So tuesday was my birthday, so i'm driving from work getting ready to enjoy my 20'th B-day and i just hear a noise from the right side of the car...a loud metal like sound. i open up the hood and the crank shaft pulley looks like it had/is chiping away slowly...so my biggest question is can i do this on my own or would a shop have to take a crack at this?

Depending on your level of experience. There are a few threads here lately for replacing the harmonic balancer. Overall, it'* not bad except for the bolt that holds it on. That is a pain usually because of how tight they are.

you can do it, with our guidance.

And the right tools.

the only thing the worries me is that an engine mount sits right in front of the pulley. don't know how i'm goin to get around that.

If you go in through the wheel well, the mount will be completely out of the way.

Very true. but i would have to work around the struts and all. but do you think that would be easier?

Yes. Once you get in there, the strut really isn't in the way.

Here'* the view in a bonne of the balancer. It'* an easy enough thing to get at, while yours may be slightly different..it shouldn't be that much different.

So before i could go in from the bottom i should lossen the belt from the tension pulley from the top first right?