View Poll Results: Harmonic Balancer Issues...
I've had or currently have issues-replaced or will replace balancer
280
51.19%
No issues what so ever-still have stock balancer
252
46.07%
Don't care... I drive it like I stole it
15
2.74%
Voters: 547. You may not vote on this poll
Harmonic Balancer Issues... whose got'em
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Mcallen Tx
Oh, I would absolutley looooove for this to be the case, I'm really not looking forward to replacing this thing. Unfortunately, I've already replaced the tensioner thinking it would resolve the issue... no joy. As far as the alternator, I've given it thought but it passes the screw driver to an ear test. I've checked the water pump too, sounds quiet other than the water moving through it.
D
D
You will also feel like a badass if you DIY
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
I feel your pain. It was a long & hard fight for me to get my HB replaced, but I finally did and it runs perfectly now.
Here's what it sounded like at idle:
Here's what it looked like:
Here's what it sounded like at idle:
Here's what it looked like:
Last edited by SweetBlueZ51; Jun 17, 2011 at 03:46 AM. Reason: Converting YouTube links
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 79
From: Houston, Tx
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
I disagree. This makes no sense to me. A device which is designed to dampen harmonic vibrations should be true! A rotating disk which wobbles, generates oscillations perpendicular to the plane of rotation. Not to mention the stresses applied to the belts and driven components. Imagine what is going on under the hood at 6000 rpm! There should be no visible wobble.
I finally brought my '06 to the dealer and one look at the wobbling balancer elicited the response, "Holy crap, I've never seen that before! You've gotta get that fixed!"
No sh**!
So next comes the quote for $500 in parts and $800 in labour for a whopping total of...Well, you can add. And of course there's no 5yr powertrain warranty on '06's.
The car only has 40,000 km (25000 mi) on it. I don't race it. I don't even rev it over 5K rpm!! Very disheartening and my wife is going to kill me - "I know this car is an extravagance, Dear, but it will easily give us 10 years of troublefree fun!"
After a few phone calls I discovered something VERY interesting regarding the GM stock part! The part number I was given by my dealer was GM12635652. Apparently, GM Canada has ZERO inventory of this part. So I phone a dealer in Ogdensburg NY and I was quoted $230US (less than half the price quoted by my dealer - given our dollar's parity with the US this is really annoying but I digress) and guess what - GM US has ZERO inventory of this part as well!!
This is highly suspect given that the LS2 is used in a host of vehicles including the Pontiac GTO, a number of Holden (Australia) vehicles, Cadillac CTS-V, Trailblazer and even Saab. So, either there has been a rash of repairs which has depleted inventory or GM has pulled the part off of it's shelves in order to assess their early failures. In either case this gives me hope that a GM hidden warranty (Goodwill Assistance) will be forthcoming.
B.
I finally brought my '06 to the dealer and one look at the wobbling balancer elicited the response, "Holy crap, I've never seen that before! You've gotta get that fixed!"
No sh**!
So next comes the quote for $500 in parts and $800 in labour for a whopping total of...Well, you can add. And of course there's no 5yr powertrain warranty on '06's.
The car only has 40,000 km (25000 mi) on it. I don't race it. I don't even rev it over 5K rpm!! Very disheartening and my wife is going to kill me - "I know this car is an extravagance, Dear, but it will easily give us 10 years of troublefree fun!"
After a few phone calls I discovered something VERY interesting regarding the GM stock part! The part number I was given by my dealer was GM12635652. Apparently, GM Canada has ZERO inventory of this part. So I phone a dealer in Ogdensburg NY and I was quoted $230US (less than half the price quoted by my dealer - given our dollar's parity with the US this is really annoying but I digress) and guess what - GM US has ZERO inventory of this part as well!!
This is highly suspect given that the LS2 is used in a host of vehicles including the Pontiac GTO, a number of Holden (Australia) vehicles, Cadillac CTS-V, Trailblazer and even Saab. So, either there has been a rash of repairs which has depleted inventory or GM has pulled the part off of it's shelves in order to assess their early failures. In either case this gives me hope that a GM hidden warranty (Goodwill Assistance) will be forthcoming.
B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 4
From: foothills of Northern California
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Got a 2007 C6 with 60k miles on it and the belt started chirping. Replaced the belt and a week later chirping again. Replaced the belt and the idler pulley and a week later chirping again. Called the dealership and told them about the wobble in the harmonic balancer/pulley and they said it was a warranty item...getting it fixed for free.
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
As a person that's worked on many different makes of automobiles I've never owned a domestic vehicle till I purchased my C6 last year. My honest opinion...what a piece of **** that goes fast. This "little" issue with the harmonic damper is a bunch of horse manure. I've seen videos of 2000 model corvettes having this problem. There's a focus of conversation about a "TSB" that's been release for 2005 models having this issue and yet mine a 2007 still has this problem. Heck I think I read a post of someone owning a 2009 model that has this issue! If the engineers haven't figured this problem out yet I'm beginning to wonder what else is acceptable standards and is just slapped on the car.
I'm taking this "fast piece of ****" in to have the harmonic damper warrantied for the second time in less than a year. They day I get this car back if that harmonic damper is not spinning true like it does in my 2003 6.0L Chevy C2500 and every other car that I've owned and worked on than there's going to be a 2007 Black C6 with 12K miles for sale within the same hour.
I'm taking this "fast piece of ****" in to have the harmonic damper warrantied for the second time in less than a year. They day I get this car back if that harmonic damper is not spinning true like it does in my 2003 6.0L Chevy C2500 and every other car that I've owned and worked on than there's going to be a 2007 Black C6 with 12K miles for sale within the same hour.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Waco Texas
I just got done replacing my harmonic balancer on my 2005 m6 coupe. It was about $1k with parts and labor. I filed it with GM and they said that they would not pay for any of it 
. Anyways, the vette is back up and running again. The biggest indicator for me was a squealing noise coming from the engine bay and the notorious wobble of the balancer.
. Anyways, the vette is back up and running again. The biggest indicator for me was a squealing noise coming from the engine bay and the notorious wobble of the balancer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 40
From: Edmonton Alberta
As a person that's worked on many different makes of automobiles I've never owned a domestic vehicle till I purchased my C6 last year. My honest opinion...what a piece of **** that goes fast. This "little" issue with the harmonic damper is a bunch of horse manure. I've seen videos of 2000 model corvettes having this problem. There's a focus of conversation about a "TSB" that's been release for 2005 models having this issue and yet mine a 2007 still has this problem. Heck I think I read a post of someone owning a 2009 model that has this issue! If the engineers haven't figured this problem out yet I'm beginning to wonder what else is acceptable standards and is just slapped on the car.
I'm taking this "fast piece of ****" in to have the harmonic damper warrantied for the second time in less than a year. They day I get this car back if that harmonic damper is not spinning true like it does in my 2003 6.0L Chevy C2500 and every other car that I've owned and worked on than there's going to be a 2007 Black C6 with 12K miles for sale within the same hour.
I'm taking this "fast piece of ****" in to have the harmonic damper warrantied for the second time in less than a year. They day I get this car back if that harmonic damper is not spinning true like it does in my 2003 6.0L Chevy C2500 and every other car that I've owned and worked on than there's going to be a 2007 Black C6 with 12K miles for sale within the same hour.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
There should be no wobble at all. Do not let them convince you otherwise. Popped the hood of my work truck with the 6.0l ls2 and guess what...no wobble.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 4
From: foothills of Northern California
The same weights must be put back on the new balancer in the very same place as prior balancer or you will have issues.
I could see how the first fix could have gone wrong. You might want to upgrade to another dealer.
I could see how the first fix could have gone wrong. You might want to upgrade to another dealer.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Hmm..I thought all new ones are balanced and if it needs to be match balanced they would need the crank and the flywheel to balance everything together...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 4
From: foothills of Northern California
But from what my Chevy dealer service dept told me. If they put the same weights back on in the same place the crank will be balanced.
The other main part for the fix is the trick washer that you must have on the new fix. My dealer had a hard time finding said washer for 2 days delay. They did a great job on the fix though.
Mine was done under my GMPP with no out of pocket.
My dealer has a veteran Vette tech ( about 45 years old ) that really is good. I talked to him a couple of times.
He does all the work on Chuck Yeager's old C4 vert. It was in the shop when they were working on mine.
Pro
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 3
From: Milwaukee WI
St. Jude Donor '13
my c6 also has the belt chirp on occasion. Some days it will do it other days it's completely silent. Should I not be worried yet? Or should I start saving for a UD pulley and the ridiculous labor charge? (I had a 99 z28 and the chirp on f-bodies was so common). I shot vid of the balancer. Thanks!!!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 3
From: Buena Park CA
Of course, everyone will sooner or later have issues with the OEM pulley/balancer. Simple fix (well, maybe not so simple); replace it with an aftermarket one like a 25% underdrive (such as SLP, to get you 10 HP more) and absolutely install it with a crankshaft pin kit (such as Magnuson Superchargers)......all issues resolved and end of discussion, just do it!
Last edited by HuskerBullet; Jun 25, 2011 at 11:33 PM.
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
my c6 also has the belt chirp on occasion. Some days it will do it other days it's completely silent. Should I not be worried yet? Or should I start saving for a UD pulley and the ridiculous labor charge? (I had a 99 z28 and the chirp on f-bodies was so common). I shot vid of the balancer. Thanks!!!!!
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
My Harmonic Balancer / Crank pulley story
I just bought a 2007 Coupe from a pretty reputable used car dealer here in San Antonio, TX. Everything was good for a few days until there was a significant amount of belt noise. I took it back to the dealer and they replaced the belts. The belt squealing went away, but now I hear the chirping and it's driving me crazy. I knew the used car dealer wasn't going to do anything about so I took it to the chevrolet dealer. The dealer isolated the chirps to two tensioners and their pulleys. After reading this thread I went to the dealer in person and insisted that the source of the problem was my wobbly harmonic balancer. The (larry the cable guy looking) tech said "they all wobble." I still insisted and my service advisor called the service manager Anthony over. Anthony was wearing a 50th anniversary vette shirt. He looked at the pulley for about a minute and said, "yeah it's wobbling and that's probably was causing the tensioners to make that noise." I was happy because the balancer is a warranty item and it isn't going to cost me anything. I'll post updates, but Anthony said they are going to start with the balancer and then "walk" and adjust the rest of the pulleys to try to get rid of the chirping.