Soo.. My Belts Don't Spin.

[Shayde]

Wasn't sure exactly where to post this, so.. well.. here will do.

Okay, so I was parking my car and all of a sudden I start hearing this crazy squeeling sound, I was in the middle of a busy car park so I drove it like 20m and left it on the side of the street. Upon inspected, none of my belts were spinning. Well.. they came and went and then eventually stopped completely.

However, the car still idled fine (except for the squeeling sound) and still is capable of driving (just with no alternator, AC, power steering, water pump, etc). It goes forward and backward and still starts.

The only conclusion I've reached is that something has gone wrong with the harmonic balancer as that is capable of causing all the belts to stop.

Since then, I've had it in a workshop and they've told me something to do with the woodruff key f**ked up. This to me doesn't make sense. These don't just come loose (as far as I'm aware) since they're machined fit and are held in by a number of other factors. But possibly he meant the harmonic balancer bolt that goes into the crankshaft (possibly not tightened properly)? He has told me that the harmonic balancer is stuffed and will need replacing and the crankshaft is damaged.

Another thing I don't understand is how the crankshaft is damaged and why bill is estimated at 1/4 of 5 digits.

Can any of you share your wisdom. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Adriano]

If they have quoted you $2500, that isn't unreasonable, its a motor out job, and may require a replacement crank(fairly likely) what they have told you is correct, sounds like a good time for a cheap 3 litre conversion

[StuiE]

The woodruff key holds the harmonic balancer in the right place on the crank, it sits in a recess on the crank, and fits into a slot on the harmonic balancer, either the crank has broken around the key and then it's moved around and f**ked shit up or (more likely) the key has just broken..and f**ked shit up.

To fix properly it's exxy 'cos it's engine out, pulled down, fixed, then put back together, then engine back in, it can be done dodgy, but then the harmonic balancer is unlikely to ever come off again...

[SECURITY]

woodruff keys would explain it, the bolt only holds the hb and timing gear in place but these are a bastard to get out even without the bolt.

in an engine in bad shape its possible to shear them off, although i havent seen it happen.

what it MAY be, but this is purely my idea and may be completley wrong...

someones taken your HB off and lost a woodruff key in the process (your crank has 2, one for the timing belt gear which sticks out a bit into the HB, and one mainly for the HB). they might have thought it would be fine on the one sticking out of the timing belt gear.

its either that or your HB woodruff key has sheared off completley which would explain your car still running ok from the woodruff key still attached on the timing belt gear (otherwise you would have done serious damage to valves, pistons from cam timing being off).

[Shayde]

Thanks guys, that has cleared up a lot for me. Much appreciated.

[Adriano]

Hopefully the front key is missing, then it will be a fairly cheap fix.

[tridentt150v]

You may not need a new crank either, they can weld and re-machine woodruff key holes and splines etc. But it is very much a specialist job. It's a special technique, a special weld, all without any distortion, and no heat stress. I'd avoid metal spraying it can chip under stress. And it would still require a motor rebuild etc. But it is as good as new or better. I've had it done on motors that you can no longer get parts for and they are holding up fine.

But a reco or new crank may be cheaper, you'll have to suck it and see!