Idler pulley wobble and slight chirping

[Turtle12400]

This all explains why the belt tensioner is bottoming out, and why the belt is too loose.

It's actually incredible to me that Ford didn't/hasn't done a recall on these balancers, since it seems that they are very notorious for separating. I'm really really really hoping I didn't really badly mess something up by running the bad balancer for like 1k miles

 

[Curious Hound]

Not likely any manufacturer is going to recall a part that lasts 17 years (how many miles?).

 

[Turtle12400]

Not likely any manufacturer is going to recall a part that lasts 17 years (how many miles?).

117,000 miles
They did airbag recalls in 2016, 2017, and 2021, so you never know

 

[Curious Hound]

117,000 miles
They did airbag recalls in 2016, 2017, and 2021, so you never know

Airbags are safety equipment. Harmonic balancer is just a basic engine part. Might leave you stranded. But won't normally kill you if it malfunctions. If the balances were failing at 20k or 30k miles, that would be more of a candidate for a recall.

 

[Turtle12400]

That's fair.

You have any knowledge of how bad running a bad balancer can mess things up? I think it's at least good that it's throwing a check engine light. It was shifting really weird too. Going to third at 15 mph. Really really hoping for decent news.

 

[Bgunner]

OK the bump on the back of the tensioner needs to sit into a hole or groove in the block. If it does not then the pulley will be out of alignment and can cause a squeak and or kill the bearing for the pulley.

A bad balancer will give a vibration when running. This can add more bearing ware inside the engine but the little damage done by now shouldn't be an issue. Replace the harmonic balancer and an oil change to try to flush any bearing material out and go from there.

Ruff running could be caused by the balancer but more likely that there is another issue causing the ruff running.

The shifting issue is not caused by belt or harmonic balancer issues. This could be related to sensor issues causing the ruff running or the trans causing it.

Best to plan on a harmonic balancer replacement, sensor issues and possibly a tensioner replacement or reinstall into correct position at minimum. The trouble codes will give more insight to sensor issues and Trans issues.

 

[Turtle12400]

Yup. I tried to replace the balancer myself, but the fan clutch nut was so stuck on that it had to be air chiseled off. Took it to a shop and they came to the same conclusion lol. They took the parts I had bought too! She's running fine at the moment, so we'll see if it does weird shit again.

No more squeak!! Yay