Hello guys my 2001 has a been clicking sounds like the compressor but I looked and turns out guys I have a spark every so often on the harmonic balancer it comes from the rubber in between the two metals , any idea if it's a ground issue 

 

I had a 95 Buick Riviera that had developed a squeaky rattling sound.  Initially I thought that it was one of the idler pulleys for the serpentine belt.  Turned out to be the harmonic balancer.  The rubber had broken loose and was slipping.

What is the condition of the rubber like? Is it sticking out beyond the metal? Is so its probably on its way out letting the outer ring slip. Maybe enough vibration to create a static charge? this is what mine looked like when it was slipping.

 

 

Edited December 11, 20168 yr by BBHD
added picture

I've seen one other report of a spark/arcing dampener Still never heard of the solution to that problem.

3 hours ago, BBHD said:

What is the condition of the rubber like? Is it sticking out beyond the metal? Is so its probably on its way out letting the outer ring slip. Maybe enough vibration to create a static charge? this is what mine looked like when it was slipping.

 

 

Brand new that's what my old one looked like tho lol 

 

 

The cause of the spark is because the belt is slipping and generating static electricity, and the edge of the dampener is close enough to allow the jump.  Replace the belt with a "quality" green back belt (not the cheapest parts store belt) and I'm sure your arcing problem will go away.

 Really? 

Reviving this old post, did anyone happen to find out the reason behind the sparking, i just saw someone on another form im on with this same issue, in the video you could litterally see the spark every 10 seconds or so. Very curious as to why this would happen, ive heard of internal engine parts becoming magnetized, dont know if something like that could cause this. Everyone on the form is saying the rubber is shot, but unless the wheel is physically slipping on the rubber then i really couldnt see the rubber being the issue. The balancer in his video is spinning straight as an arrow i would like to belive that if it was slipping causing a charge then it wouldnt be so true while spinning. Idk just got my brain turning and was hoping to find that someone figured out the issue. Deffinetly weird

I've only seen one case of the sparking dampner but never had figured out the cause. I always thought it was magnetic and capacitance that the spinning engine and possible magnet field from electrical flow (negative through the block) and the rubber of the dampner created a capacitor of sorts. Just a theory...