Harmonic Balance 1993 Park Ave

[zepol]

My first post! I had to change a harmonic balancer on a 1993 Buick Park Ave and it was a beast to get off even with a rented puller from Checker Auto parts. Any how I got it off and then installed the new one and the car will not start. It won't even give me dash lights when the key is turned. It was all working fine prior to putting on the new harmonic balancer. I took the new one off again because someone mentioned that the two balancers may not be the same and therefore I would have an issue with the crank sensor so I checked the balancer itself and all the tabs matched up with the one I replaced. Would the crank sensor cause this issue or what would any of you suggest my next steps be? Thanks in advance!

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by zepol

It won't even give me dash lights when the key is turned. It was all working fine prior to putting on the new harmonic balancer.

Welcome to AF! You forgot to mention whether or not the engine is turning over, or if it is, do you have spark? Do you have a fully charged battery @ 12.6v?

[zepol]

Sorry about that. The engine doesn't turn over. There is nothing at all. No spark. When I turn the key the dash lights wont even turn on.

I am assuming the battery is fine because everything worked fine prior to us removing the old harmonic balancer with the one exception being that unbearable and embarrasing noise!

I will check the battery any other suggestions?

[HotZ28]

Something is missing here, either your cables are not tightened securely, or your battery is not up to par. I assume that you do not have a security light when trying to start?

[zepol]

Thanks for the help and quick replies. I should have gone with my first instinct which was that the battery died but since this mechanic that works for a dealership passed by while I was working on the car told me that it was the crank sensor that was causing my issue I believed he knew what he was talking about. Ha ha. The battery was dead. I jumped the battery and she purred like a kitten.

[HotZ28]

Did the dealership mechanic that gave you the advice about the crank sensor being bad, look similar to the guys below?

[northstar1958]

Gentlemen;

Not to hijack this thread, but how do you know your balancer is going bad? Can you check it by site? engine run rough? just wondering what the signs are. Thanks

Northstar

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by northstar1958

Gentlemen;

Not to hijack this thread, but how do you know your balancer is going bad? Can you check it by site? engine run rough? just wondering what the signs are. Thanks

Northstar

The rubber isolator between the inner and outer ring of the balancer will deteriorate and eventually (lose bond), or separate the two rings. This will cause a loud “clanging” noise @ idle that disappears at higher rpm. Preventative maintenance “visual inspection” will not do much good here; because the rubber ring is hard to see and typically after a few years, the rubber is showing signs of aging anyway. Best advice is to just keep driving it until it fails (clanging noise) and then change it. There are no adverse effects to the failure, other than the noise.

[Sweepspear]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Did the dealership mechanic that gave you the advice about the crank sensor being bad, look similar to the guys below?

I'm surprised the one with the wrist watch can tell time!

[zepol]

Originally Posted by northstar1958

Gentlemen;

Not to hijack this thread, but how do you know your balancer is going bad? Can you check it by site? engine run rough? just wondering what the signs are. Thanks

Northstar

I noticed it was going bad because of the ugly and embarrasing noise it would make at slower speeds and when stopped.