Possible problem with pulley... need help identifying
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
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From: Wylie Texas
Possible problem with pulley... need help identifying
Two days ago I finally got around to putting my Vararam CAI back on after I took it off to clean the filter. My C6 sat about 2 - 3 weeks. When I cranked it for the first time it started making high pitched sounds from the engine area. It would only make this sound when I was driving it or reving the engine. At idle I couldnt hear anything. I figured it was the belt and that after it warmed up it would go away (the current temps are around 30 degrees vs. 70 degrees when it was last started. Sure enough after it warmed up the noise went away.
Today I started it and the sound was back. I let it warm up for 15 minutes or so and I still had the noise. This time it was even there during idle. I popped the hood again and noticed a pully that seemed to have a wobble to it. I believe this is the culprit and it appears that the bolt is no longer there to tighten. Can someone look at my pics/video and let me know if this looks normal or not? If you can tell me which pulley this is I would appreciate as well.
I'll post the video when youtube is finished processing it.
Thanks and have a wonderful Christmas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHcgceAQisA
Today I started it and the sound was back. I let it warm up for 15 minutes or so and I still had the noise. This time it was even there during idle. I popped the hood again and noticed a pully that seemed to have a wobble to it. I believe this is the culprit and it appears that the bolt is no longer there to tighten. Can someone look at my pics/video and let me know if this looks normal or not? If you can tell me which pulley this is I would appreciate as well.
I'll post the video when youtube is finished processing it.
Thanks and have a wonderful Christmas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHcgceAQisA
Last edited by thatdood; Dec 15, 2007 at 01:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Wylie Texas
Any suggestions?
Anyone know if this is a common issue or if there's a TSB for this? Do you think the CAI needs to be removed to service this?
Last edited by thatdood; Dec 15, 2007 at 01:43 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 3
From: Jupiter Florida
Its the harmonic balancer (yes the pulley)...it is got the bolt failure syndrome which means the bolt is backing out...do NOT drive and start again... if bolt releases entirely, pulley falls off and the surpintine belt will fly about and do damage to hoses etc. This is a tow situation... Good you caught this now!
Michael
Michael
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Wylie Texas
Its the harmonic balancer (yes the pulley)...it is got the bolt failure syndrome which means the bolt is backing out...do NOT drive and start again... if bolt releases entirely, pulley falls off and the surpintine belt will fly about and do damage to hoses etc. This is a tow situation... Good you caught this now!
Michael
Michael
This is a 2006 that was built in May of 2006. I thought the TSB for this was only for 2005's...
Anyways I hope they don't have to remove the Vararam CAI to service this problem. I've heard that dealerships will charge you labor time if they have to remove aftermarket parts to service the vehicle even though its under warranty.
If the bolt was still there I would try to do it myself but there's nothing to tighten
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,762
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I want to thank you and sabooher for the responses. I made an appointment to take it in Monday.
This is a 2006 that was built in May of 2006. I thought the TSB for this was only for 2005's...
Anyways I hope they don't have to remove the Vararam CAI to service this problem. I've heard that dealerships will charge you labor time if they have to remove aftermarket parts to service the vehicle even though its under warranty.
If the bolt was still there I would try to do it myself but there's nothing to tighten
This is a 2006 that was built in May of 2006. I thought the TSB for this was only for 2005's...
Anyways I hope they don't have to remove the Vararam CAI to service this problem. I've heard that dealerships will charge you labor time if they have to remove aftermarket parts to service the vehicle even though its under warranty.
If the bolt was still there I would try to do it myself but there's nothing to tighten
Good luck on Monday.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Wylie Texas
They replaced my power steering hose and pump a few months ago and I don't know if that would have required removing that pulley....
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
I don't know what bolt sabooher was looking at but it's not the crank bolt because that bolt has major torque on it. The loose crank bolt problem was limited to the first 11,000 cars in 2005. I doubt that your bolt fell out. Check with your hand to see if can feel the bolt head in center of pulley. It's probably easier from under the car to see it. If there is no bolt, don't start it again, have it towed. Again, unlikely.
I had a similar squeal but mine was more like a chirping. After a month and several attempts to fix it, it turned out that the crank pulley had a failed flexible rubber coupling that caused the pulley to wobble like yours and caused the belt to chirp. If the bolt is there, you can drive it to the dealer. You might want to mention my experience. Good luck.
I had a similar squeal but mine was more like a chirping. After a month and several attempts to fix it, it turned out that the crank pulley had a failed flexible rubber coupling that caused the pulley to wobble like yours and caused the belt to chirp. If the bolt is there, you can drive it to the dealer. You might want to mention my experience. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Wylie Texas
I don't know what bolt sabooher was looking at but it's not the crank bolt because that bolt has major torque on it. The loose crank bolt problem was limited to the first 11,000 cars in 2005. I doubt that your bolt fell out. Check with your hand to see if can feel the bolt head in center of pulley. It's probably easier from under the car to see it. If there is no bolt, don't start it again, have it towed. Again, unlikely.
I had a similar squeal but mine was more like a chirping. After a month and several attempts to fix it, it turned out that the crank pulley had a failed flexible rubber coupling that caused the pulley to wobble like yours and caused the belt to chirp. If the bolt is there, you can drive it to the dealer. You might want to mention my experience. Good luck.
I had a similar squeal but mine was more like a chirping. After a month and several attempts to fix it, it turned out that the crank pulley had a failed flexible rubber coupling that caused the pulley to wobble like yours and caused the belt to chirp. If the bolt is there, you can drive it to the dealer. You might want to mention my experience. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 3
From: Jupiter Florida
Please assume it is the bolt holding the balancer... regardless of opinion about "major torque" they have come loose and is a known failure. Just play it safe and take into dealer and let them review and problem was first ID's as a early 2005 issue BUT book was not closed to later MY..
Michael
Michael
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The actual torque figure is about 240 ft-lb, though the correct installation procedure is torque to yield. In other words, tighten to a specified low torque, then turn the bolt a specified number of degrees further to achieve the desired yield torque. Anyway, it is supposed to be very tight, not 37 ft-lbs.
Race Director
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
You are right, the OP's arrow points to the power steering pulley not the crank pulley. I'd put a flashlight on the crank pulley with the engine running and the ribs in the pulley should look "still" with it rotating with no wobble.
And I don't think that power steering pulley is running true so that may be the entire problem.
And I don't think that power steering pulley is running true so that may be the entire problem.
Last edited by Walt White Coupe; Dec 15, 2007 at 05:42 PM.
Race Director
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GM's bandaid fix, a diamond dust coated washer, doesn't actually fix this problem. The only way to be sure the dampener doesn't back out is to pin it to the crank (as was done on 80,000,000 previous generation small blocks). The usual hotrod sources have radial pinning kits for LS1, LS6, or LS2 engines, or you can do a longitudinal dutchman pin without needing a special kit. The pins are permanent fixes, and the crank bolt can then be torqued to a more normal 70 ft-lb without fear it will back out.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Wylie Texas
You are right, the OP's arrow points to the power steering pulley not the crank pulley. I'd put a flashlight on the crank pulley with the engine running and the ribs in the pulley should look "still" with it rotating with no wobble.
And I don't think that power steering pulley is running true so that may be the entire problem.
And I don't think that power steering pulley is running true so that may be the entire problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I would suspect the pump mounting bolts are loose. It is also possible that they didn't reinstall the pulley correctly. The pulley is removed to work on the pump.
