Toyota Prado: 1KD-FTV Crankshaft Damper Pulley Rubber Separation (3.0L D-4D)

The harmonic balancer on the 1KD-FTV uses a rubber-bonded insert between the inner hub and outer ring to absorb crankshaft vibration. Age and heat cycling cause this rubber element to debond or tear, allowing the outer ring to slip relative to the inner hub or separate entirely. When the outer ring moves, auxiliary belt alignment is lost, causing belt squeal, accessory failure, and in severe cases complete serpentine belt loss. The failure can occur without warning and can damage the power steering pump, alternator, and air conditioning compressor. Toyota dealers in Australia documented this through service records from approximately 2012 onwards on higher-mileage KDJ120 vehicles.

• Intermittent belt squealing at idle or under electrical or steering load
• Visible runout or wobble on the crankshaft pulley face with engine running
• Serpentine belt tracking off-centre or derailing from a pulley
• Sudden loss of power steering assist or alternator charging
• New engine vibration not previously present

With the engine off and on a flat surface, grip the outer rim of the crankshaft pulley and attempt to rotate and rock it relative to the inner hub — any rotational play or lateral movement indicates rubber separation. With the engine running at idle, use a torch and mirror to look for pulley face wobble. Inspect the serpentine belt edges for uneven or angled wear.

Parts involved: Shock absorber / strut.

$500 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “Has the crankshaft damper pulley ever been replaced?”
• “Is there any belt noise at idle or on start-up?”
• “Are all accessories including power steering, alternator, and air conditioning functioning correctly?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.