Engine knock?

Maintenance/Repairs
,
8

Thanks much for the encouraging info! I hope I am mechanically inclined enough. The current symptoms are (this car has everything on one long serpentine belt):

  1. noise;
  2. with the engine not running, I can move the belt some distance up or down until something bangs on something (metal on metal; sounds close to the noise, only a single bang);
  3. with the engine running and the belt on the noise is the worst when idling; it seems to go away when I press on accelerator (no matter in park or drive shift) and to get worse if i turn the steering wheel;
  4. with the engine running and the belt off (only for a few seconds not to overheat) the noise is still there, similar but less loud, so it is definitely not any other pulley on the belt.
    I will try to change it myself. I have found some advisory about using a special tool, the puller, Part #J38197, at
    http://www.rebuiltautoengines.com/buick-century-articles.html
    (it is there under CRANKSHAFT DAMPER CAUTION ON 1991-93 3.3L VIN N)
    which concerns me since they say ``Failure to use the correct tool while removing the
    damper may cause damage to the one piece balancer/damper assembly."
    So, if you could please help with the following questions:
  1. Given the above symptoms, is it the balancer?
  2. Can I still do it if I do not have that special ‘puller’?
  3. Can it be fixed by welding in any condition? In my case it only started last week, so about 200 miles ago. Is it a simple welding around the whole thing or does it require any kind of balancing and/or creating a weld in some precise location? I just have no idea what’s inside the thing and how it is supposed to be but I should be able to find someone who will wled it for me.
    Thanks much again!