Belt not turning
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
C230
Belt not turning
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.
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.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 283
Likes: 2
From: Mississauga, Ont.
2007 C280 4matic Avantgarde
Check that screw on big pulley. Try to tighten.
http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/engine...m111.955_1.jpg
http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/engine...m111.955_1.jpg
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 18
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C230
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
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
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 18
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C230
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.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 361
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From: Chicagoland
2008 ML350 4matic
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.
I am surprised you didn't see, hear, or smell the belt getting burned up trying to turn.
Last edited by Benzo 003; Feb 17, 2010 at 02:00 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: VA
THE C350
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.
I am surprised you didn't see, hear, or smell the belt getting burned up trying to turn.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 283
Likes: 2
From: Mississauga, Ont.
2007 C280 4matic Avantgarde
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.
I am surprised you didn't see, hear, or smell the belt getting burned up trying to turn.
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.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
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.
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.
Last edited by acr2001; Feb 17, 2010 at 08:57 PM.
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Or are you thinking the alternator seized up causing the drive pulley to somehow come lose and stop turning the belt?
