Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods How to install a Dual Mode Damper

Use the same belt currently fitted to your car,the belt length does not change with a DMD...

Terry-

I think the belt length did change with the TSB, and part of that was due to a different idler pulley. Any way you can confirm this for me?

Terry is saying that the DMD is the exact same diameter as your current existing crankshaft dampener pulley...so, no belt change will be required. Unless you change something else during the DMD installation, you will use the same size belt!

Ed

OK, but what I am saying is that they changed both the crank and idler pulleys, and the combination required an altered length belt. If I change just the crank pulley back to original size (ie. install the DMD), there is a possibility that I will need a different length belt from the standard or altered length that is currently installed. This could leave me needing a belt that does not exist.... ...and therein is my question.

Just measure the dia of your existing damper............

OK, any idea what the diameter of the standard damper pulley is?

Also, I heard that we can buy these from you?

The OD of my stock pulley (sitting in the closet) is 6.5".

First step! Disconnect the battery! The car won't start without it!

-Andy

OK, thanks PA, I'll have to measure mine during my next oil change.

I was just quoting what I read out of the Haynes manual. Never tried it myself and don't plan to anytime in the near future either .

Are you saying that (a) the car won't crank over or that (b) once the car is started (i.e., cranked over) that it will stall?

I am not a mechanic, but I believe that there are plenty of engines that run without batteries (lawnmowers, weed wackers, mini-bikes, remote-control airplanes, etc.). The way that you get them to start is by "cranking" the engine. I believe that this is done by turning the crankshaft at a sufficient speed until the engine fires and then can continue firing on its own. For example, the way to start a lawnmower is to pull the ripcord (or whatever it is called) a gazillion times until the engine turns over and starts. I believe that this method was also the way that they used to start cars back in the "good old days" (before my time ).

I am pretty sure that the Contour engine can be cranked in the same way. And if a fully-charged battery is connected, I am pretty sure that the car would turn over and continue to run.

So I guess the question is "will the Contour continue to run if the engine is cranked sufficiently without the battery connected?" In other words, does the circuit from the battery need to be completed in order for the car to continue running. Maybe one of the electrical gurus on this board can answer that question.