Serpentine Belt Melted after <50km of Getting it Replaced.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2019
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2008 C350 Sport
Serpentine Belt Melted after <50km of Getting it Replaced.
Hi All,
I recently took my 2008 C350 in for B3 service and among other things they replaced the serpentine belt. After this I have since drove the car home from the mechanic, drove to and from the grocery store, and drove to the mall over the course of about a week for a total of probably ~40-50km. As I was pulling into the mall, I got a red battery icon on the dash and the power steering failed, so I called to get it towed to my mechanic.
Now after a call he says that the new serpentine belt has melted, probably due to a seized pulley (idle pulley he called it), and that I will need a replacement belt and pulley.
To me this seems rather unfortunate that the belt lasted about one week before getting destroyed, and I suppose my question is does this seem like bad timing? Or should they have seen this faulty pulley when replacing the belt last week?
I recently took my 2008 C350 in for B3 service and among other things they replaced the serpentine belt. After this I have since drove the car home from the mechanic, drove to and from the grocery store, and drove to the mall over the course of about a week for a total of probably ~40-50km. As I was pulling into the mall, I got a red battery icon on the dash and the power steering failed, so I called to get it towed to my mechanic.
Now after a call he says that the new serpentine belt has melted, probably due to a seized pulley (idle pulley he called it), and that I will need a replacement belt and pulley.
To me this seems rather unfortunate that the belt lasted about one week before getting destroyed, and I suppose my question is does this seem like bad timing? Or should they have seen this faulty pulley when replacing the belt last week?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 604
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From: SA
2008 C350-Sport-AMG-Active Agility Pack(Not reliable) +Izuzu KB6 3L(It seems Reliable)+Mazda
Something sounds fishy here. If the mechanic(Blue coat)/Tech(White coat) replaced the belt-?, and not examining each pulley-?, especially the poor manufactured idler pulley out of experience, he must be a novice chancer taking chances. I would not fall for that double failure just out of a service.
This is where you walk up to the boss in the bussiness and inform him, if hes arrogant or ignorant, you know to avoid that dealer if you can. This type of a thing is an ethical No-No.
This is where you walk up to the boss in the bussiness and inform him, if hes arrogant or ignorant, you know to avoid that dealer if you can. This type of a thing is an ethical No-No.
Last edited by Moto_Guzzi; Feb 3, 2021 at 04:50 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 680
Likes: 152
2008 C350 Sport 4Matic Swap
Hi All,
I recently took my 2008 C350 in for B3 service and among other things they replaced the serpentine belt. After this I have since drove the car home from the mechanic, drove to and from the grocery store, and drove to the mall over the course of about a week for a total of probably ~40-50km. As I was pulling into the mall, I got a red battery icon on the dash and the power steering failed, so I called to get it towed to my mechanic.
Now after a call he says that the new serpentine belt has melted, probably due to a seized pulley (idle pulley he called it), and that I will need a replacement belt and pulley.
To me this seems rather unfortunate that the belt lasted about one week before getting destroyed, and I suppose my question is does this seem like bad timing? Or should they have seen this faulty pulley when replacing the belt last week?
I recently took my 2008 C350 in for B3 service and among other things they replaced the serpentine belt. After this I have since drove the car home from the mechanic, drove to and from the grocery store, and drove to the mall over the course of about a week for a total of probably ~40-50km. As I was pulling into the mall, I got a red battery icon on the dash and the power steering failed, so I called to get it towed to my mechanic.
Now after a call he says that the new serpentine belt has melted, probably due to a seized pulley (idle pulley he called it), and that I will need a replacement belt and pulley.
To me this seems rather unfortunate that the belt lasted about one week before getting destroyed, and I suppose my question is does this seem like bad timing? Or should they have seen this faulty pulley when replacing the belt last week?
The previous mechanic probably forgot a washer between an idler pulley causing misalignment and rubbing, eventually melting the belt. Have all the pulleys checked and replaced when doing belt service on these cars.
