Im getting this pretty weird noise whenever the car is going between 1000-2000 rpms. Reading from other posts (mainly the annoying rattle) im thinking it could be the harmonic balancer. My car does not die, nor do I see any drop off in performance while driving. Is there a way I can decide if this is the case or not (besides taking it to a mechanic)? It started last month, and kind of keeps getting more annoying.

quick question: is this noise inside of the passenger compartment, or outside?

It'* strange, and this probably isn't your issue, but mine (and a few other h'* I've driven) have somethin strange going on when the fan is on (the hvac fan) when the RPM'* are around 1800...

but that doesn't really sound like your issue. so I'll shut up now

Its on the outside, i mean i put it in park one day, popped the hood up and I could hear it better. Almost like the front passenger side. Its not grinding or anything, just sounds like somethine is loose.

Rattling at idle only would be an indication, if it disappears when the rpm'* rise. Remove the belt and try to move it by hand, or simply tug the belt and see if it moves.

How far down is it? I mean can i grab it by hand and pull on it? I have no idea what this thing looks like, especially when trying to find it at a goofy angle

Crank pulley. The big one. Tug on the belt and see if it moves.

Allright, I tugged on the belt, and the biggest pulley thing I could find, none of them moved. Though, the one next to the big pulley was moving a little bit, not the actual piece but the plate that is on it, I was able to move it round and round with my pinky...is that normal? I probably need a pic, huh?

I'm not sure which pulley you are refering to. Please post a pic.

Does the belt have proper tension? When you tugged on the belt, did you pull parallel to the plane of motion of the belt, or did you pull perpendicular to the belt? If the HB is bad, the outer portion of the pulley will rotate quite a bit without the center of the pulley moving, cause the rubber connecting the two pieces has cracked away.

Allright, here are some pics.

This is the pulley I was talking about, if you can see that triangle looking piece that is attached to it, I am able to spin that freely.


Here it is in relation to the rest of the belt..its the one all the way to the bottom right

That'* the air conditioning compressor.. shouldn't be moving and very possibly your noise..

Try slipping the belt off the tensioner and free wheeling it w/your hand..feel anything besides smooth movement?