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Crankshaft pulley went bad...Normal?

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Old Nov 21, 2014 | 02:28 PM
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Crankshaft pulley went bad...Normal?

So uhm how often do crankshaft pulleys go bad? I never seen one go bad. I guess this is the reason my belt finally broke. The belt would squeel on startup when was cold outside then stop after a min. But the belt was all dried up and was missing ribs. I think a 1 inch section was completely gone but she kept on going. Belt broke on me the other morning and was fixing to replace it today and get under car and see the pulley is not lined up and it had ate most of my power steering belt. She finally gave out on me at 365K. They were the original belts too.
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Last edited by Mxrider52; Nov 21, 2014 at 02:35 PM.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Mxrider52
So uhm how often do crankshaft pulleys go bad? I never seen one go bad. I guess this is the reason my belt finally broke. The belt would squeel on startup when was cold outside then stop after a min. But the belt was all dried up and was missing ribs. I think a 1 inch section was completely gone but she kept on going. Belt broke on me the other morning and was fixing to replace it today and get under car and see the pulley is not lined up and it had ate most of my power steering belt. She finally gave out on me at 365K. They were the original belts too.
365K? The pulley on my I30 went at approximately 225,000. Maintaining a constant engine speed may have contributed to the long life.

The pulley separates then starts rubbing the power steering belt.

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I picked up a pulley from an eBay seller with a near perfect rating for under $100. Its been working great for a few years now. I remember seeing a member found a pulley at rockauto.com for a decent price.

I would consider changing the front main seal also. You'll have the pulley off and the seal will be a snap to change.

Last edited by CS_AR; Nov 21, 2014 at 02:50 PM.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 02:50 PM
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I never seen one go bad. I assumed it was a one piece. Did not know they were slid together. Yea that the bad part. Now I have to order one or maybe try my luck at local pull a part.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 03:00 PM
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Just get a dorman off Rockauto for around $100. Amazon surprises me sometimes.

And yes it's normal when they are this old.

Last edited by Fakie J Farkerton; Nov 21, 2014 at 03:05 PM.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 03:02 PM
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P-a-P in Knoxville has eight 4th gens listed.

The yards around my area are "down in the bottoms" and usually have an inch or two of standing water this time of year. I would be going for a swim to try to pull one around here.

Originally Posted by Fakie J Farkerton
Just get a dorman off Rockauto for around $100.
Amazon surprises me sometimes.
+1

Your going to want to install a new front main seal. Over the years, I've had good luck with the National Brand seals.

Last edited by CS_AR; Nov 21, 2014 at 03:05 PM.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Fakie J Farkerton
Just get a dorman off Rockauto for around $100.
Amazon surprises me sometimes.
Yea looking around to see what I can find. Just sucks I have to wait to get one.

Originally Posted by CS_AR
P-a-P in Knoxville has eight 4th gens listed.

The yards around my area are "down in the bottoms" and usually have an inch or two of standing water this time of year. I would be going for a swim to try to pull one around here.



+1

Your going to want to install a new front main seal. Over the years, I've had good luck with the National Brand seals.
Yea I actually was looking at the pull a part earlier today and was going to go out this weekend to get few parts. Needed to cut out a section of quarter panel and stuff. Crankshaft wasnt on the list but it may be now. Only problem is getting one off out there. My impact wont break the nut loose on my car. Guess have to get bigger impact or will have to have someone help me and hold brake while I get a breaker bar.

Yea I plan on fixing the oil seal too. It leaks just a liittle bit.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Mxrider52
Yea looking around to see what I can find. Just sucks I have to wait to get one.



Yea I actually was looking at the pull a part earlier today and was going to go out this weekend to get few parts. Needed to cut out a section of quarter panel and stuff. Crankshaft wasnt on the list but it may be now. Only problem is getting one off out there. My impact wont break the nut loose on my car. Guess have to get bigger impact or will have to have someone help me and hold brake while I get a breaker bar.

Yea I plan on fixing the oil seal too. It leaks just a liittle bit.
I use an unorthodox method to remove a crank bolt. I get a long breaker bar and socket. Then I remove the fuel pump fuse and run all the gas out of the system. Then I attach socket and bar lifting the bar about an inch or two off the garage floor. The space between the bar and the floor allows the bar to get up some momentum. Once I have the bar in position, I TAP the starter. The momentum from the starter swinging the bar will break the bolt loose.

Here's a video of some guy using this method on a car I don't recognize. He makes a good point about safety. I've found it more effective to have the bar close to the floor so you don't have to worry about it hitting another engine component.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_6SFBg7_dg

Last edited by CS_AR; Nov 21, 2014 at 03:23 PM.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 04:23 PM
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Yea looks like that is probably what I will have to do. May try breaking it loose with someone holding the brake but I will see.

How the quality on the ATP pulley? See amazon got one for $85. Rockauto is at $90 for the Dorman plus $6 shipping. Dont know how long it will take to get. Says would be delivered by Dec 3rd.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Mxrider52
Yea looks like that is probably what I will have to do. May try breaking it loose with someone holding the brake but I will see.

How the quality on the ATP pulley? See amazon got one for $85. Rockauto is at $90 for the Dorman plus $6 shipping. Dont know how long it will take to get. Says would be delivered by Dec 3rd.
I don't know about either. I do know the Dorman sells for close to $200 at other parts stores.

I found this one on eBay for $34.99. $15 expedited shipping shows 11/26 delivery.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/150721970128?lpid=82
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 04:59 PM
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DO NOT BUY THE CHEAP PULLEY. just my PSA. I'll update with a 5% off code for rockauto..

Your discount code is:

2684432224830077



How to Use Your Discount Code

Enter the code above in the "How Did You Hear About Us?"
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 05:03 PM
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You can't go wrong with rockauto.com. I've spent thousands with them over the years.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 05:46 PM
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Yea probably just go with rockauto and be done with it and hope it comes next week. I have never ordered from them so do not know how quick their shipping is. Just buy new and then dont have to worry about it for a while. Thanks for all the quick feedback.
Old Nov 21, 2014 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Mxrider52
Yea probably just go with rockauto and be done with it and hope it comes next week. I have never ordered from them so do not know how quick their shipping is. Just buy new and then dont have to worry about it for a while. Thanks for all the quick feedback.
If you order tonight you can get it shipped in 2 business days for ~$15 more.
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 02:56 PM
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yes it's normal. the rubber rots away and becomes brittle and eventually the outer part just comes off one day. has happened to to me on one of my cars.
Old Nov 26, 2014 | 04:35 AM
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Well I got the bolt broke loose. Just bumped the starter and came right off. Of course as soon I started screwing the bolt out oil started running on the ground. I screw bolt back in and go get pan and put pan underneath and of course no more oil runs out lol. Guess my oil seal was pretty bad. Never leaked on the ground. I figured the pulley would be a ***** to get off so I had all my pullers laying there and I grabbed the pulley with my hand and wiggled it a bit and it slid right off. Guess the oil helped lube it up and keep it loose.

Recon my parts will be here today so should be up and running tonight.
Old Nov 26, 2014 | 01:16 PM
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Glad to see things are coming along.

If you run into problems loosening the power steering pump to install a new belt, there is a trick some members here use to install a new belt by "walking it on" the pulley. The technique can be used to install a belt when you cannot release the power steering pump bracket bolt to loosen the tensioner.

Since I've had decent success using swivel head Gear Wrenches to work with the PS pump, I've not personally used the technique. However, I have seen some professional mechanics on here describe how it works. I may need to use the technique someday.
Old Nov 26, 2014 | 01:45 PM
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by the way, Is your headlights the originals with tint on them? if so what % is the tint?
Old Nov 26, 2014 | 09:06 PM
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Good for you for shopping around and doing it yourself.

At around 140K a Nissan dealer charged me $1k for a new "Harmonic Balancer" and Power Steering Pump. Didn't even mention the front seal.

So tired of being bent over I'd rather lay under the car in the snow just to screw it up! LOL But the second one always goes in easier!

Congrats!
Old Dec 9, 2014 | 08:38 AM
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Is it normal for crank pulleys to have rubber sandwiched in between the metal parts? I would have thought that the VQ30 engines with their great NVH characteristics wouldn't need it.

Anyone tried a straight metal pulley replacement?
Old Dec 9, 2014 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by dwapenyi
Anyone tried a straight metal pulley replacement?
Of course. Most, if not all aftermarket "performance" pulleys are all metal.
Old Dec 9, 2014 | 03:56 PM
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Maybe the pulley was exposed to an engine leak or excessive engine vibration?
Old Dec 10, 2014 | 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by CMax03
Maybe the pulley was exposed to an engine leak or excessive engine vibration?
OP's crank pulley failed at 365k. That's a great run if you ask me. It died of natural old age...
Old Dec 10, 2014 | 02:27 AM
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Originally Posted by The Wizard
Of course. Most, if not all aftermarket "performance" pulleys are all metal.
Doh! Brain fart should have realized the UDP
Old Dec 10, 2014 | 06:09 AM
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honestly this is the first time i have heard of a failing Crank pulley
Old Dec 10, 2014 | 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Crusher103
honestly this is the first time i have heard of a failing Crank pulley
You need to read more then.
Old Dec 10, 2014 | 08:21 AM
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Old Dec 10, 2014 | 09:33 AM
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Limbo skills from the waste up.
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