So... My crankshaft pulley flew off. Bolt is MIA. It's at the garage now, on the ramp - I'm gonna need crank pulley, crank bolt and crank seal... On top of the belt, tensioner etc etc.
Can anyone here give some recommendations? I've heard rumours that lightweight crank pulleys aren't suitable as they also act as a harmonic balancer?
Shoukd I bother with used parts here or is new the way to go (for bolt and pulley of course)?
Is the timing going to have been affected?
Kinda out fo my depth, hence it's in the garage for the repair.
Thank you for any and all advice!
Quote from: Whisperhead on January 22, 2026, 13:39So... My crankshaft pulley flew off. Bolt is MIA. It's at the garage now, on the ramp - I'm gonna need crank pulley, crank bolt and crank seal... On top of the belt, tensioner etc etc.
Can anyone here give some recommendations? I've heard rumours that lightweight crank pulleys aren't suitable as they also act as a harmonic balancer?
Shoukd I bother with used parts here or is new the way to go (for bolt and pulley of course)?
Is the timing going to have been affected?
Kinda out fo my depth, hence it's in the garage for the repair.
Thank you for any and all advice!
I can send you a bolt. A used puuley should be ok, but they do have a rubber 'sandwich' construction and they can go wobbly. I spotted that mine was out of true just in time to prevent mayhem. I sourced a used one and it's been fine for several years.
I should think you can get the pulley, tensioner, idler pulley and bolt as a set from one of our breakers. I'd ask them to send all the bolts that go with the parts you are getting.
The seal will have to be new.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236552970897?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&ff=11&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_I-5pau44uSKno8Os-4BhZ8H&loc_physical_ms=1007037&adtype=pla&customid=CjwKCAiAssfLBhBDEiwAcLpwfuAAg9ezvyuxRBr-aMa25uAwNq-2kmTB8a4TnveLYPRNwP1m-FqGZxoC6XMQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAiAssfLBhBDEiwAcLpwfuAAg9ezvyuxRBr-aMa25uAwNq-2kmTB8a4TnveLYPRNwP1m-FqGZxoC6XMQAvD_BwE (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236552970897?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&ff=11&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_I-5pau44uSKno8Os-4BhZ8H&loc_physical_ms=1007037&adtype=pla&customid=CjwKCAiAssfLBhBDEiwAcLpwfuAAg9ezvyuxRBr-aMa25uAwNq-2kmTB8a4TnveLYPRNwP1m-FqGZxoC6XMQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAiAssfLBhBDEiwAcLpwfuAAg9ezvyuxRBr-aMa25uAwNq-2kmTB8a4TnveLYPRNwP1m-FqGZxoC6XMQAvD_BwE)
How's the water pump and alternator?
None of this affects the timing.
Thanks Carolyn - I'll get in those. They've also told me the Crank Key (95161-30416) is missing so now searching for that... I'll update once I know more.
Managed to grab a bolt on ebay in a panic but thank you for the offer there, was only 8 quid new.
Ok, finally an update. Not good news.
The Crank Pulley Key eventually turned up, or at least half of it did. Long story short, it went inwards rather than outwards: there is engine damage and the car is running on three cylinders now. Likely a bent rod or some valve damage, according to the mechanic.
So my options are essentially have the engine rebuilt, or source a replacement. I know the 1ZZ-FE is fairly common still, so I guess I'm after some advice.
A rebuild is possible, but sourcing all the parts and ensuring all bases are covered seems like it's going to be the most expensive way, so am I better off finding a used engine?
So, assuming I go for a replacement engine:
- Where can I reliably source one that isn't going to be a dead fish?
- Roughly what kind of cost would I be looking at for this engine?
- Is it worth considering a refurbished engine as opposed to used?
Thank you in advance for any help or advice you can provide here. Not the resolution I wanted, but I'm hopeful I can still resurrect the car. I love it. I can't say money is no object, but I do a fairly sizeable amount set aside to fund this.
Contact Midlands and East Coast MR2 Roadsters They are on FB.
Ask them if they have decent engine and what it will cost installed in your car.
They know what they are about and are very fair.
Refurbished engines are available from MAG Engines. But not cheap.
Thanks Carolyn - I'll see what they say.
@Whisperhead :
I see the car has been picked up by Midlands and East Coast. Keep us posted on the results and cost??
Here's hoping all turnns out well.
HI Carolyn,
Yes Steve now has it, it's now in their capable hands. They've managed to source a 2004 90k 1ZZ engine for me with decent compression (175+ on all cylinders) and that'll be going in.
I'll update with cost and results as soon as I can - ballpark at the moment is around £1900 all in, including a new clutch. That's likely to go up in truth.
So a small update - I had some info today from Midland/East Coast MR2:
Engine is now in, however my SMT transmission seems to have committed suicide. It was fine last time I drove it but now it is apparently not shifting past 2nd gear and reverse "sounds like it has nails in it."
I've tentatively added a new post in the "Wanted" board for a 5-speed SMT box, but I'm not holding my breath there.
These guys know MR2s so I don't wish to insult them by asking if they have performed the "re-learn" procedure now the clutch has been replaced, but it is either very, very bad timing or something has finally given way during the repair process that I knew nothing about previously.
Honestly this could be a deal-breaker financially, so I will let you all know what happens. There is a very definitive point where cost-effectiveness is going to outweigh saving the car, sadly.
SMTs are rare. Don't assume they know everything - nobody does. Ask them if they've done the re-learn.
Fingers crossed.
You could just put a manual five-speed in.
So I spoke with Steve on the phone over lunch - looks like there was some mis-diagnosis far as I can tell.
The SMT appears to be fine, I'm told the actuator was playing up initially, but has been sorted out - it now runs through the gears just fine.
They are really nice gents and mistakes happen, so no problem there. They've talked me through it, but in a nutshell they're gonna run it a few days to ensure everything is battened down and ticking over.
Engine is in of course - new clutch, new brake discs and pads, some underbody sealing etc. It's almost ready to come back to me.
I'll include a full report of repairs and work done plus costs once it's back on the road here.
Hopefully a happy ending on the way.
Great result! You must bring it around for a visit soon.
How are you going to get it home? Do you want a lift to go get it?
Hello all, sorry I haven't been back to update, the last 2 months have been difficult. The MR-S lives and I made the journey back just fine (thank you for the offer Carolyn, missed your message).
There are problems with the car, such as the Laserline immobiliser doing whatever it feels like when I go to start the car after deactivating it, but it always seems to start the car eventually. Kinda embarrassing though, it looks like I'm an idiot in car parks.
The next potential roadblock is of course the SMT, because it's about the only original part left on the car, so why wouldn't it play up? I don't want a manual MR-S, I love the way the SMT drives but it did something today that made me very nervous.
I'll make a new post about that as this one is concluded essentially. In a nutshell, final bill from East Mids MR2 was £2,526 - 90k 2004 1ZZ engine, fluids, parts fitted etc.