This is the 2nd time I'm replacing the pulley - due to the bolt backing out (while driving). The first time it backed out was 70k after timing belt change. 2nd time was less than 5k after 1st. Both times, I had used an air wrench to tighten pulley bolt.

1st time it backed out, the key was bent a little and the pulley was wallowed out in center a little. The 2nd time was a little more violent and damage was done to the 1st 5 threads inside crankshaft (about 1/4 of the threads).
Prior to replacing pulley this time, I was given advice to not use an air wrench - that it may have stretched the bolt and thus it wouldn't hold a torque. So, I used a torque wrench and replaced bolt, key, pulley (180 ft lbs). The bolt threaded with no problems after cleaning out the bolt hole debris. I also put some blue loctite on bolt (just incase).

Well, now the pulley wobbles at idle (which seems to straighten out at higher rpms). For the record, I test drove it around the block (1 mile or less) and that went fine. I'm afraid to drive it further though, aware of the wobble.

Any ideas? I'm going to take pulley back off (as soon as landlord's visit is over), just to rule out that its not the wrong pulley, somehow. (all dealer parts).
Bent crank? bearings? please help!

Cassie
'97 base auto

 

its possible that the pulley itself has gotten messed up through all of this....so maybe try someone else's pulley or just pick one up on here in the parts classifieds, if its not that i suppose you bent the snout of the crank....though for your sake i hope not...

never use an air wrench on it in the future, always hand torque it

 

This is the new pulley (dealer part). Old one was damaged including the keyway reemed out to twice as wide.

 

Same thing happened to my old civic. Bolt backed out after being torqued to 180 by hand so i put loctite on it but it wobbled all day everyday for the last 30,000 miles of its life (it was a junker thats why I was more concerned with being stranded then it breaking). I am not saying that the wobble will not cause damage or become a problem again in the long run I am just saying that it didnt for me.

 

Thanks for the tidbit... I may try my luck today.

As common as I'm finding out this is (bolt backing out) , why the hell isn't there a recall??