raspeed

M111 C230 2002.
My wife was driving home last night and the headlights turned off. She said the display said 3 FAULT or FAULT 3 ?? Regardless, she got it home.

I fired it up and it says BATTERY/ALTERNATOR malfunction. I plug in my code reader, it's not throwing any codes.

I pop the hood. Power steering pump belt and pull are turning.

Big pulley that runs all the accessories on the other side is not turning at all. Belt seems tight, it just doesn't move. Like something is seized or otherwise?

Is there a relay or fuse that would affect this? It was raining heavily for about 24 hours while it sat outside in it.

No squealing, screeching, any sort of weird noises, its just not moving at all, belt doesn't seem broken.

Is it possible one of the other pulley's has seized? But I'd think the belt would have broke or something?

... where to start.

raspeed

Could this be a belt tensioner problem? If so is there a DIY document for replacing it? I find it odd nothing is turning.

ontmiss

Check that screw on big pulley. Try to tighten.

http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/engine...m111.955_1.jpg

raspeed

thanks I will check that ... though I thought the pulleys were attached to each other?

The smaller shorter belt (on the right in this picture) are turning .. it's just none on the left (big belt) are turning at all ... no noises but I will check it

raspeed

Actually ignore my comment on size .. but it's the left side belts that aren't turning at all. It was my understanding the big crankshaft pulley is one unit so I find it odd that the right side belt is turning.

Benzo 003

something on the left side has seized....locking up that entire side. You can remove the belts and try to turn each accessory by hand until determined. The A/C and alternator should turn easily.
I am surprised you didn't see, hear, or smell the belt getting burned up trying to turn.

samaritrey

+1

ontmiss

As I understood he is saying that big pulley is not turning. So if big pulley is properly connected to crankshaft, it should turn as long as engine is running. Alternator or other things can stop and burn belt but not crankshaft pulley.

acr2001

There is no way that something could "seize" and prevent that pulley coming off of the engine from turning - the belt would snap - and if it somehow didn't snap (impossible) the car wouldn't run.

Sounds like the pulley on the engine that attaches to that belt has come lose - I'm not very familiar with your engine so I couldn't tell you more than that.

Based on your posts, you need to get it to a mechanic. I think your coolant pump is on the "good" belt - so you should be able to drive to a mechanic with EVERYTHING electrical turned off so that your battery makes it.

splinter

+1

raspeed

thanks will report back ...

FrankW

sounds like your alternator took a dump...since if it's the idler bearing I don't think it'll be enough to stop alternator from turning.

acr2001

How could that be if the belt is still tensioned, but is not turning or slipping? Wouldn't it be either slipping or have burnt through and snapped by now?

Or are you thinking the alternator seized up causing the drive pulley to somehow come lose and stop turning the belt?