Crank Pulley seaized - HELP Please!

[lankstarr]

Hi Guys,

My 98 3.2 is poorly - It stalled on me a couple of times before chucking a load of horrible burnt rubber smoke into my face whilst I was looking into the enigikne bay to try and see what was going on.

Looking into the engine bay I can see small pieces of melted rubber that have been chucked around the engine bay. The burnt rubber and smoke appeared to be coming from the crank pulley.

My thinking so far is replace the crank pulley and see what happens. Asking around nobody seems to have heard of this type of failure on an NSX. I'm worried that there could be an underlying cause that I need to get sorted as well.

Has anyone heard of a problem like this? Any comments or advice would be really appreciated.

Many thanks

Luke

 

[MvM]

Luke,

I am really NOT the person who is knowledgeable about your problem but it sounds like this:
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75746

In your case I would NOT drive my car until I had a mechanic who knows the NSX take a good look at it!!

 

[Briank]

My guess is the AC compressor sezied and the belt burnt up.

 

[lankstarr]

MvM -thanks for the link:smile:

My searching skills are obviously lame - tried for half an hour and didn't pick that thread up.

Sounds like I'm another victim of this, scary as my car is not even 10 years old, has only 50k miles (120k kms) and as far as I know has only seen 200 miles of track use.

Hopefully I'm lucky and caught it soon enough.

Luke

 

[lankstarr]

My guess is the AC compressor sezied and the belt burnt up.

Thanks Brian - I guess an easy way to test if it's this is to test if the a/c works:redface:

I'll definitely give this a try before ordering the pulley. AC compressors smell much more expensive than those little $200 pulleys.

When I started it up the first time after it cut out the revs were dropping on idle. Dropped a few times then went off the bottom and cut out. I'm thinking that there was some resistance that caused the revs to drop down when idling. I know nothing about mechanics though so I'm just guessing.

Cheers for your help.

Luke

 

[Briank]

Do not run the engine untill you know what happened. Take a good look with flash light and check the 2 belts that run on the crank pully. If the AC compressor sezied the belt for it will most likelly be gone.

 

[lankstarr]

I have two belts still there (vertical belt that attaches to alternator and horizontal belt that attaches to crank shaft).

I thought about having to start the engine to test the a/c a minute ago - I wont be doing that until it's been looked at on a ramp as running it if the pulley has gone sounds like a bad idea!

Luke

 

[lankstarr]

Just reread your post - not sure if there were two belts on the crank pulley - I'm not with the car so will have to get someone to check for me tomorrow.

Thanks for the thought.

Luke

 

[RON98]

Hey Luke

you can easily check yourself.

here is a quick check.

Reach down and put your hand on the a/c pulley and try and spin it. If the a/c clutch or the compressor is seized, the a/c pulley will not turn.

Also you can hand turn the alternator pulley. It should turn smooth and with out any notchy or clicks. It will have some resistance in it but will turn very smoothly.

One of the two will be your problem. My guess is the a/c since it seizes up and the rubber will burn up and rip the belt.

If you need help or need someone to walk you through it, give me a call.

Oh ya just throught of something , look on the crank pulley. the belt that was seized up will have shiny groves !!! The inner rail is for the A/C and the outer track is for the alternator!

Regards and happy motoring.

Rob:smile:

 

[lankstarr]

Thanks Rob.

If I'd have seen that before I sent it off to Honda I think I owuld have been able to give self diagnosis a good go!

I should find out what's going on tomorrow, if it's the a/c compressor then I'll definitely be shopping over here for one as it'll bankrupt me if I get a UK one

Thankfully my bro is a car dealer and has been able to lend me a lovely '91 manual whilst mine is in the garage:biggrin:

Luke

 

[SweetChuck]

If it turns out to be your A/C compressor , I have a spare , only catch is its in Australia .

 

[AR]

I should find out what's going on tomorrow, if it's the a/c compressor then I'll definitely be shopping over here for one as it'll bankrupt me if I get a UK one

Luke

Any news mate?

 

[lankstarr]

Yeah, just heard it's the a/c compressor.

The crank pulley was replaced 20k miles ago so I'd have been worried if it was that!

I've pm'd someone on here about a compressor that's in the for sale section. I just need to make sure it comes with the clutch as Honda have told me that the teeth are "probably gone". Not sure I believe them but better to be safe...

FWIW HOjnda UK wanted £1700+VAT just for the part!!

Thanks

Luke

 

[drew]

Re: Crank Pulley seized - HELP Please!

The Legend (or Integra) compressor will work, but the Legend is preferred because it has higher displacement. Here in the states they give away Legend parts...

Now the clutch will be different, but if the pulley offset lines up it would be worth messing with the different belt size for €1700.

Drew

 

[lankstarr]

A/C compressor - time to get it sorted

Sweet. Pixelhaus is sending me over his a/c comp for $125 + shipping. Thanks:biggrin:

So I get the a/c comp and pulley sorted now I just need to make sure I have all of the other necessary parts and that it is fitted correctly. I'll get new belts, is there anything else that will need replacing?

I have read a few million threads on here about a/c compressors and a ncouple of them suggest that incorrect fittment (i.e. not earthing it) could lead to repeat failures.

My Dad has a workshop and an a/c regassing machine so if it's simple enough for him to do then I'll get him to do it and take it away from those nasty stealers!

IS there anything I need to know that's not on p965 of the service manual?

(Link here http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Reference/1991_svcman/1991servman.pdf)

Thanks

Luke