1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
![]() | [Main C900 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Something is very, very wrong Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: crank pulley, jim, Thu, 11 Nov 2004 16:13:02 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
4K miles (or so) between crank pulleys is amazing. Something is very, very wrong. But you figured that out already.
The first thing that comes to mind is that the pulley isn't what's failed, but is being replaced anyway. Second would be something is killing the pulleys. Third is that you need a different source of pulleys.
First off, why are the pulleys being replaced? What is the failure mode? About all that can happen to the pulley is the rubber sandwich between the inner and outer pulleys fail. Typical symptoms are a squeal from the pulley at startup and misalignment of the belt. But other things can cause squeal and misalignment. Draw a chalk line across the face of the pulley and start the car a few times. If the line is still straight, the pulley is fine; if it no longer lines up, the rubber has failed.
If the mechanic isn't troubleshooting the pulley, then he may be replacing perfectly good parts.
Next, if the pulleys really are failed, something is killing them. Usually this is due to oil leaking from the main seal and onto the rubber and destroying it. However, 4K miles isn't a lot of time to chew up the rubber, not unless lyou're driving about 4K miles a year.
Another thing that comes to mind would be excessive loading - this could be an A/C compressor that is failing and putting too large a load on the pulley. That power has to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is the main pulley. If an accessory is pulling way too much load, and/or the belt tension is way off, that can't help the pulley. However, if the tension were too high, I'd assume that the alternator bearing would have failed by now.
The mechanic should be checking to see if the pulley is properly aligned when installed. If there is some issue and the pulley isn't going on exactly right, or there is some other misalignment going on, then the belts will be slightly skewed, putting a stress on the pulley off the main axis.
Lastly, your mechanic is using used parts. Unlikely, and even used parts should last longer.
My first guess is that the pulleys aren't failed, that the problem exists somewhere else, and is being mis-diagnosed as bad pulleys. The second is that there is a misalignment in the belts caused by something other than the main pulley, and that is overstressing the pulley. Lastly, the pulley isn't going on properly.
This may be an experienced mechanic, but that doesn't prevent him from making the same mistake over and over. Maybe this time you give someone else a try.
posted by 192.249....
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |