Replaced Harmonic Balancer....Problem isn't gone
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 3
From: PA
Replaced Harmonic Balancer....Problem isn't gone
I recently replaced the harmonic balancer on a 2002 C5 with 75K. It had the death wobble and infamous "bird sound" under the hood upon startup and idle. After picking up the car from the shop, the car at idle and up to 2000 rpm the "bird sound" is completely gone. I can sleep at night knowing that a new HB was installed; The bad is at a baseline of 2000K, and with a increase in RPM's, the "bird sound" is apparent. I'm trying to rule-out what to replace next. Can it be as simple as a belt? Or should I start looking at the each individual pulley? Please help!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 343
From: Long Island New York
What did the shop replace aside from the HB?
It can be a belt, a pulley, a tensioner, any of these would cause a chirp.
Either take the belts off one at a time or you can try spraying water or wd 40 at each pulley to see if the issue is resolved.
It can be a belt, a pulley, a tensioner, any of these would cause a chirp.
Either take the belts off one at a time or you can try spraying water or wd 40 at each pulley to see if the issue is resolved.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 321
Likes: 22
From: Amarillo Texas
Had the sound on my 2000 even after replacing the belt. I found that the EBCM was barely touching the power steering pump pulley. The pin like bolt that slides down into a slot that holds the EBCM had come loose and allowed the bracket to come out of the slot and the EBCM bracket that holds the EBCM was just barely touching the pulley making the noise. Easy fix.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 3
From: PA
Thanks for the reply. The PO for the shop consisted of a new powerbond HB, bolt, and seal. The belt was reused according to the shop manager. I inquired about a new belt, but they inspected and reused my existing.
Last edited by beachbum5011; Jul 27, 2018 at 07:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 3
From: PA
Had the sound on my 2000 even after replacing the belt. I found that the EBCM was barely touching the power steering pump pulley. The pin like bolt that slides down into a slot that holds the EBCM had come loose and allowed the bracket to come out of the slot and the EBCM bracket that holds the EBCM was just barely touching the pulley making the noise. Easy fix.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 343
From: Long Island New York
If a car has a HB wobble issue and has been chirping for sometime, parts associated with the HB will get damaged and possibly create the same chirping issue.
You need to narrow it down, start with taking the main belt off, If the chirp goes away, then it is either the belt or tensioner. When I did my HB, I replaced all tenioners and pulleys and belts, I wanted to start fresh while I was in there.
You need to narrow it down, start with taking the main belt off, If the chirp goes away, then it is either the belt or tensioner. When I did my HB, I replaced all tenioners and pulleys and belts, I wanted to start fresh while I was in there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 958
Likes: 177
From: Newark Delaware
Easy, but somewhat time consuming/frustrating diagnostic. Remove the Accessory Serp Belt and start the car. Is the chirp gone? Yes- Then you have a tensioner/idler pully/water pump bearing/alternator bearing/Belt, bad. No- Remove the AC belt, start the car. Is the squeak gone? Yes- AC tensioner/Idler or belt. That's the definitive way to narrow down the issue.
Obviously once you remove the belts, you can spin the pullys and see if any of them are screaming or loose in the case of a bad water pump bearing. The whole diagnosis should take you about 45 minutes.
Obviously once you remove the belts, you can spin the pullys and see if any of them are screaming or loose in the case of a bad water pump bearing. The whole diagnosis should take you about 45 minutes.
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