewhere else, when the guy from the service office ran to the mechanic and told him to look at the car. 5 minutes later he came out and said that Harmonic Balancer is coming apart and needs to be replaced most definitely. Now my dilemma is wether to trust them or not. I know a lot of mechanics will tell you that this part and that part needs to be replaced but half the time they do not! plus I did tell them that I was specifically concerned with Harmonic Balancer, so they were more likely to say that it needed replacement.
How much wobble/ vibration is normal for harmonic balancer if any at all? Should I pay 700-800$ and replace it now or drive it for a few more weeks and see if the wobbling progresses ? It is wobbling but so little that you have to really look at it for a while to notice slight vibration.
Thanks for suggestions ahead.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Just search for harmonic balancer in the C5 tech section and you'll see that you are far from the first person to have yours fail... Unless you have some reason to believe they'd lie to you I would take their word for it. Diagnostic fees at independent shops are usually pretty cheap... why not get a second opinion somewhere if you're concerned about the validity of the dealership's claim?
I'd advise that you address this as quick as you can. From what I've read on these boards and from talking to a friend, when this thing finally goes, it goes in a big way. Think new motor... Good luck.
I'd advise that you address this as quick as you can. From what I've read on these boards and from talking to a friend, when this thing finally goes, it goes in a big way. Think new motor... Good luck.
Last edited by cdkcorvette7; Sep 13, 2010 at 08:15 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
you can probably lay a long metal ruler (or similar straight-edge like a level) across the front of the idler pulley and more than likely the other end will not line up with the harmonic balancer, you will see it's out of place. If so he's telling you the truth. Or start the car and watch it wobble...
Seriously if you need a new one and they are going to charge you $800, I would seriously consider taking it to a performance shop for a cam. Even if you don't want a cam you should be able to find someone that will do it for $500.
Seriously if you need a new one and they are going to charge you $800, I would seriously consider taking it to a performance shop for a cam. Even if you don't want a cam you should be able to find someone that will do it for $500.
