Harmonic balancer failure after 18,000 miles.
First I noticed the belt was squeaking when A/C turned on and the engine made an odd noise during full throttle. Looked under the hood and the belt was working its way off the water pump. Looked a little further and the harmonic balancer was completely out of alignment. The engine has 18,000 miles on it with a balanced rotating assembly and no oil leaks. There was no reason for this part to fail.
Old Part: Dorman 594-018
New Part: Precision Parts PB1439-N
The hardest part with switching this out was going to the auto parts. I wanted to try something other than a Dorman. O’Reilly’s had something different I checked online and my nearest location had it on the shelf for $45. I get to the store tell the guy harmonic balancer 1989 Jeep Cherokee. He says it’s a special order part and it would be $109 I tell him that is incorrect. I guess he didn’t feel like he made a mistake. I drive back to my house print out the part from their website it clearly lists the part number the price their address and shows as in store. I drive back to the store hand the paper to the same guy the only thing I say is get me this part. He types on the keyboard a bit and says sorry the part is special order for $109. I show him on the paper the part number their address and the availability as in store. He types a little more and says we have it on the shelf. I’m a very calm person but sometimes.
First I noticed the belt was squeaking when A/C turned on and the engine made an odd noise during full throttle. Looked under the hood and the belt was working its way off the water pump. Looked a little further and the harmonic balancer was completely out of alignment. The engine has 18,000 miles on it with a balanced rotating assembly and no oil leaks. There was no reason for this part to fail.
Old Part: Dorman 594-018
New Part: Precision Parts PB1439-N
The hardest part with switching this out was going to the auto parts. I wanted to try something other than a Dorman. O’Reilly’s had something different I checked online and my nearest location had it on the shelf for $45. I get to the store tell the guy harmonic balancer 1989 Jeep Cherokee. He says it’s a special order part and it would be $109 I tell him that is incorrect. I guess he didn’t feel like he made a mistake. I drive back to my house print out the part from their website it clearly lists the part number the price their address and shows as in store. I drive back to the store hand the paper to the same guy the only thing I say is get me this part. He types on the keyboard a bit and says sorry the part is special order for $109. I show him on the paper the part number their address and the availability as in store. He types a little more and says we have it on the shelf. I’m a very calm person but sometimes.
