Today I was pulling into my friends driveway and suddenly my power steering went and I figured it was the belts. I stop my car at the end of his driveway and open the hood, the belts were off and the crank shaft pulley felt loose...

My buddy's dad came out and we brought it into his shop and started workin on the problem. First of all, it's one of the most pain in the arsh jobs to get done!

We first figured out on how to get all the belts off and figure out the belt tensioning system with the alternator and power steering. However after installing brand new belts and tightening the crank shaft pulley, I fired her up and everything sounded good, the check engine light went off. Not even a minute later the effer starts humming and suddenly a loud squeak noise starts, I decide to turn off the ignition.

I realized after researching (since it was a sudden problem) that there is a "hex" tool for the pulley. I'm also wondering if my "harmonic balance" is messed up/ broken?

Tomorrow I'm going to take the whole pulley off. I read something about that key and I'm totally confused about what that "key" is. Could someone help me with my problem???

Also, I'm thinking about buying a performance under drive pulley (non harmonic balance). I was also wondering if I could still use my new belts I had purchased today. They seem a lot smaller than the one's I had taken off earlier. The tensioner bolt still has a lot of room to move. Could I get away with this even though the performance pulley says to use smaller ones?

Thanks,
JP

 

its probably just your belts squeeling. How is the tension on the belts ? Are the belts worn or cracked ? How old are they ?

 

Here's the thing, I bought new belts and had replace them. Do you think it is the "key" being broken. I did here some kinda crank / helicopter noise within a couple of minutes after starting it up the 2nd time after installing them.

I'm going to take off the crankshaft pulley tomorrow to get a better view of what I'm working with. I might post some pics later tomorrow night.

If anyone has input, it would def. help since I'm in a bit of a panic.

 

yea that wouldnt explain why ur crank pulley would have come loose though

 

That "key" is Number 23 in the picture below. What happened to you happens to a lot of people as well. Sometimes there is no explanation to it, worn out Harmonic Balancer ?, could be ... Also consider the crank pulley Bolt ( # 20 ) being old and just breaking off from age and condition. Uninstall everything and check for damage, try not to drive until you are sure that you fixed the problem. Good Luck.

 

yea, take a look around the inner hole of the Crankshaft Pulley. Same thing happend to me on my H23 motor. Crankshaft Pulley Bolt came loose and on top of that, the key started to shave off the square shape where the crankshaft pulley slides through the key.

You're probably looking at replace the both the Crankshaft Pulley and the Key. I recommend buying one of those small bottle of Thread lock. when you're ready to install the Crankshaft Pulley Bolt, apply some thread lock on some of the threads of the bolt. That should help keep the bolt in place.

 

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me. I was thinking I snapped that woodruff key as I had researched and found it on wiki. I found some universal sets at autozone... curious if I should try it. http://www.autozone.com/select...p.htm

Also, I'm hoping it is the key and the pulley being messed up b/c I'm pretty possitive that the bolt is fine. I'm just wondering why that bolt loosened up outta nowhere, probably the key snapped and then the pulley tend to move causing the bolt to loosen.

That would be my best case scenario. Worst case would be the actual crank slot for that key being chipped...

Does anyone have an idea where I could buy the oem key, or bolt ???

I'm thinking about getting a performance pulley if it is the pulley I have to replace.

U guys are good :D

 

Part "16" and "18" (17)... are those parts for the timing? I thought they ran off their own key!? Also, I'm trying to get at the bolt from the wheel well! It's so freakin hard since there is hardly any room since the h22 is so massive.

 

There is only One Woodruff key in that location, it is long enough and when placed correctly .. it goes from the timing gear to the crank pulley. Get OEM parts when it comes to crankshaft or timing accessories. A good OEM website is http://slhondaparts.com/. You could also try Majestic Honda at http://www.hondaautomotivepart...h.jsp. Between the two you will find everything you're looking for.

 

Ok I found the problem and it's not a broken key. I took the pulley off and realized that the key had broken / chipped part of the slot that is on the pulley!? The key appears to be in good shape as well as the bolt (threads are perfect). The most minuscule amount of it is worn but NOT too much. Probably from the pulley being broken. (WTF is up with the pulley slot cracking / chipping like that? Dumb.)

Also, is it actually a "woodruff" key? Woodruff keys are half moon / rounded shaped. I'm thinking my problem is the pulley itself gave out and broke. I'm thinking about getting a underdrive pulley...

Pics:


Nasty gouge!


Picture of the key / crank shaft... It appears to be in good condition.

Any ideas?

 

Actually that key is not in good condition. That is a very important part that is worn considerably. I would replace the key and the pulley. Why take a chance of ruining your engine over a 50 cent part.

 

Dood, you got lucky. Replace Crank Pulley and the key, and call it a day.

In my case, the key was fine so was the crank pulley, but the key way in the crank shaft got rounded out (sheared) to a point where the key would not hold anything. This required a very expensive repair job as opposed to the 200 doller one you face.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm still on "trial" so I wasn't able to post... anyways, I purchased the pulley and key as street_ride had given me links to oem sellers.(Thanks so much!) I ordered fedex next day so total price was $170 w/ ship. So hopefully tomorrow I will get her back up and running.

I have a question thats been bugging me all day. Seriously, how hard is it to replace that key? Can I simply pb blaster spray it then pull the key out by tapping it a few times?

In order to replace that key, will I have to remove the valve cover, then remove the timing belt covers, and then get to the key way from the lower timing belt cranks? What's the best way in completing this job?

Thanks


Modified by jrsprice at 7:33 PM 7/10/2008

 

bump

 

to replace the key, you have to remove the crank pulley at minimum. You may be able to wiggle it away from the timing gear and balancer shaft gear but if its never been removed before you will likely need to remove the lower timing cover, balancer belt gear and possibly the timing gear. Just depends on how wedged it is. But you really should be able to knock it loose without much trouble.

 

This has got me thinking... Last night i took my car out and for the first time since i dropped my new motor in and was doing a second gear burnout and shot both belts off. Well actuallly i destroyed them both. This is something i am going to have to look at.

 

Well, my parts are coming in Monday even though I had ordered from Majestic Honda on Thursday at 1:00PM. I spent $80 extra to have it next day and FedEx (crap) don't ship on Saturdays, even though I'm spending 80 effin dollars! FedEx and Majestic both stink man. I shoulda spent the extra dollar and had it UPSed by http://slhondaparts.com/ ... Guess I'm an idiot for dealing with stupid companies.

I contacted Majestic to see if they would refund the shipping cost and they reply:

"We do apologize for the inconvenience this might've of caused you. The part was not in stock. It was ordered from our warehouse to be received on the next day, which was Friday. The order was then overnighted, excluding weekends.

Please feel free to contact us if you should have any questions or concerns."


and still they won't refund??? THERE EFFIN SITE SAID "IN STOCK"!!!! LIARS!!!! WTF Man...

Oh well, I'm gonna get my car up and running tomorrow. I will post more info...

 

I've been working my *** off trying to get the key out of the keyway... Does anyone have any input on what I should do? I tried using pb blaster and it still won't budge. I did move it the most minuscule amount. But still... no luck! I need help! Should I start taking a hammer to it? GOD! Pain in my ****!

 

whats up man i have to actualy replace the same things this weekend on my lude. let me know how u ended up getting the key out? any help would be appreciated.

 

I got my car up and running!!!!! WHOOPIE!

Cody,

If you key is wedged in there and not budging... You're gonna have to remove the lower timing belt cover. Then you will see your timing belt gear. I sprayed some PB blaster in there and used a narrow screw driver and a small hammer to wiggle the little bastard out.

When you put the crankshaft pulley bolt back on, make sure you use some locktite. I impact the living **** outta mine.