VT commodore Harmonic Balancer

[VTDude]

Sometimes When I Do about between 1000 and 2000 revs driving not idling i will hear a light tingy rattle sound coming from the engine or under the hood. If i back off it stops if I accelator more it stops. Could if be the Harmonic balancer? I have already replaced the water pump. (It was buggered anyway)

[KarTaz]

VT = ECOTEC engine. I had a similar issue with the VS, but mine was a little more constant. Does it sound like it is keeping pace with the acceleration of the vehicle? It certainly doesn't sound like the Balancer, because it would be constant instead of only on occassion.

It could be one of two things; a Hydraulic Lifter on one of your cylinders has taken a turn for the worse, or it could be the Balance Shaft (I think thats what it's called...). The balance shaft is a metal rod that is positioned above the actual block of the engine. We also noticed a small power loss when this happened aswell.

Get back to us and let us know whats the full G.O.

Nate.

[VTDude]

VT = ECOTEC engine. I had a similar issue with the VS, but mine was a little more constant. Does it sound like it is keeping pace with the acceleration of the vehicle? It certainly doesn't sound like the Balancer, because it would be constant instead of only on occassion.

It could be one of two things; a Hydraulic Lifter on one of your cylinders has taken a turn for the worse, or it could be the Balance Shaft (I think thats what it's called...). The balance shaft is a metal rod that is positioned above the actual block of the engine. We also noticed a small power loss when this happened aswell.

Get back to us and let us know whats the full G.O.

Nate.

"Does it sound like it is keeping pace with the acceleration of the vehicle?" yes that sounds right.. is it a big job to fix?

[KarTaz]

Well, it does rule out one thing; the Harmonic Balancer is not the issue.

Hydraulic Lifters are a job for a mechanic or someone very engine-orientated, as even new ones can sometimes have a busted lifter from the manufacturing process. As for the Balance Shaft, that is a very hard task to do, as it involves the complete stripping of the motor to get to the part. It would work out cheaper in the long run to have the motor overhauled while it is there.

Please note, I am no mechanic, I am merely referring to what happened to my Wagon. How many kms has your VT done?

[VTDude]

220,000

[VTDude]

I'm going to fear the price to fix it :(

[KarTaz]

We had the engine rebuilt at 216,000. Thats when it was misfiring and was an absolute bitch to drive. It also sounded quite like what yours is. All up, the engine rebuild set us back about $2700. We could have gotten another ECOTEC engine with lower kms on it, but then there was no guarentee it would be good for long.

Remember, I am no mechanic, and there is no guarentee that what happened to my car is whats happening with yours.

[VTDude]

I cant afford 2,700

[VTDude]

maybe i can look for a Reco engine that is for sale

[VTDude]

hang on hold on, ive seen brand new engines going for that price?

[VTDude]

The rattle sound isn't always there though, I thought I might also mention that.

[VTDude]

ok heads up...Car was over heating the last couple of weeks, i found out that the water pump was ****ed so i replaced it. The rattle sound didn't pick up until after i head a bang and saw a rotation white spray under the hood and followed it down to the water pump. (replaced) When the Car gets around 90 to 100 degrees the rattle sound appears. I check the water in the radiator and its lo, i top it up and the noise is gone and the engine sounds beautiful. I Rang up a mechanic told him the situation and he reckons I'm probably bleeding the water wrong, if you do it wrong it can cause damage. So he is going to check it out on Fri morning, hopefully its just that, cause i Fear the price of engine rebuild.