Five Signs That a Crankshaft Pulley Is Damaged

 Actually, the power steering pump and alternator aren't the only things the crankshaft pulley drives. In reality, it balances the crankshaft in most types of automotive engines. Here's how to determine if yours is inadequate.

It can often be challenging to identify the malfunctioning part because there are so many operating parts on and around the engine, and many symptoms can be caused by more than one item. When you have a defective crankshaft harmonic balancer or crankshaft pulley, that is the situation.

We go over the function, placement, and warning signals of a damaged crankshaft pulley. Here's a quick rundown of the warning indicators.

If you notice unfavourable engine vibrations, look online for car garages in Reading and arrange an appointment for your vehicle with a qualified technician immediately. The most common symptoms of a broken crankshaft pulley are engine vibration and irregular engine idle. If you're unlucky, it could also result in a faulty power steering pump, alternator, or transmission.

The signs of a damaged crankshaft pulley are listed in further detail below:

1.      Engine Rumbling - Engine vibration is the most obvious sign that the crankshaft pulley is malfunctioning. If you pay closely, this will be the first indication you see. You must then take immediate action by searching online for garages in Reading and scheduling a visit with a mechanic. Harmonic balancers are frequently mounted on the crankshaft pulley. By absorbing engine vibration, this part enables smooth acceleration. However, vibrations are no longer absorbed when the balancer breaks down. With this flaw, there is perceptible shaking that becomes worse as you move faster.

2.      Irregular Engine Idle - As you sit in your parked car, you get used to the idle sound. When something appears odd, the crankshaft pulley may be to blame. With a damaged crankshaft pulley, the dampener is put under extra pressure, especially when the engine is idle, which frequently results in irregular engine RPMs. The engine RPMs may seem to be varying all over the place. Additionally, this can cause a MOT emissions test to fail. To find out if this was the case in the past, conduct an online MOT history check.

3.      Dead Alternator - The crankshaft pulley is in charge of providing power to this component while the alternator powers the accessories and charges the battery. Crankshaft pulley failure prevents the alternator from turning and generating power. There will be indicators that suggest your car's battery is dead. Due to the battery's inability to be charged, the lights may flicker, and you won't be able to start the car for very long. To confirm if this is what caused a previous MOT test to fail, check MOT history for your vehicle.

4.      Failure of Power Steering Pump - The crankshaft pulley also provides power to the car's power steering pump. This crucial component pumps hydraulic fluid into the steering system to ensure proper operation. Controlling your vehicle will be significantly harder if the power steering fails. A quick inspection will reveal that the system doesn't need more fluid than you might imagine.

5.      Transmission or Internal Engine Damage - If the engine vibration is permitted to persist for an extended period of time, transmission or internal engine damage may develop. If you're unlucky, it may lead to the wear and tear of the crankshaft bearings, and the transmission in your car has numerous parts that weren't made to endure that kind of vibration. Gears, bearings, and the input shaft are all vulnerable to harm. When the transmission starts to fail, you can notice difficulties shifting into gear, whining noises, and fluid leaks. Simply because your crankshaft pulley was broken, you shouldn't have to deal with this.

Function of Crankshaft Pulleys

The fuel provides the car engine with the power it needs to function. Then, via various electrical and mechanical systems, this power is transferred to other components. Power distribution is handled by the crankshaft pulley, one of several mechanical systems.

All of the parts attached to the crankshaft are powered by the crankshaft pulley. The pulley delivers power to other components, such as the alternator and power steering pump, while the crankshaft drives the wheels of the vehicle.

An internal dampener found in the crankshaft pulley is in charge of reducing vibrations travelling along the pulley belts. These vibrations have the potential to harm the associated systems if they are not checked.

A broken dampener necessitates a crankshaft pulley replacement, whereas a torn or damaged crankshaft pulley belt is straightforward to fix.

So, what goes wrong with a crankshaft pulley? Even though the component is built to last as long as your engine, it is nevertheless susceptible to failure. The rubber isolation ring used on the majority of models naturally degrades in high temperatures caused by the engine. Additionally, contamination from coolant or oil leaks that land on the pulley can hasten degradation.

Location of the Crankshaft Pulley

On the end of the crankshaft is the crankshaft pulley, also referred to as a harmonic balancer. It is a wheel-shaped component with grooves that bolts on to the crankshaft.

The crankshaft converts linear or straight movement into motion for the pistons, but the crankshaft pulley also connects to a number of other parts with the use of supplementary belts.