I’m no Buick fan but the 3.8 was one of the best V6 engines ever made by any manufacturer. Amazing durability and fuel economy. Simple design too. Much better than the GM garbage that replaced it.
Great video. Thanks for making this. I always remove the belt & see if the noise goes away while running. This has to be done briefly as the water pump & alternator won't be working. If the noise is still present, I know it's either the balancer, or the timing chain
Excellent repair which seemed very difficult from initial diagnostic. Your video seemed like a morning breeze! Glad to get it close after three part interactive video. Regards,
you are a genius my friend just got my late fathers 1990 olds regency 98 redy for my 16 yr old twin boys to cruise in and that mystery noise happened in school parking lot had no answere but a lot of opinions. yours is the only one ON The MOney!! thanks a ton sir !!
So glad I came across the video. I had the car to two mechanics. The first said the alternator, so I overhauled it. The second said the idler pulley, so I replaced that! Thanks again.
I have an L67 but never heard a noise on the main crank. I wonder if it was an issue with just the single belt 3800 and not the dual ones for the SC models. The 3800 is a rock solid motor even after all of these years.
You are AWESOME. Thank you, because I thought it was the timing chain knocking around and being disabled now I was not looking forward to having to remove all that shit and do the Timing Chain. Now, I believe all that I have to do is replace the harmonic balancer!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
i actually guessed the balancer just because i had similar problem on a gm vehicle except the rubber was completely broken off. i've only seen it once. awesome!
Nice one Duane, never seen that before, when I first heard it I thought it was "Pinking" as we call it in UK, (pre ignition noise) but when it done it when you turned it off, I could see it wasn't...Fred UK
Excellent video my good sir, I did not guess it was the HB. I have 2003 Impala I've been taking care of, fixed the UIM-LIM gaskets and changed the UIM to the L26 Aluminum type and replaced the plastic valve covers with '97 Camaro F-body aluminum as well, the UIM & valve covers mirror finished! Its now 1/2017 and my engine and body looks and runs like its brand new. I'll be looking at the HB for signs of wear first thing in the morning.
Thought about taking out the damper part and putting it back on. I looked up harmonic damper on wiki and read is role is to prevent harmonic vibrations that could reduce engine life. Learned something, thanks. ------ it reduces torsional vibrations that tend to peak at certain speeds. Torsional vibrations can greatly reduce crankshaft life, if not cause instantaneous failure, if the crankshaft runs at or through resonance. ------wiki
You guys still have those cars down there........lol....They are almost all gone here ...All rotted out from the salt. I can't count how many of those I have replaced. Neal
This has 3 hours diag, pulling belts and pulleys, calling your customer several times, and a pissed off technician written all over this job. One day, this video is going to save a demoralized tech!
This happened to mine years ago, pretty bad sound that might make a guy think the bottom end is falling out of the engine! Can happen to any harmonic balancer that uses rubber, but seems a little more common on these.
PS: There are a number of YT videos on ABS 'Light On' / 'Parking Light On' situations involving the ABS wheel speed sensor and toothed ring, EBCM (even from GM's How-To technician instructional training videos), etc. ...Would you have anything on this particular subject? My vehicle is a '94 Regal sedan. Many thanks in advance Master Mechanic sir. All the best.
What does the early break down of the balancer sound like? My son's 3.8 in a 04 impala is rattling pretty bad, but I don't think it's broke down this badly.
Yes GM blew it with that, especially having to put those small bolts with fender washers to get the darn thing off with a normal puller. And the constant oil bath all over the engine doesn't help much either.
I have a gm 2.8 v6 but it doesn’t sound like that. Mine sounds like valves clattering when the engine reaches operating temperature. Any tips for fixing this would be greatly appreciated.
I figured it was something loose rattling in a pulley, so I was decently close I suppose. My first through was maybe a washer that would somehow work its way loose on say an idler pulley and rattle.
Good job things like this is what I like to keep learning because you never know when someone car be making a noise and if you can learn this and identify the problem you'll look like a pro by telling someone what it is. If I wouldn't saw this video and someone had this problem on their car I would of told them Did you run over a cow the bell still stuck under the engine or something. lol
Greetings, Just so that you know, that a 3800 V-6 and a 3.8 V-6 are two different engine's all together. But I suppose this could happen on either of them, as GM has had a problem with their Harmonic Balancer's since the very first V-8 was produced, and later when the 3.8 was produced. But the V-8 Balancer's when they went bad didn't clang like these 3.8's do when they separate.
***** Yes, back in the 80s my dad had a 1980 Regal with a 3.8 (2 barrel carb). The 88 Bonneville says 3800 on it, and my nephew's 04 Impala says 3800 Series II on it. The 88 Bonneville sure has a lot more get up and go than the 80 Regal could even think of, but I sure did love the style and comfort of the 80 Regal.
***** Thank goodness the 2 4.3s I have now haven't had any major issues and none with the harmonic balancers. I flashlight inspect them a couple times a month, and at 274k and 365K they burn no oil, are as strong now as when they were spring chickens and still get the same MPG as they did back in the day, and one or the other is on the road every day.
J Robert Yes sir, the 4.3's are a great engine! Had one in my old 1990' Chevy Astro Van, and it would get it on down the road, for a van, lol. But I sold that van and bought a 2005' Chevy Trailblazer with a 4.2 In-Line 6 cyl. Now this sucker will get it on! Dual over-head cam really makes a difference. With individual coil packs for each cylinder, with a 373 rear differential gear ratio - not good on gas at all, lol. And it's way more responsive than the old 250cu & 230cu In-Line 6 cyls that I used to Circle Track Race (asphalt) back in the 80's. But those engines, I could make them run pretty dog gone fast around that half-mile track! Weeeeeeeee ....... And this was the very same circle track that Bobby Labonte raced on before he hit the big times. And his brother, Terry, used to come watch him race. I've talked to Terry many times over the years, and both of the brothers are very nice guys! And I only live about 6 miles from Richard Petty's old stomping grounds in Level Cross, NC. But my racing days are long over now. But it was fun while it lasted! :-)
***** That's what I've got. 93 and 94 Astros, very comfy, fairly decent riding and pretty good on gas even with the a/c on, which is all the time its warm as open windows are too noisy for me to handle.
what is that key u mention @ the end of your clip because i hav changed my h.b. a few times b4 & found the key on the floor not sure where it goes. luv ya stuff.
I don't understand the damper on a HBer...maybe the engineers wanted less shock to the other belt driven accessories or to the reluctor wheel for the crank sensor???
Yo tengo un carro hijual pero me está fayando mucho prende y se apaga y en beses ya no prende ayúdenme traduscarlo en español x favor ayúdenme ya lo yeve con varios mecánicos y nomás no queda
Those 3.8L did as well as they did because of the transmissions they were bolted to. The transmissions coasted so well and shifted so well the motor got great marks on efficiency.
I had power steering overhaul, and 2 days later heard that awful noise. I thought damn workshop used cheap copycat pump and it grenaded itself. But took off serpentine belt, and behold it was the harmonic balancer! At least on a RWD, a bit easier to work on.
So I assume this crank pulley is not driving the timing belt? I mean, is it an OHV engine with timing chain? I figure, if this is an OHC engine with timing belt, then the engine would have been damaged, right?
Timing belts and chains are something inside. The balancer is running water pump, air conditioner compressor, staring pump, idler and alternator. So no effect on timing. Excuse me to give you reply! some people are not feeling well if you help them! Regards,
ih 05 lesaber making noise at idle stops when hit gas whirring noise from egr intake or throttle body changed catalytic converter still have po420 code
Yul Strokheet Al-Wauch the 3800 is reliable but still old junk. Low revving and wheezy aF! My SSE Bonneville was done after 3k rpm and sounded like it was about to die the further you pushed it past that mark. Reliable but pathetic in standard trim 🤮
Great video, so many swear by these engines... I personally think they really SUCK! and tired of hearing: "Once you correct the flaws" their great! No, not really, they suck
Why does that pulley have to be so damn complex? To silence some noise I wouldn't hear anyway, instead that thing makes that terrible noise when itself is bad lol. No problems with solid crankshaft pulley.
I’m no Buick fan but the 3.8 was one of the best V6 engines ever made by any manufacturer. Amazing durability and fuel economy. Simple design too. Much better than the GM garbage that replaced it.
Ah, the good ol GM 3.8 harmonic balancer failure. I wish I had the money GM spent on replacing all those balancers under warranty :)
Has to be the exhaust bearings!
Long live the good old 3.8
Great visuals and storytelling- made for an interesting and concise video.
Great video. Thanks for making this. I always remove the belt & see if the noise goes away while running. This has to be done briefly as the water pump & alternator won't be working. If the noise is still present, I know it's either the balancer, or the timing chain
Excellent repair which seemed very difficult from initial diagnostic. Your video seemed like a morning breeze! Glad to get it close after three part interactive video. Regards,
you are a genius my friend just got my late fathers 1990 olds regency 98 redy for my 16 yr old twin boys to cruise in and that mystery noise happened in school parking lot had no answere but a lot of opinions. yours is the only one ON The MOney!! thanks a ton sir !!
So glad I came across the video. I had the car to two mechanics. The first said the alternator, so I overhauled it. The second said the idler pulley, so I replaced that! Thanks again.
Thank you kind Sir! I thought the engine in my '90 Le Sabre was toast. I made the repair your described and saved the car!
I heard the clinking, but not "Warriors come out and play".
E X C E L L E N T cause-and-effect video. AND the proper steps to take for the solution. Nicely done sir.
I have an L67 but never heard a noise on the main crank. I wonder if it was an issue with just the single belt 3800 and not the dual ones for the SC models. The 3800 is a rock solid motor even after all of these years.
You are AWESOME. Thank you, because I thought it was the timing chain knocking around and being disabled now I was not looking forward to having to remove all that shit and do the Timing Chain. Now, I believe all that I have to do is replace the harmonic balancer!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
i actually guessed the balancer just because i had similar problem on a gm vehicle except the rubber was completely broken off. i've only seen it once. awesome!
Thanks ! I will defently remember this. I own a 92 park avenue with 235,000 miles on it.
Nice one Duane, never seen that before, when I first heard it I thought it was "Pinking" as we call it in UK, (pre ignition noise) but when it done it when you turned it off, I could see it wasn't...Fred UK
Excellent video my good sir, I did not guess it was the HB. I have 2003 Impala I've been taking care of, fixed the UIM-LIM gaskets and changed the UIM to the L26 Aluminum type and replaced the plastic valve covers with '97 Camaro F-body aluminum as well, the UIM & valve covers mirror finished! Its now 1/2017 and my engine and body looks and runs like its brand new.
I'll be looking at the HB for signs of wear first thing in the morning.
Thank you so much for posting!!! You saved my 1992 ultra!
Great instructional video! I was thinking that it was something in the engine LOL. That was bad sounding.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE NOISE WAS THE VIBRATION DAMPER? (AND NOT SOMETHING ELSE, BY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION?)
Thought about taking out the damper part and putting it back on. I looked up harmonic damper on wiki and read is role is to prevent harmonic vibrations that could reduce engine life. Learned something, thanks.
------ it reduces torsional vibrations that tend to peak at certain speeds. Torsional vibrations can greatly reduce crankshaft life, if not cause instantaneous failure, if the crankshaft runs at or through resonance. ------wiki
Those dampeners and the dual mass flywheels fail very often.
Always heard this man is very well endowed
Excellent , to the point instructions and video !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS
Thanks. Very good demonstration of the noise and the cause!
You guys still have those cars down there........lol....They are almost all gone here ...All rotted out from the salt.
I can't count how many of those I have replaced.
Neal
could this potentially make your oil pump not work as well?
This has 3 hours diag, pulling belts and pulleys, calling your customer several times, and a pissed off technician written all over this job.
One day, this video is going to save a demoralized tech!
I might add if you have this problem it might be wise to change your crank sensor while your there!
This happened to mine years ago, pretty bad sound that might make a guy think the bottom end is falling out of the engine! Can happen to any harmonic balancer that uses rubber, but seems a little more common on these.
thank you for posting this.
much appreciate it.
You are the best, as always sir!
Glad to see you hitting the record button again. Enjoyed the video
PS: There are a number of YT videos on ABS 'Light On' / 'Parking Light On' situations involving the ABS wheel speed sensor and toothed ring, EBCM (even from GM's How-To technician instructional training videos), etc. ...Would you have anything on this particular subject? My vehicle is a '94 Regal sedan. Many thanks in advance Master Mechanic sir. All the best.
Thanks have that problem on 95 bonneville , thought it was the supercharger,will try your fix first.
Is the Monte Carlo 1999 Z34 3.8 a reliable car and how many miles will it go up to?
Sounds like the tie down on the main sail has come loose. Standard on all land yachts.
Ha, ha, that's what I was thinking.
What does the early break down of the balancer sound like? My son's 3.8 in a 04 impala is rattling pretty bad, but I don't think it's broke down this badly.
Yes GM blew it with that, especially having to put those small bolts with fender washers to get the darn thing off with a normal puller. And the constant oil bath all over the engine doesn't help much either.
I have a gm 2.8 v6 but it doesn’t sound like that. Mine sounds like valves clattering when the engine reaches operating temperature. Any tips for fixing this would be greatly appreciated.
Have a Buick Regal custom and making same noise and when you rev it a little it goes away I guess I found the problem
Thank you , I believe you just help me solve my buddy's noise issue on his car...woohoo !
I figured it was something loose rattling in a pulley, so I was decently close I suppose. My first through was maybe a washer that would somehow work its way loose on say an idler pulley and rattle.
Good job things like this is what I like to keep learning because you never know when someone car be making a noise and if you can learn this and identify the problem you'll look like a pro by telling someone what it is. If I wouldn't saw this video and someone had this problem on their car I would of told them Did you run over a cow the bell still stuck under the engine or something. lol
Thank you for this video! My dad has an 88 Bonneville with 3800 so if this should happen I'll know what to look for. Great videos!
Greetings, Just so that you know, that a 3800 V-6 and a 3.8 V-6 are two different engine's all together. But I suppose this could happen on either of them, as GM has had a problem with their Harmonic Balancer's since the very first V-8 was produced, and later when the 3.8 was produced. But the V-8 Balancer's when they went bad didn't clang like these 3.8's do when they separate.
*****
Yes, back in the 80s my dad had a 1980 Regal with a 3.8 (2 barrel carb). The 88 Bonneville says 3800 on it, and my nephew's 04 Impala says 3800 Series II on it. The 88 Bonneville sure has a lot more get up and go than the 80 Regal could even think of, but I sure did love the style and comfort of the 80 Regal.
*****
Thank goodness the 2 4.3s I have now haven't had any major issues and none with the harmonic balancers. I flashlight inspect them a couple times a month, and at 274k and 365K they burn no oil, are as strong now as when they were spring chickens and still get the same MPG as they did back in the day, and one or the other is on the road every day.
J Robert
Yes sir, the 4.3's are a great engine! Had one in my old 1990' Chevy Astro Van, and it would get it on down the road, for a van, lol. But I sold that van and bought a 2005' Chevy Trailblazer with a 4.2 In-Line 6 cyl. Now this sucker will get it on! Dual over-head cam really makes a difference. With individual coil packs for each cylinder, with a 373 rear differential gear ratio - not good on gas at all, lol. And it's way more responsive than the old 250cu & 230cu In-Line 6 cyls that I used to Circle Track Race (asphalt) back in the 80's. But those engines, I could make them run pretty dog gone fast around that half-mile track! Weeeeeeeee .......
And this was the very same circle track that Bobby Labonte raced on before he hit the big times. And his brother, Terry, used to come watch him race. I've talked to Terry many times over the years, and both of the brothers are very nice guys! And I only live about 6 miles from Richard Petty's old stomping grounds in Level Cross, NC. But my racing days are long over now. But it was fun while it lasted! :-)
*****
That's what I've got. 93 and 94 Astros, very comfy, fairly decent riding and pretty good on gas even with the a/c on, which is all the time its warm as open windows are too noisy for me to handle.
what is that key u mention @ the end of your clip because i hav changed my h.b. a few times b4 & found the key on the floor not sure where it goes. luv ya stuff.
if memory serves, M 8 X 24 x3.5 inches long bolts are what those take
Thank you for this video
I had a harmonic balancer on a 3800 cause the computer to register multiple misfires. Kind of a hard diagnosis at the time.
I don't understand the damper on a HBer...maybe the engineers wanted less shock to the other belt driven accessories or to the reluctor wheel for the crank sensor???
Would that affect the timing?
Very good to know.
Is this a common problem with buick 3.8 motors?
Good video thank you.
Nice, kinda sounds like a game of ping pong.
Yo tengo un carro hijual pero me está fayando mucho prende y se apaga y en beses ya no prende ayúdenme traduscarlo en español x favor ayúdenme ya lo yeve con varios mecánicos y nomás no queda
very informative, thank you...
Thanks! That is exactly what mine is doing.
Great car
Thanks for posting
A bad bendix return spring makes a similar sound.. wow!
That's a great engine and car! That noise is so very irritating!
Those 3.8L did as well as they did because of the transmissions they were bolted to. The transmissions coasted so well and shifted so well the motor got great marks on efficiency.
That sounded so horrible! i was thinking SHUT IT OFF DUANE!! HAHAHA
i wonder if its the muffler bearings
Thanks.
I had power steering overhaul, and 2 days later heard that awful noise. I thought damn workshop used cheap copycat pump and it grenaded itself. But took off serpentine belt, and behold it was the harmonic balancer! At least on a RWD, a bit easier to work on.
Thank you
Great video!!!
how do you replace the key on a 3.8L?
problem is the engine block is facing the wrong the way and needs to be mated with a t5 or supra 5 speed SMH
So I assume this crank pulley is not driving the timing belt? I mean, is it an OHV engine with timing chain? I figure, if this is an OHC engine with timing belt, then the engine would have been damaged, right?
Timing belts and chains are something inside. The balancer is running water pump, air conditioner compressor, staring pump, idler and alternator. So no effect on timing.
Excuse me to give you reply! some people are not feeling well if you help them! Regards,
LearningZone Thanks! appreciate it.
Wenbiao Liang
Thank you also for understanding. Regards,
awesome thanks for the info
What do you expect from GM (Government Motors)?
I just looked at a mint condition 67 chrysler 300 owned by a 103 year old that was making this noise .1200 bucks !
ih 05 lesaber making noise at idle stops when hit gas whirring noise from egr intake or throttle body changed catalytic converter still have po420 code
sounds like a bearing missing from one of the pulleys or the p/steer or alternator and waterpump
OK, the balancer. Yeah common 3800 problem, but in Oz, we have direct sight of the engine being a north/south configuration
good stuff
Good video
Coo
Stuff man
Questions? To cooling fen not to have belocity.to biuk motor cars Lasable.2002 hover hits carlos.peralta contreras usa mx mechanical
I would like to take some classes but I live over 2 hours away.
Looks like it was engineered to eventually fail.
lol. That's what I was thinking
Everything is
Yul Strokheet Al-Wauch the 3800 is reliable but still old junk. Low revving and wheezy aF! My SSE Bonneville was done after 3k rpm and sounded like it was about to die the further you pushed it past that mark. Reliable but pathetic in standard trim 🤮
Thanks. Realfix......
aaah just get in their and weld that sucker with the mig, it'll work ok
Great video, so many swear by these engines... I personally think they really SUCK! and tired of hearing: "Once you correct the flaws" their great!
No, not really, they suck
they’re
@@MC-hs4mf born POS.. East coast right?
I can’t hear you over all the damn knocking.
Sounds like a rock in the torque converter???
how about the lazy mans way - a couple of spot welds to hold it in place
I'm going to guess its a $500 part
Mark S 65 dollar Dorman part on internet.
104 part at autozone
Why does that pulley have to be so damn complex? To silence some noise I wouldn't hear anyway, instead that thing makes that terrible noise when itself is bad lol. No problems with solid crankshaft pulley.
thanks if my 3800 makes that noise i'll know what it is, i wont fix it myself but i'll know
External tinging noise,belt related
They wanted it to absorb so much vibration they put too much rubber on that thing.
Are 3.8's coarse and rough/loud engines in general?
Bad balancer> Replace it.
that balancer looks so cheap--had to be GM!
North Korean technology
They should have made it all metal but of course they make them like this so you have to spend more money
Typical gm, they're always breaking
Typical troll, always adding nothing to the discussion.