Come along and check out this blast from the past. A 2001 Buick Century with the big 3.1 liter. The customer complaint was a squeaking belt. It didn't take long to find out the vehicle needed more than just a belt
-Enjoy!
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--Eric & Vanessa O.
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South Main Auto Repair
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Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
-Enjoy!
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: https://www.patreon.com/southmainauto
CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
https://teespring.com/stores/the-sma-store
If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: https://www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
The South Main Auto Amazon Store:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/southmainautorepairavoca
AES Wave Automotive Diagnostic Tools: https://www.aeswave.com/cart.php?m=affiliate_go&affiliateID=2525b91fc8e906e8215984074c9d9e8f&go=https://www.aeswave.com/Miscellaneous-p9347.html
Thank you for all the continuing support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
Cocked off, and jerking around. Wash yo' mouth.
Never ceases to amaze me. Comes in for a belt noise I can bearly hear. And doesn’t seem concerned about the slamming and banging of the missing bolt.
Don't forget to check that tensioner (idler) pulley. those things go bad all the time on those engines
They definitely need a cover for the front of that engine. Snow will get up there around that crank and fill those groves in that belt will slip off.
The old Buick roles again. Good for another 50,000. summer time only.
When you started the engine with the new pulley, what was that grinding sound? It didn't seem right to me.
Good for another 20 years 😃
Ah the ol M motor. Best thing GM ever did was move the crank sensor from the back of the block, ala W and T mill, to the balancer area. I've only seen a couple balancers slip on these engines, but several on the ol Buick 33 and 3800s. At least this 1 was obvious!
THAT ENGINE HAS A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE BROTHER! THAT THING DOESN'T SOUND HEALTHY. BLESSINGS BROTHER. 🙂💖
👍
Nice as always sir…. those elastomeric rings have self destructed fine engines into clattering junk…lol
As far as the crank shaft sensor relearn……on my Pontiac 3.1 V6 I was doing an idle relearn and noticed a note in the manual…..and if I'm not mistaken it said something to the effect that even if you didn't do the relearn procedure, it would relearn itself in about 12 engine starts. Trouble with that is it would be hard to keep it running at stop lights. Too annoying. Better to just do the idle relearn. I wonder if the crank relearn is the same……in that it might relearn on it's own after X number of cycles.
When I did the belt on my Pontiac 3.1 V6 I had to loosen the alternator in addition to prying the tensioner out of the way. Not bad though. By the way……one time the thought just occurred to me that I had not been in the engine compartment in quite a while. So I opens the hood and takes a gander down inside…….yikes…..the tensioner bolt was working it's way out and the tensioner was hanging on by a thread. Holy cow…..what are the chances? Disaster averted.
I'd like a video of every car you do in a whole week, not the fixing. just a talk a few seconds on each car saying what the customer says and then what you find and outcome. i would find this interesting, thanks Mark
Eric, you are priceless!! Most excellent!! Keep 'EM COMING!!!!!
Must be a transplant, surely no NY car could look that good after 21 years… Great video, Eric!
I had a 3.1V6 in my 1994 Pontiac Sunbird and that was a fantastic combination. It was a fantastic engine / transmission combination. I LOVED the car. If they had continued to make them I would have bought another. I had two break downs in 18 years. Once the fuel pump quit…..just quit. Another time the fuel pressure regulator diaphragm failed and the car wouldn't start at a gas station. Strangest thing. One time a coil pack failed but the car was able to limp home……up a steep grade all the way up the hill on four cylinders.
You make it look easy. Thanks for the video Mr. O!
When I saw you pull out the dewalt I was super confused as to why THAT would be your go to battery here. My sides went into orbit when you said "i'm using this one because it's weak".
GM did a recall on the broken mount bolts on those old vehicles
Good stuff, as usual!
We had a 91 Riviera 3.8 supercharged. Was doing the out of balance stuff. I traced it incorrectly to the supercharger which set me back $1100. Finally checked the balancer and the rubber was totally separated. I had never seen or heard of one going bad. I have now.
I wish YouTube and the internet was around in 95.
Not a big fan of the noise it’s making when it turns on :/
I have a 04 century with 112k and you cant even hear it running with the hood shut…….. that one was ragged out.
Jeeeez…. 2 days in a row.. NO TEST Drive
love that 3100 great engine
Smooth move
I have the 2000 Century
People brag on those cars and Buick v6, but in the final 6-7 years they had major electrical issues! Make you want to purchase a $1200 thermal camera tool, but the car wasn't worth that much and the owner let's call her the mean old lady on social security and she wants that car fixed right now! You installed a new Alternator and every 3 weeks her battery goes dead then you solder her a new battery and it's still not fixed!
Uh, looks like she ran into something and jammed the passenger door up into the door jam. Don't the battery cables run up thriugh the body right there!
Well she got mad and drove off before I had a chance to look at it. Maybe Covid got her, I don't what happened to her. Anyway, Bucik is gone and never came back.
I really enjoy learning from your videos. One of the biggest improvements I’ve picked up is to slow down and pay closer attention to detail. I’ve always been in a hurry to complete an operation, probably because life is busy. Now that I take more time and give more attention to details, I find that the job gets completed with better results and I enjoy the process much more. Thank you for the many fine lessons.
You Da' Man Mr. O 😎💪🏾👍🏾
If he can do it you can do it !
Shoulda JB weld it like in the good ol day's
Spoken like a true mechanic ( if it's not 10-150 it's gonna be )
ANOTHER SELF LUBRICATING ENGINE
"If there not 10-150, they're gonna be!" My kinda machine work!
Is your use of NAPA purely convenience? Ive noticed their quality of parts listed under the "NAPA" brand have gone downhill and their prices are marked up quite a bit.
First time id ever heard of harmonic dampers separating was on a crown Vick. Same complaint as you have. They diagnosed it. The guy said back it out, He'll drive it like that until his next check. Sure enough as its backed out of the shop, off the outer pulley goes and flies across the shop as fast as it could. The wall finally stopped it and it spun in the same spot for probably 5 seconds. That was an interesting experience
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
That engine can go another 20 years. Unfortunately the electrical will crap out well before that.
It's called the tiny dancer on a gm
alot of engines are externally balanced by the harmonic balancer.. is this ever an issue when replacing the balancer.. some have drill divits in them where they were drilled to lighten them , kind of like balancing a tire, but instead of adding weight, they removed some.. I have to replace a balancer that seperated on my 93 chevy 4.3 v6 engine and im concerned it will shake like crazy without the original balancer on it,, thank ye
"Nice and quiet now." 🤣
Very common problem as they age. I’ve lost track of how many I’ve changed whether it be Buick Pontiac Chevy etc.
I was thinking, "If it's not a 10 by 150 it will be," and 5 seconds later you said it. LOL
Noisy little motor
much better. good work.
you know this thing is going to explode or implode in two weeks for totally unrelated things? the power steering pump is going to fail and then the transmission will grenade… then the electrical system will melt. karma for that original belt
Here's a funny one for you. My Jeep Grand Cherokee straight 6 ran the tap through to clean the threads felt some resistance thought it was the rust I put it right through the timing chain cover, just like you said. I was changing the oil pan anyway I was going to put a new front seal in it, it just cost me a little bit more.
stellar work as usual
Bravo. Bravo. Ta freakin dah. There you have it.
Oh the good ol 3.1L I had the first Gen in my 91 pontiac 6000. That engine was on the rev limiter everyday. Had 110 ran in it multiple times. Many neutral drops and it never gave up. 320,000 miles on it when I traded it in on a newer car.
Evening Boss, Hope you don’t mind me looking over your shoulder.
Everyone knocks the older buicks for being an old mans car but they make a great commuter car. They're very comfortable to drive and at the end of the day, you don't feel beat up from the ride!
Thank you
man i wish the balancer and alternator were that easy on my 02 intrepid as i am sure you are well aware you have to pretty much take off the front of the car to do either one
Original belt! How many miles on it?
Uhoh, you fixed an oil leak on a 3000 series V6! Now the rest of the leaks are going to leak with double the pressure!
Your videos are a joy to watch…….I could watch over people fixing stuff all day long!!! 😛
ah.. the siren call of the 3100…piston slap!
Hope for a part 2 on the engine mount.
Whats for lunch
I hope you were wearing your New Balance shoes.
Wished that you were my mechanic
I have a 3400 gm. The pulley removed itself😂
So that was your problem lady!
You do make it look easy.
I didnt catch – is the hub keyed?
Id much rather a 2001 with the shakes than a 2021 with communist dictator control issues. Leaves you stranded in limp mode because it "doesnt FEEL good…" 🤪
So satisfying to watch a project to full completion
GM could key this crank but not the LS1? 😑
Thanks Eric 😊.
Narrating videos all day, does it continue at home? "Now we are going to clear the diner dishes". " I like to place the plates like this in the dishwasher".
Another great repair. Thanks for sharing.
I loved my 01 Century custom it got great mileage, comfortable, and wasn't in the way too bad in traffic
Some cars just don't rust like trucks in the rust belt.
Back in the day we had a series of Jeep Cherokees with the mighty 4L 6-cyl – every one had the balancer walk off and start hitting the timing cover making a screeching sound. Pretty simple fix as the radiator, etc., didn't have to be taken out.
Did the customer fix the other issues 🎃
These are much more common down here in the South where we get a dusting of snow every 20 years
Awesome video like always. Wish you were closer to NYC
If they are not 10 x 150 they are gonna be…
Thanks keep us going rainman left a hole 🕳 for our mornings and a few extra from the master helps 😀 fill the void you could change wiper blade and we would watch lol keep doing what I could do if you can do it
I had the '86 3.0 V6 and GM finally came out with a new crank sensor part that did not break. Another 3.8L in the '80 motor that had the #1 cylinder with both lifters bad and I changed the lifters and put and a little Isky cam at 15K miles due to dealer kept ignoring the lifter noise at cold start in the morning. GM was poor quality in those days.
The belt still has a bit of a tick.
60 degree V6 kinda like a Detroit Diesel,if it ain't leaking oil its cause it's empty.
You made a difficult job look easy. The Picasso of parts strikes again.
The way the video is edited, it looked like you put the seal in with the hanky still in place. I had to go back and check frame-by-frame to see one or two frames that show the hanky is gone. Ya scared the shite outa me, Mr. O!
If only it was a 3800 engine…
I wouldn't mind doing Intake gaskets on this engine. Even the 3.4L same thing same parts and procedure. Done a few of them. It would be easy money for me. Anyone remember when the Distributor oilpump shaft o-ring fails and it leaks oil badly?
I still remember working on these at the dealer. Those centuries had this huuuuge front air dam underneath that scraped on every single driveway in the whole world. Pretty nice cars to drive though, if you're into the "little ol' lady" style.
Yeah, that's great and all, but what did Mrs. O. make for lunch?
I'm surprised the crank sensor is running the engine. No misfires no codes
I had my friend Ian work on my 2001 Chevy VENTURE BROS van on 09/28 Now it's a no crank no start…?
What do you think he did?
Did you have to reset the crankshaft Top Dead Centre markings after tightening the crankshaft pulley?
i think I had 2 different one's or the Buick century's, good, 1 terrible. So, I guess I came out even, lol.
Thinking you should do more videos — like on every car. Doesn't matter if novel. People follow you because you are honest, knowledgeable, informative, skilled, and entertaining. Repeat info doesn’t matter too much… Space out repeating fixes or whatever. Skipping non-novel sucks. Begging for more!
Big fan
Confused why you’re working on this car…it seems fine
hello from CDMX
They can die as early as 250,000km. On heavy trucks, the fluid filled dampers die (go hard) after a decade or so……..do a LOT of damage. If its old, throw it away, its only a problem waiting to happen. super lucky that sucker is easy to get at )) happy days )
I had a Malibu with a 3.1…It was potty trained til the intake gaskets became incontinent!! 😂😂👍