Mike Adams
Enthusiast
3 Vipers srt10 engines came in my shop on ram 2 vipers. All 3 vehicles I removed the harmonic balancer bolt with my fingers, no ratchet or socket required. NO loctite on any of them this last one the bolt was actually rusty
CHECK YOUR CRANKSHAFT BOLT
- Thread starter Mike Adams
- Start date
OP
OP
Mike Adams
Enthusiast
2004 all 3
Skip White
Enthusiast
THE TORQUE SPECS ON 03 AND 04 ARE VERY DIFFERENT. MAKE NO MISTAKE ON THIS.
If this bolt has been loose for some time, the chances of that the balancer has spun are great. Mine was wallered out in the center badly. This must be checked.
Skip White
If this bolt has been loose for some time, the chances of that the balancer has spun are great. Mine was wallered out in the center badly. This must be checked.
Skip White
Vic
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Thats incomprehensible! Sh*tty quality control. Dangerous, too.
I concur! I pulled off an early 04's Balancer bolt with my fingers too!
Reinstall w/loctite, 130 Ft/Lbs.
Reinstall w/loctite, 130 Ft/Lbs.
OP
OP
Mike Adams
Enthusiast
From the picture you can tell how tight it was !!!! Rusty where thier should have been red loctite
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VIPER D
Viper Owner
YEP same here
thank god I had my blower installed, otherwise I would of never found out about this problem, until it was tooooo late.
vd..
thank god I had my blower installed, otherwise I would of never found out about this problem, until it was tooooo late.
vd..
SilverSnake
Viper Owner
My crankshaft bolt fell out in my driveway at 800 miles. Glad it did not happend at speed 
Robert
Robert
JohnNad
Enthusiast
could one of you guys describe where this to us who are non mechanics, just point out where it is or take a pic and I'll do the rest. Thanks.
SilverSnake
Viper Owner
JohnNad,
The lowest pulley the fan belt runs over. there is a bolt right in the center of it. It has a 13/16 bolt in the center.
Robert
The lowest pulley the fan belt runs over. there is a bolt right in the center of it. It has a 13/16 bolt in the center.
Robert
JohnNad
Enthusiast
thanks, I will check it out today an post tomorrow,
vincent_esq
Viper Owner
So if it is loose, can you just tighten it, or should you bring it to a shop?
OP
OP
Mike Adams
Enthusiast
Pull it out use some red loctite and tighten it
Skip White
Enthusiast
I retightend the bolt, but it became loose again. This is because the balancer had already slipped on the crank, and this ruined it. So do not think tightening it solves the problem. The dealer will pull the balancer off and check it before he tightens it. In most cases, if you ran it very long loose, the balancer will be ruined.
Skip White
Skip White
JohnNad
Enthusiast
skip, what is a very long time for running it loose in order for the balancer to be ruined?
Skip White
Enthusiast
I don't really know that, as I don't know for how long mine was loose.
The dealer can check it for you. Once they get it off, it is easy to see the damage, and all that keeps it from ruining the crank, is the metal the balancer is made from, is much softer, but they did have to emery cloth the crank snout to clean it up a bit. It could eventually ruin the crank, they told me.
Skip White
The dealer can check it for you. Once they get it off, it is easy to see the damage, and all that keeps it from ruining the crank, is the metal the balancer is made from, is much softer, but they did have to emery cloth the crank snout to clean it up a bit. It could eventually ruin the crank, they told me.
Skip White
VIPER D
Viper Owner
I had a repurchase of my silver 04 b/c of that!!!!!!
vd..
Fastrrr
Enthusiast
Thanks for the warning. I never would have checked mine but I'm going to check it right now.
Checked it and it's at least hand tight. Should I remove it and put some loctite on it and torque to 130 Ft/Lbs?
Checked it and it's at least hand tight. Should I remove it and put some loctite on it and torque to 130 Ft/Lbs?
Skip White
Enthusiast
Scott, what year is your SRT?
Skip
Skip
Fastrrr
Enthusiast
Skip,
It's a 2004.
It's a 2004.
JohnNad
Enthusiast
I checked mine as well and it almost broke loose. My tourque wrench wouldn't fit and I don't have any loctite. I just tightened with a rachet and it went a long way before being very tight. I will do it correctly later. You'd think this would have been addressed earlier by dc. Or, maybe they like replacing these cars?
Skip White
Enthusiast
Scott, the 04 has a much lower torque spec. than the 03, nearly half. Since it seems so low, I don't see why an extra 5lbs. torque would hurt. I'm sure the 130lb rating is not at the edge of breaking anything. Maybee this is why they have been coming loose. Just make sure the hole on the balancer that slips over the crank is not wollered out.
Yea, the rack is in the way for a deep dish socket and ratchet, so a spark plug socket just happend to fit, and as most have an area for a wrench to fit on the back of the socket,this was the only way I could tighten it. I think its a 13/16ths size bolt.
Skip White
Yea, the rack is in the way for a deep dish socket and ratchet, so a spark plug socket just happend to fit, and as most have an area for a wrench to fit on the back of the socket,this was the only way I could tighten it. I think its a 13/16ths size bolt.
Skip White
OP
OP
Mike Adams
Enthusiast
Personally I would take it to the dealer to fix. What is the point of a warranty ? Plus how will they know they got a problem if nobody takes it back to the dealer.
Fastrrr
Enthusiast
Skip & Mike, Thanks for the advise!
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