Help with Crank problem, stuck at a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere right now
29-Jan-2012, 05:18 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4
Help with Crank problem, stuck at a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere right now
Tough decision I need to make really soon, would really appreciate some help. Stuck at a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere.
Today, I was driving my 94 Civic (standard) and took a sharp turn onto an exit. Something banged on the bottom of the car, and when I pulled into the gas station, the steering was screwed up and it sounded bad.
Looked under the hood, took it to a mechanic. The harmonic balancer (AKA damper) on the driver’s side end of the crankshaft (the one with 2 belts running around it) is chipped, and so is the crankshaft (small chips, maybe 4mm each). The mechanic said he’ll try replacing the damper to see if it’s tight enough to drive. He says that if it’s not, I’ll have to replace the whole crankshaft (i.e. I’m screwed).
Here’s my problem: let’s say the new damper fits on. Won’t that little chip eventually wear more and more, to the point that the crankshaft will be loose again, and I’m back in may-as-well-engine-swap territory? If so, shouldn’t I sell this thing ASAP, let the person who buys it know what’s up so they can make the call? Everything else is in perfect shape, so someone who can fix it themselves could get use out of it.
If I *should* sell it, there’s another problem: I’m 900 miles from home, 100 miles from my parents’ home. I’m afraid that if I try to drive home, it could wear out and come loose again after a few hundred miles. Then I’d really be screwed and need to have it towed hundreds of miles. So, maybe I should just drive it the 100 back to my parents’ and try to sell it from there. I have no “home base” besides these 2 places from which I could sell a car.
Today, I was driving my 94 Civic (standard) and took a sharp turn onto an exit. Something banged on the bottom of the car, and when I pulled into the gas station, the steering was screwed up and it sounded bad.
Looked under the hood, took it to a mechanic. The harmonic balancer (AKA damper) on the driver’s side end of the crankshaft (the one with 2 belts running around it) is chipped, and so is the crankshaft (small chips, maybe 4mm each). The mechanic said he’ll try replacing the damper to see if it’s tight enough to drive. He says that if it’s not, I’ll have to replace the whole crankshaft (i.e. I’m screwed).
Here’s my problem: let’s say the new damper fits on. Won’t that little chip eventually wear more and more, to the point that the crankshaft will be loose again, and I’m back in may-as-well-engine-swap territory? If so, shouldn’t I sell this thing ASAP, let the person who buys it know what’s up so they can make the call? Everything else is in perfect shape, so someone who can fix it themselves could get use out of it.
If I *should* sell it, there’s another problem: I’m 900 miles from home, 100 miles from my parents’ home. I’m afraid that if I try to drive home, it could wear out and come loose again after a few hundred miles. Then I’d really be screwed and need to have it towed hundreds of miles. So, maybe I should just drive it the 100 back to my parents’ and try to sell it from there. I have no “home base” besides these 2 places from which I could sell a car.
29-Jan-2012, 05:57 PM
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: N/A
Posts: 4,641
Wait what? I understand chipping harmonic balancer..but crank? How?!
Moreover, it hard to hit the harmonic balancer, more likely bend lca/tie rod etc before you even get to harmonic balancer. And even if you do, ive used a chipped pulley as a last resort before. I say slal a new harmonic balancer wnd forget about it. If this is the only damage that was done, it should be all good. The mechanic could check end play of the crank, if it took a side impact then bearings may be damaged but again, that is very very unlikely. Ive seen hondas run with some crazy bearing clearance without problems. So imo you should be good..
Moreover, it hard to hit the harmonic balancer, more likely bend lca/tie rod etc before you even get to harmonic balancer. And even if you do, ive used a chipped pulley as a last resort before. I say slal a new harmonic balancer wnd forget about it. If this is the only damage that was done, it should be all good. The mechanic could check end play of the crank, if it took a side impact then bearings may be damaged but again, that is very very unlikely. Ive seen hondas run with some crazy bearing clearance without problems. So imo you should be good..
30-Jan-2012, 09:59 AM
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Where my car is.
Posts: 5,460
What happened to the "screwed up steering"? Mechanic found nothing wrong with that?
As Martin said, there are a lot of parts of the car in the way before anything will hit the harmonic balancer. There is a possibility it was a rock or chunk of debris on the road that came up and hit it.
Get the mechanic to show you the damaged balancer and crank (so that you know he isn't BSing you), and make your decision from there.
Was it running rough or vibrating after you hit the bump?
As Martin said, there are a lot of parts of the car in the way before anything will hit the harmonic balancer. There is a possibility it was a rock or chunk of debris on the road that came up and hit it.
Get the mechanic to show you the damaged balancer and crank (so that you know he isn't BSing you), and make your decision from there.
Was it running rough or vibrating after you hit the bump?
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