3800 V6 Harmonic Balancer Diagnosis and Replacement

[@loadsahoney]

I had one of your videos saved from a while back and I came to check out your channel. Not even a week ago I had to replace my harmonic balancer for my 91' lesabre. Got it done thankfully but it wouldve been great to have found your video sooner!

[@mileshoffmann8642]

GREAT Video

[@derrylballard9281]

When that rubber piece breaks all the way around, it can make a horrible, scary clanging noise that sounds like internal engine problems. Luckily, yours was not to that point. The engine sounds great in your Olds! Nice video!!

[@eddiea3782]

Yup, when that harmonic balancer lets go it sounds just like a rod knock.

[@texarkana3781]

The inmortal 3.8!

[@inandoutofreal1ty]

Can you please help me? I have an ‘89 Oldsmobile 88 3.8l with 81k that I bought few months ago. When the cars cold (or even after 5-6 hours) it will crank excessively before starting and than finally on the second attempt it will start right up, every subsequent start after it fires right up like normal. I hooked the fuel reader into the schrader valve and saw the fuel pressure was very low when doing the “key dance” and it also bled super quickly. I started with the easiest thing and tried to replace the fuel pressure regulator which unfortunately didn’t work. I assumed from there the only thing left would be to just replace the fuel pump & filter which I went ahead and ended up doing (OEM of course). Again, nothing same issue. I really don’t know what to do. She has new spark plugs, air filter, ICM was done back in January, fresh oil and filter when I first got the car, and I replaced some really corroded battery terminals. The car runs and drives perfectly otherwise it’s just this one issue is driving me crazy, if you have any suggestions please advise !!

[@caayydenn]

@inandoutofreal1ty Could be a weak fuel pump relay. Easy to test if you have one of those test relays. When I had this issue it was my FPR, which you mentioned you replaced already. Makr sure your new one isnt faulty as well. Hope you figure it out.

[@inandoutofreal1ty]

@@caayydenn yeah I replaced the relay aswell hoping for an easy fix but no luck.

[@caayydenn]

@inandoutofreal1ty Do the bleed down test again on the new fuel pressure regulator to make sure it actually works correctly. Hard to think of this being anything other than a fuel issue. Could also check injectors by measuring the ohms on each one. Should be around 13-17 ohms. Might try some fuel injector cleaner as well. Low miles means it's not used often, so stuff can get gunked up I suppose from sitting.

[@inandoutofreal1ty]

@@caayydenn thanks I’ll have to check the FPR again. see what had happened was when I checked it initially and switched it out and it didn’t end up being it, I just returned the part back to AutoZone and put the old one back in. So maybe I’ll have to buy a new one since I have a new fuel pump in now and see if it makes a difference? Idk do you think thats possible? whats your current daily driver as far as GM goes?

[@caayydenn]

@@inandoutofreal1ty I switch between my 1990 Olds 98 and my 2002 Buick LeSabre. Gotta keep them both limber. Also, I would stick with OEM parts. Aftermarket isn't very good to these cars. I ended up finding a good used one for mine. Bosch makes the OEM unit. I actually have a video on replacing mine.

[@bonholio0o]

5:16 Commie FDR made us SAE. Sounds cool until you start working on car then you realize great now I need to maintenance both set of SAE and Metric. More craps to own, more $$$ flush

[@lilloaded-yd2sp]

🤣🤣😂😂😂