Guest Posted December 2, 2002 Share Posted December 2, 2002 I was about to replace my damaged harmonic balancer, when I realized I didn't have a necessary tool. So I put everything back togetherbut now my car won't start. It just won't turn over I really haveno idea why it won't start. If anyone can offer some idea's please do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted December 3, 2002 Share Posted December 3, 2002 Need a little more info. What year and engine? The V6's use a single large bolt on the damper @ over 200 lb/ft of torque. Remove the bolt and the damper slides off without tools. Not sure about the V8's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2002 Share Posted December 3, 2002 I have a 1988 Riviera V6 3.8, what will removing the damper slides do?? I'm still trying to learn the in's and out's of my car. So if you could please explainI would appreciate it. Thanks! Diana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2002 Share Posted December 3, 2002 Oh, I understand why you said that whole thing with the damper slides, but I need help trying to figure out why my car won't start, not with replacing the harmonic balancer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted December 4, 2002 Share Posted December 4, 2002 Does it crank over, I'm confused on whether it turns over or not. Also what parts did you take off and put back on. It is quite possible that you have repositioned the crank sensor which is what tells the spark plugs when to fire, it's in the same place or close where the distributor would be on an older Buick on the timing chain cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted December 4, 2002 Share Posted December 4, 2002 If it is an '88 Riviera it should be a 3800 engine and the crank sensor is on the front side of the vibration damper. Just pulling the damper and reinstalling should'nt bother anything, unless the crank sensor was moved or the wiring disconnected. Was anything else disconnected, such as the main ground below the coil pack? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 4, 2002 Share Posted December 4, 2002 It does crank but will not start. I let my boyfriend try to replace the harmonic balancer but all he got off was the bolt. He didn't get the balancer off. I located my sensor, it wasn't next to my distributor cause my car has a distributorless ignition system. Last night I took a peek at my crankshaft positioning sensor and found out what happened. Somehow my boyfriend managed to bend one of the fins in the balancer that run through the sensor's magnets. So the fins chipped off two pieces of my sensor,and that's why my car wouldn't start. So I bought a new sensor and I'm going to replace it as soon I get a alignment tool I need for it. This time I'll replace it myself. Never again will I let an Import car lover ( my boyfriend ) touch my BUICK. Thanks for the help guys, Diana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 Boyfriends(even some husbands, that's another story! He's long gone!) working on your car are always trouble, I always do the work myself too! Hope you get it fixed if not let me know have a good friend that is expert in 3800s, he worked for Buick as a District Service Manager, and wrote some of the service manuals for the 3800. Has a '85 GN that is set up as an '86-87 GN that runs in the high 10s on the drag strip! Glad to be able to help ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 That makes sense. Did he try using a puller on the damper? A sure way to bend something and it isn't needed. The damper is not a press fit like Chebbies, it just slides off, although it may want a good rap from the backside if it hasn't been removed before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 5, 2002 Share Posted December 5, 2002 Yeah, he tried to use a pulley puller that was too small. So do you mean to tell me that you can just slide off the harmonic balancer?? Cause according to my boyfriend the balancer is on too tight to take it off with out a puller. Now I think I'm gonna need some advice on replacing the balancer cause I don't know if he's gonna do it right. So please anyone who knows how to do it please let me know so that I can do it myself. Also, isn't the inside of the balancer tapered, and doesn't that make it hard to just slide off??? Thanks Diana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted December 6, 2002 Share Posted December 6, 2002 It isn't tapered and it is not a press fit. It can be stuck if it has been in place for 14 years, but it does just slide off. You should only need a sharp rap from the back side but be careful, the outer ring is only supported by a few small connecting arms to the center hub. If you are installing a new one, you don't need to be as careful and could put a small amount of tension on it with a puller, maybe 1/2 turn past zero and tap the center bolt of the puller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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