Is it possible for the balance shaft timing to be off even when the marks line up? I read somewhere that they can be out of sync, but I cant find the thread.

I've had this vibration forever and took my lower timing cover off today to check the marks and see what was up. Everything was still lined up... (forgot to take a picture too darn it)

Anyways I get this vibration that last from just over 3500 to about 45-5k anything over that its fine, anything under its fine.

I put cams in about a year and 4 months ago and the first time the balance shaft timing was off, and anything above 3k vibrated like I was constantly going over the rumble strips. This one doesnt feel nearly as bad. It actually just sound like rattling exhaust but you can still notice the vibration that causes the noise.

Could it be my crank pulley? I dropped it when I fixed the balance shaft timing the first time, only a tiny bit cracked off of it. Like maybe a 1/4 inch long section that went like an 1/8 inch down on the inside edge at the top where the ridges for the accessory belts go. I dont think that little bit is doing anything. But i'm completely out of ideas

 

lol I know this sounds stupid but is there a chance you have a bent wheel or something? Perhaps it's just coincidence you notice it at certain rpms.. My logic is always check the easiest things first. But as far as it being the balance shaft.. I've never heard of anyone breaking a balance shaft in these cars and I imagine if you did it'd be a pretty violent vibration and/or pretty noisy. If all of the timing marks line up you should be fine there.. Be interested to see what everyone else thinks though. Good luck man!

 

Yeah I had the wheels checked, It does it when I rev it too. So its something rotational

 

Here ya go.

"NOTE that there is an easier way to do this. Simply rotate the mark on the oil pump sprocket until it is pointing straight up, and let it go. If the sprocket rotates towards (counterclockwise) the timing mark on the engine, the oil pump sprocket is aligned correctly. If it rotates away (clockwise) from the mark, spin the sprocket a full turn and test again, and it should properly rotate towards the mark now. Now line the mark on the sprocket back up with the mark on the engine. This avoids having to remove the rear access bolt entirely.


Caution: MAKE SURE THE BALANCE SHAFT IS PROPERLY POSITIONED. It is possible for the oil pump sprocket timing marks to be properly aligned, and have the balance shaft out of phase. This could result in a SEVERE engine vibration. "

Travis

 

Thats what I was looking for thank you, My internet wasn't cooperating with me though.

The thing I dont get though, is if you turn the sprocket a full revolution, wouldnt it be back in the same place it was the first time?

This vibration isn't "bad" like when it was wrong the first time, but its noticable

 

With the car parked and not in gear..... is the noise still there when revs are brought into that RPM range?

If not .... then its not the motor.

 

No, because the front balance shaft is not connected to the oil pump sprocket. The oil pump sprocket drives one of the oil pump gears, the other oil pump gear is attached to the balance shaft, and the gears let the balance shaft spin at 2/3 speed.
...so the balance shaft is in the correct postion once every 3 rotations of the oil pump sprocket.

 

yeah it makes the noise with the car parked, Ok thanks for clearing that up Dave, i'm going to dig into it again this afternoon and try and fix it.

 

IF you have a stiff front engine mount, you will experience the same symptoms.
Was this lesser vibration happening after your last balance shaft adjustment?
Mods?
Make sure your exhaust manifold/turbo assy is tightly secured too

 

It happened after a cam install, so i'm pretty positive its the balance shaft timing, I was just confused because they all lined up, i'm going to try the letting it drop trick. hopefully thats the problem or i've just pissed away 3.5-4 hours of my sunday lol

 

Its definitely your balance shaft. Same thing happened to me. Easy fix.

 

Yup it definitely was the shaft, its all good now, thanks guys

 

I think the 14mm bolt on the front of the block behind the turbo is for timing the balance shaft. A specific bolt goes in there against a flat of the balance shaft. I have never done this before but this si my understanding of it, I forget where I picked that lil tid bit up

 

Yup. I think the shop manual suggest this. I just use to ole "point the arrow straight up, let go of the sprocket to see which way it rotates" trick. It's quick and it works every time.

 

I just had my timing belt done at the dealer and now I have this vibration after 3500 RPM. I'm almost certain its the balance shaft phase. What is the easiest way to check this? I'd rather not take it back to them, is there a how-to for phase correction