Loose harmonic balancer AND crank pulley

[dipietro9006]

Just wanted to share my recent experience. A few drives ago, I noticed my belt was squeaking. I figured it was an idler pulley. Upon closer look, my harmonic balancer was wobbling around. I loosened the sep. belt, took the balancer bolt off, and reinstalled the bolt with with red loctite and a 4 ft pipe. I could see that the balancer was pulled straight. I go to restart the viper, still have a squeak and the pulley still wobbling around. I realized the 3 pulley bolts were loose too! I don't see many people talking about the 6 balancer pulley bolts coming loose. Those got some red sauce, too. I've driven the car a few hundred miles since and everything good. I also painted a line on the bolt with nail polish (thanks, wifey) to see if it moves in the future.

I was ignorant and thought "nah, this won't happen to me". GO TIGHTEN YOUR CRANK BOLTS AND PAINT. Also, check your 6 crank pulley bolts! I'm happy the pulley and/or balancer didn't fly through my 96 GTS hood at 5,000 RPM.

 

[BoondocSaint]

Good looking out, think I might want to take a peek at mine after hearing that.

 

[GregVP]

Unfortunately many years ago I was not aware of this engineering defect the pulley bolt came loose spun the pulley on the crank nose beyond use. Had to replace crank. I then pinned the pulley. So far all is good. Beware. Happened at 18,000 miles.

 

[daveg]

Ya, I was going to ask OP how the snout looked.
I indexed the Balancer day one of purchasing my car about 10 years or so ago..

 

[Old School]

The worst offending Viper is the 2004 with its reduced size damper retaining bolt.

Duramax diesels are infamous for this problem also.

 

[Goggles Pizano]

The worst offending Viper is the 2004 with its reduced size damper retaining bolt.

Duramax diesels are infamous for this problem also.

The duramaxs shear the small pin on the crank.

 

[gregrowell]

Yes indeed. My '03, I heard the screetch, belt then frayed (brand new belt). I had heard about this as fairly common concern. Reached down and could 'hand turn' the crankshaft pulley. Couldn't believe it and this is NOT good! Got with a friend and it took taking the airbox off and both of us darn near in the engine bay ---to re-torque to 250ft-lbs. (I believe it varies on the torque, but '03's had the large size diameter bolt and 250ft-lbs. Had to use an extension/breaker bar to get to that torque Marked bolt with white marker---hasn't moved since and I'm at around 54K miles 6 months later. I'd estimate I had around 48K miles on my car when it came loose (Or I noticed it was loose). I would recommend all of you, All Gens (for sanity) reach down and check that bolt on your Viper---

Lucky it didn't come off completely.....

More info on this:

Gen 3 - Crankshaft pulley bolt --add me to the list.

Hello Viperland from Big D., '03, 2nd owner, bought in '11 at 3,900 to now 48K miles. Loved every one of them. Recently shredded the serpentine belt (only on the edge of the belt closest to the front of the car). Looking around and thought...what they heck. I hear about the ole' crankshaft...

www.viperclub.org

 

[TEALLIFE]

there's paint markings on my crank bolt. always figured they were factory, but must've been the Previous Owner.

 

[Dyno Dave]

I had that happen on One Lap of America. The bolt fell out at the Indy dragstrip and fortunately one of the spectators saw it and brought it to me. I questioned the garage and found out they did not use the special tool to seat the damper before installing the bolt. I did my best to get it torqued up and won the event without further incidents.