Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

[Blizzard242]

Alright, my balancer is knocking.. I'll be putting a new one on. So I have HP tuners and I've heard this case relearn can be done through it. Anyone know how? I think I saw through the scan tool a case relearn button. I just kinda want to get a heads up on what's going to happen when I push it. I'll look around on the help files but someone with experience is always better.

[97rs4life]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

get the car up to 185* temp

Apply e-brake and step on brake pedal

Close the log file in the hptuner scanner

open the special tab where the case learn is located.

Click Steps and use a value between 40-50 depending on your car

case learn should change to make it clickable, click it

rev up to limiter at a consistent speed, should take around 4 seconds.

Case learn button will change signaling it is done.

Return to idle and then turn car off for 15 seconds.

Your Done

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Thank you

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

One more question.. This may seem dumb. Just in case the problem might not be my harmonic balancer, can the engine run without it installed? The thought of my timing chain hitting my oil pump cover came to mind and scared the crap out of me. I'd like to figure this one out without pulling the cover. But is this a bad idea or even possible?

[ssms5411]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

I wouldn't run it without the balancer, your crank might wobble and screw itself up, thats why when the balancers go bad fronm dry rotting they make a knocking sound. That sound is your crank. I caught mine the first time it made noise and fixed it the next day so it didn't get worse and damage anything. My first thought was a damm lifter or rod knock when I heard the sound, scared the crap out of me. Until I drove up where my Dad worked and a mechaniv walking by even before I popped my hood said you have a bad balancer mate. He stick his hand down behind the balancer and said it was dry rotted out from the inside. 2 hrs. later becuase they didn't have the part it was up and running smoothly. Make sure to get another crank bolt their TTY. If your running a double roller and a stock cover I would see if it has been carving a grove in the cover, because then you would have metal shavings in there.

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Actually, I f'd up a lil bit on my diagnosis. I was so curious about it all day at work so when I got home i took the belt off and started it up. No sound at all. Nothing while in drive or park. I was kicking myself because I had ordered a harmonic balancer through autozone the day before. The price on that can luckily be taken care of. However, I grabbed a hold of my water pump pulley. It has some minor play in it.. :cry: I'd rather change that than the harmonic balancer anyways. The turbo and Y pipe would have to be completely removed just to get to the balancer. And I'm super happy the sound isn't from the timing chain.
Anyways, I'm certain the cause of this problem is from the deleted AC and idler pulley. I went out and bought a grooved idler pulley, reinstalled my bracket and now I just need to figure out the belt length I need for that. I've gone through a few belts, different brands, all trying to figure out what might work better. Even after increasing the tensioner pulley size, the belt would still stretch enough to become a problem.

The problem and the cause will be gone soon enough and I won't have to worry about my damn belt tension anymore. Ugh, now I get to find out how much water pumps cost.

[ssms5411]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Water pumps like $40 and then the gasket I think and easy to install , not too expensive. I'm glad you put the muffler on your car, you might of blown up something if you didn't , finding all these extra problems. Good luck.

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Water pumps like $40 and then the gasket I think and easy to install , not too expensive. I'm glad you put the muffler on your car, you might of blown up something if you didn't , finding all these extra problems. Good luck.

lmao, no kidding right? I've got a newb question too. Since I am in fact still a noob. I don't really want to get coolant all over my turbo when I change this so, where should I drain the coolant from? I've heard of a plug on the side or maybe it was even a knock sensor. I don't even really know how a knock sensor works.

[ssms5411]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Petcock, bottom of the radiator, turn it to drain it straight at the bottom of the radiator.

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

That's not gonna get all of the fluid out of water pump and passages behind it though is it?

[ssms5411]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Not all of it just put a towel or plastic bag over the turbo, and a drain pan under it.

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

You should have seen the first time I pulled my timing cover. The look of surprise on my face must have been priceless when I removed one of the bolts that's apparently a plug too. I'm gonna smell so good after this. Thank you for the help, and for mentioning the turtle black box on the other thread. I'm looking forward to that too.

[ssms5411]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

I had my water pump changed for free. parts and labor about 2 months ago , GM lifetime warranty part.LOL Also A/C compressor, ALt. and Starter. By the time I die I will have paid for my car replacing these parts every 2 years or so.LOL It saves me from doing some work also.In over 13 years I have replaced water pump 5 times, ALt 6 times, A/C 4 times, Starter 3 times all covered. Good luck to ya.

[bigbrian442]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

Before you cancel that balancer at Auto Zone , Grab hold of the one on the car and try turning it both ways. They tend to stop making noise when you take the belt off even thou they are still bad. No accessories to put a load on the rubber in the balancer.

[Blizzard242]

Re: Harmonic balancer/CASE/HP tuners

This is a 98 balancer, do they still have the rubber junk in them?