Slowvette002

So last Thursday I'm sitting at a red light and suddenly I hear a snap noise. I take off and realize the power steering is shot, I than realize that the car is overheating. Immediately pull over figuring it's the serpentine belt.

As expected the belt was shredded. I then went to a local shop, had them order a belt $70 later (seemed kinda high), I had a new belt and put it on. Well, a week later, tonight on my ride home just an hour ago, I'm doing 80mph on the express way and there goes the power steering again. I slow down to pull over and again the temperature starts to rise quickly. I get off the shoulder and pop the hood. Confirming what I already knew, the belt shredded again and was completely gone this time, must've flown off as I pulled off the shoulder.

In the week since I put on the new belt last Thursday I have frequently checked the belt to see if it had any signs of being rubbed or shredded and all week it has looked completely fine. Then tonight, BOOM.

I can say that when I put the new belt on, I started it up and when looking at the belt to make sure everything was connected properly, the harmonic balancer seems to have a little more play to it than I feel comfortable with. Can anyone else confirm whether this is normal or if I need to replace that. If so, how much are one of these and can they be done by a amateur mechanic? Also, if not the harmonic balancer, does anyone else have any ideas what could be the cause for two belts being shredded in a week? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead of time guys!

Slowvette002

thanks so much for the quick reply. the idler/tensioner pulley also have some play but the harmonic balancer def is worse. Is it possible both need replaced at the same time? Could it be a loose bolt for the harmonic balancer? I guess that is what I will replace first, but do you have any idea how hard the install is? And I also read that if you can turn the harmonic balancer by hand than it is in rough shape? Any truth to that?
Thanks again?

BLOWNBLUEZ06

If you can turn it by hand, it is toast!

UWEBABY

Your profile doenst list a year. Just curious, and how many miles on the engine?

dgrant3830

If the balancer comes off, it will trash the steering system. Also check each of the accessory pulleys for smooth operation (alternator, PS, water pump and so on) plus check the tensioners. The balancer bolt is a one-time use bolt. You have to remove the steering rack in order to get to the balancer so its a lot of work, but you cannot afford to not do it right.

VIPERBLUELX

make sure the crank bolt hasn't backed out

Slowvette002

UPDATE: This past weekend, after buying a new belt I went back to the car to put it on and realized, down barely holding onto the bottom of the last pulley, the 1st replacement belt was still there and intact. So after the stock belt shredded, I put the 1st new one on and for a week it was fine. Than exactly a week later, the first time I got on it and got up near 100mph, the belt did not shred, but slipped off. The belt seemed to be on perfect so I'm assuming it wasnt a bad install, clearly something is f'd up making it slip off like that on hard rpms. Should I assume its the tensioner?

lucky131969

No. Check everything for alignment, balancer wobble, etc. Don't assume anything. If the tensioner is bad, proper inspection will lead you to that conclusion.

Camjamsdad

There shouldn't be any wiggle or play at all in your harmonic balancer. Zero. The tensioner, depending on mileage, will develop some play but only a hands on examine will determine if it's too much. Can't do it over the net. Anyways I'd replace the balancer first and the do the tensioner later if you think the play is minimal.