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I just bought this 01 civic that doesnt run anymore. The lady told me that she was driving it and it suddenly started to be really slow and finaly quit running after a miles or so. She took it to a shop and they removed the crank pulley and said that the woodruf key broken and messed up the crank pulley. She tells me her timing belt was done just a few weeks ago so I think whoever did it messed something up.

Anyway anybody ever heard of a damaged crank pulley and woodruf key? I have looked at it yet but I'm wondering if I can salvage this motor w/o having to buy a new one ??

 
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I've been drinking tonight, but regardless... hearing woodruf, all I can think of right now is... harry potter. :-/

Sounds like a motor death story. A few other members have said they same thing, but I think they were all boosted. Will be back to read my drunk post, good luck man

 
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Woodruff key is like a little metal peg that makes sure your crank pulley is oriented correctly for the timing marks to line up and also keeps the crank pulley from spinning without turning the crank.

Could be a couple things wrong at this point. Worst case scenario is that the end of the crank was damaged and you have to replace it. Lots involved in this, including pulling the motor. This could also have caused your pistons to slap almost every single valve, damaging them and the pistons, and the rods too potentially. Especially if it caused things to move out of sequence - i.e. lower rotating assembly moving at a different rate than the valve train would be really bad.

It may not be that bad, but I doubt it. Even the parts and labor involved in simply replacing the crank and pulley (bearings, gaskets, rings, AND THEN actual parts) would be more expensive than a used D17 off Ebay. Our engines go for 300-400 bucks plus shipping on there. That's complete minus the tranny. This would probably be a more cost effective option.

 
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I am in the middle of replacing my headgasket actually.. yeah, like they said, there's a little key that sits on the end of the crank pulley that keeps the orientation of the crank pulley for the ac, ps, alternator that holds it so it turns with the crank... Now, the pulley that actually has the timing belt on it.. that doesn't use that key, the actual gear is knotched... Now, I'd take the wheel off and see if you can turn that pulley,basically if the belt turns with the pulley staying still, you'll know if you can do it by hand without a socket and rachet.. I don't knwo how that key could go bad... I just lost mine and had to order another one lol.. when i took mine apart I was keeping an eye on it, but it fell off when I pulled that pulley off... One bad thing though, is that if the key is broken, good luck getting the pulley off, that thing is a pain in the ***, I ordered the special tool a generic version and it still was a pain, 1000ft/lb impact wouldn't get it, had to use 3 6 inch extenstions and 3 ft breaker and a 3.5 foot pipe wrench all together... good luck with it regardless...

 
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The timing cog fits in a slot on the crank, there is no key as you know, if that stripped you likely have a big problem. The key keeps the pulley still relative to the crank, and it more or less lays in the slot, you put the pulley on and the big washer on the back side of the bolt keeps it there. If you munched the pulley it wouldnt be as big of a deal as if the key stripped the slot in the crank. If it did that, you might be able to get a shop to reweld and machine the slot back in, but likely, they'll tell you to replace the crank. If the pulley broke, its a $51 fix and the key is a dollar or two. the key also isnt square, its rectangular, make sure it goes in the right way.

 
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Thank you guyx for the input.

Are these motors interference motors? If the pully came off does it necessarely means bent valves?

 
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the crank pulley wont do anything internally, but yes, they're interference motors. the car shut down because the alternator wont spin unless the pulley does, hence, no electrical power.

 
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^^^Ach so. Good to know boiler. I wasn't sure if it was going to be as catastrophic as I imagined or not. At least he's not looking valve train and rotating assembly damage then.

 
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I'm gonna take the timing cover etc... apart this wekend and post some pics. Maybe I can save myself from replacing the engine.

I know they are cheap but it's more about saving myself the job of pulling it out etc...

If I do have to swap the engine. How hard is it compared to a 6th gen civic?

 
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I'll defer to boiler on this one as he just did it - check his Commence Motor Build thread for pics. The Haynes says you need to drop the subframe and take it out from the bottom. But you should be able to just tease the axles out and bring the whole business out from the top like normal. I haven't jerked one out of a D17 yet myself though.

 
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F--- the subframe. We yanked it out the top. Push the AC and PS out of the way (just unbolt it from the motor, dont have to undo it), take off the manifolds, throw the harness over the fender and pull it out. Motor was out of the car in 3.5 hours.
Air tools are a must, a lift is also wise.

 
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Update....


IT'S ALIVE, IT'S ALIVE !!!!!!


I see what happened now. The guy who replaced the timing belt did not thighten the crankshaft bolt enought and it got loose so the pulley started moving out and when it got near the edge it ate up the woodruff key and stopped turning the accessories. Then her batterie went dead and the car quit on her. She took it to a shop and they told her it needs a new engine.


I hooked the battery to my truck with cables because all of the accessories are taken out so it will have power and it cranked right up. It runs and all I need is a new woodruf key and pulley and crankshaft bolt. While I'm in there I'm gonna put a new OEM belt and pump because the bottom crank belt pulley(the little one that the belt goes on) started moving out too and slightly damaged the belt.

Here are pics of the pulley.

HA HA I can fix this ***** for lesss than 100 bucks

Lucky me the crankshaft is fine but. It's the pulley that got worn out.











.

 
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Nice man! How much did you buy the car for? Sounds like you got a helluva deal!

 
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$1200 but it is also wrecked lightly and has high miles. I need to replace the trunk lid and two of the door skins, + do a little bit of bodywork and new paint and it will be a very nice $2200(+-$400) civic.

 
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I have the same problem. WHere did you find a pulley and woodruff key at?

 
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the dealer....

Wantst too pricey

I bought it online for a better price.