Determining whether an engine is suffering (or has suffered) from a damper-related problem can be difficult. Typically, the symptoms are undetectable until the engine is torn down or unexpectedly does an imitation of a grenade. The most obvious clues to a damper-induced problem are excessively worn rod bearings and a worn or broken crankshaft. More commonly, when a damper isn't doing the job, an engine will suffer "gremlins"-- things go wrong for no particular