Tough decision I need to make really soon, would really appreciate some help. Stuck at a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere.

Today, I was driving my 94 Civic (standard) and took a sharp turn onto an exit. Something banged on the bottom of the car, and when I pulled into the gas station, the steering was screwed up and it sounded bad.

Looked under the hood, took it to a mechanic. The harmonic balancer (AKA damper) on the driver’s side end of the crankshaft (the one with 2 belts running around it) is chipped, and so is the crankshaft (small chips, maybe 4mm each). The mechanic said he’ll try replacing the damper to see if it’s tight enough to drive. He says that if it’s not, I’ll have to replace the whole crankshaft (i.e. I’m screwed).

Here’s my problem: let’s say the new damper fits on. Won’t that little chip eventually wear more and more, to the point that the crankshaft will be loose again, and I’m back in may-as-well-engine-swap territory? If so, shouldn’t I sell this thing ASAP, let the person who buys it know what’s up so they can make the call? Everything else is in perfect shape, so someone who can fix it themselves could get use out of it.

If I *should* sell it, there’s another problem: I’m 900 miles from home, 100 miles from my parents’ home. I’m afraid that if I try to drive home, it could wear out and come loose again after a few hundred miles. Then I’d really be screwed and need to have it towed hundreds of miles. So, maybe I should just drive it the 100 back to my parents’ and try to sell it from there. I have no “home base” besides these 2 places from which I could sell a car.

 

What could you possibly have hit in the middle of a ramp to cause this? Sounds like you might have run off of the road. Don't se how the oil pan isn't damaged as well.
So the questions are;
Should you keep it or sell it? and should you drive it?
Drive it as far as you can. I don't think you have a choice otherwise. If you cannot afford to fix it then sell it.

 

But if "far as I can" turns out to be 500 miles, and I try to drive home, and break down in the middle of nowhere 400 miles away from home, then I can't sell it. So I do have a choice, like I said... drive it 100 miles and have a huge pain in the *** trying to sell from my parents' place, drive it 900 miles and sell it from my own place (possibly breaking down and being screwed on the way) or keep it.

And I can afford to fix it, it could make more sense financially to sell it, because crank replacement is very expensive (to the point that often people advise you to just do an engine swap).

I'm not sure what I could've hit. To me, this seems like insanely horrible luck. I know for sure there was nothing wrong with this car this morning.

 

Are you trying to make it difficult? If the closest spot is your parents house then you drive it THERE and don't drive it anymore. I am not saying drive it until it stops.

 

how much is the labor for the car to replace all this you'd probably be better off swapping the motor if u got it to ur parents

 

Does the car run funky? It sounds like something happened in the steering rack maybe, or you hit something that you didn't see. If the crank doesn't have any play, then I say get a new pulley, and go. The mechanic should be able to see if there is any more cracking though. Ask if there is any, and if not. Let us know whats up.

 

Not trying to make it difficult... it just *is* difficult. I don't live with my parents, so it will actually be really difficult for me to sell it from there. Also, going there means buying a plane ticket home, or trying to buy a car before I have to drive 1000 miles to return to my own place/job.

Yeah, I don't really see why steering was screwed up if the damper's all that was damaged. So, we'll see in the morning when he calls me. I just want to have some ideas before then too, so I can get out of this hotel and cut my losses one way or the other.

 

I think you're putting the cart before the horse if you haven't even gotten the mechanics report of the full extent of the damage. I understand trying to plan and be prepared but right now you're just playing the "what if" game which really isn't productive and just stresses you out.

 

Sounds similar to a problem I had with a 93 del sol D16z6 auto.
The harmonic balancer pulley broke free from the crankshaft.
The chuck key hole in the pulley was worn and the key wobbled free and chewed the slot on the crankshaft.
I bought a new pulley and put a little JB weld on the chuck key hole when I put the key back in. It still works. It might be good enough to get you back home. Give the JB weld a chance to set up.