Churnd

Quick question. My brother's '95 truck with the 3VZE threw a belt last nite (the one that runs the power steering, AC, etc.). A guy looked at it and said he needed another belt but that he also needed another harmonic balancer. This isn't the guy that's gonna work on it, but I'd like to know if he's telling the truth or not. I don't even know what a harmonic balancer is, much less ever heard of our trucks having one. Do they?

AverysDad

the pully that attaches to the crankshaft is what hes refering to.

i dont think its a harmonic balancer i just think thats a term that mechs use for that part of the engine ( because as far as i know most engines now a days are internally balanced). i believe its kind of an "old school" term.

MTL_4runner

It's not old school but you are right, all the toyota engines are internally balanced. The pulley does look like a hamonic balancer but the rubber ring separating the inner and outer portions is to absorb shock from the ascessories not for engine balancing. Internal balancing is very expensive to do but it is one of the main reasons Toyota engines last so long.

Churnd

Well I hope it's just the pulley that's loose, and that the engine doesn't need to be balanced. If it does, I guess he's SOL. :pat:

MTL_4runner

Like I said, ALL current Toyota engines are internally balanced so no worries there.
He may need to replace the part if the crank bolt came loose.