Harmonic Balancer / Belt Tensioner damaged MCS '04
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge
Alright, I made it through Gustav relatively unscathed. Still no electricity BUT no damage to my house, save for a few shingles. I was also able to move my car to a safe location and it made it through without a scratch (thanks Dad!!!!). I haven't ordered or even been able to check if my dealer has the belt tensioner assembly in stock. Question; OEM or Aftermarket? IS there an aftermarket ASSEMBLY available. I'm going to go ahead and install the Detroit Tuned safety strap/bracket keeper thingy but, the only aftermarket piece slightly pertaining is the Idler Pulley by BBR. The Idler is NOT the Tensioner, I know. 
ideas? Anyone...anyone?
ideas? Anyone...anyone?
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
I bought a used 2003 MCS and we found it was making a clicking noise in the belt area. From some reason we didn't hear it on the test drive.
It seems to happen as soon as you give it some gas from a stop. It's not really there at idle. I brought the car to a Mini repair place that builds Mini race cars. I had them replace the SC pulley and he replaced the tensioner which reduces the noise by 75%. He said the crank pulley was starting to fall apart so he ordered a replacement. He thinks that will fix the rest of the noise.
It seems to happen as soon as you give it some gas from a stop. It's not really there at idle. I brought the car to a Mini repair place that builds Mini race cars. I had them replace the SC pulley and he replaced the tensioner which reduces the noise by 75%. He said the crank pulley was starting to fall apart so he ordered a replacement. He thinks that will fix the rest of the noise.
Curious if replacing the harmonic balancer with a newer style (05+ I believe) would be beneficial for older cars as those weight drastically less as opposed to an underdrive pulley.
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
im pretty sure they are the same anyways???
http://new.minimania.com/web/item/NME7647/InvDetail.cfm
http://new.minimania.com/web/item/NME7647/InvDetail.cfm
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 303
Likes: 5
im pretty sure they are the same anyways???
http://new.minimania.com/web/item/NME7647/InvDetail.cfm
http://new.minimania.com/web/item/NME7647/InvDetail.cfm
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 303
Likes: 5
I bought a used 2003 MCS and we found it was making a clicking noise in the belt area. From some reason we didn't hear it on the test drive.
It seems to happen as soon as you give it some gas from a stop. It's not really there at idle. I brought the car to a Mini repair place that builds Mini race cars. I had them replace the SC pulley and he replaced the tensioner which reduces the noise by 75%. He said the crank pulley was starting to fall apart so he ordered a replacement. He thinks that will fix the rest of the noise.
It seems to happen as soon as you give it some gas from a stop. It's not really there at idle. I brought the car to a Mini repair place that builds Mini race cars. I had them replace the SC pulley and he replaced the tensioner which reduces the noise by 75%. He said the crank pulley was starting to fall apart so he ordered a replacement. He thinks that will fix the rest of the noise.
Neutral
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
We just got a Customer's car back from Watkins Glen that did the same thing. This was his umpteenth track day this year, and his belt gave up--probably due to the faulty dampener (the little black shock absorber on the tensioner bracket).
I am seeing more and more of the dampener failures, and one of my MINI dealer tech buddies says that he's replacing alot of tensioners under warranty. You can tell if your dampener is really bad by running the motor at idle and looking at your tensioner pulley. That's the one that is just below the supercharger pulley, attached to the metal bracket with the spring on it. if it is dancing back and fourth under the spring tension, your dampener is faulty. This can heat up your belt and cause it to fail. Another common failure is the tensioner or idler pulley bearings which can also cause your belt to fail. If you need help identifying these, you can call me and I'll describe it.
These belt failure causes are happening on stock cars, and are not the fault of the smaller pulley. If you dealer refuses service, ask to see the broken parts and check for bad bearings in the pulleys, as well as that dampener. Again, I'd be happy to describe to you what to look for.
When the tensioner bracket breaks, the tensioner spring forces the broken piece of aluminum bracket into the crank pulley (harmonic balancer). both parts do a pretty good job of machining each other. So I think that your dealership is correct about needing a new crank pulley.
In my opinion, it is likely that your belt failure was the effect of one of three things: bad tensioner pulley, dampener, or idler pulley. Of course they will try to avoid the warranty work, but if you go armed with some information and a bad attitude, you have a good shot at prevailing.
I am seeing more and more of the dampener failures, and one of my MINI dealer tech buddies says that he's replacing alot of tensioners under warranty. You can tell if your dampener is really bad by running the motor at idle and looking at your tensioner pulley. That's the one that is just below the supercharger pulley, attached to the metal bracket with the spring on it. if it is dancing back and fourth under the spring tension, your dampener is faulty. This can heat up your belt and cause it to fail. Another common failure is the tensioner or idler pulley bearings which can also cause your belt to fail. If you need help identifying these, you can call me and I'll describe it.
These belt failure causes are happening on stock cars, and are not the fault of the smaller pulley. If you dealer refuses service, ask to see the broken parts and check for bad bearings in the pulleys, as well as that dampener. Again, I'd be happy to describe to you what to look for.
When the tensioner bracket breaks, the tensioner spring forces the broken piece of aluminum bracket into the crank pulley (harmonic balancer). both parts do a pretty good job of machining each other. So I think that your dealership is correct about needing a new crank pulley.
In my opinion, it is likely that your belt failure was the effect of one of three things: bad tensioner pulley, dampener, or idler pulley. Of course they will try to avoid the warranty work, but if you go armed with some information and a bad attitude, you have a good shot at prevailing.
Hey Helix listen i have an 03 MCS and its giving me problems with my 19% pulley reduction. Its breaking the belts really quickly. I live in New York I know you guys are in Philadelphia but my dad doesnt let me take the car over there do u think you could help me out on telling me some possibilities of why its happening and some things i could do to fix it?
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