93 lesabre making a loud knocking noise

my lesabre started making a loud knocking noise. it is real bad when the car is idleing and as i accelerate it goes away so i took off the belt and when i grab the harmonic balancer pulley it spins about 1/8 of a rotation very freely and makes a similar sound as the one it makes when running. so i guess my question is should i be able to spin the harmonic balancer at all by hand. and also if i have to take the harmonic balancer off to replace should i check out anything else while im at it. any help would be greatly appreciated

i also need to know if i can just pull the harmonic balancer or do i have to do something to keep it from turning while i unbolt the big big bolt that holds it on

Best way here is an impact gun. Or you can remove the trans insp cover and block the flywheel from there. I'd replace the crank sensor while you have the balancer off.

It sounds like the rubber isolation is gone between the two parts of the harmonic balancer!

I do not know about the right answer to this, but some people have problems with stalling as cars age and the crankshaft position sensor is one thing they replace.

Be sure someone who knows tells you whether it's a good item to go ahead and replace while the balancer is off.

thank you very much for your help now if i can just get the stupid bolt to break loose

Try removing the transmission inspection cover and wedging a large screwdriver between the teeth of the flywheel. Your screwdriver needs to be long enough to use the floor for leverage.

Now try to loosen the bolt on the balancer. You may need to use a 3-4 foot breaker bar.

If it is still too hard to loosen you could try using the weight of the car as you slowly lower your jack to loosen the bolt. This may not be the preferred or safest way but it does work.

You will need a puller to remove/install the balancer.

In my opinion I would most definately change both the Crank Position Sensor and Cam Position Sensor.