WARNING !!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, IL
C32 AMG
WARNING !!!
IF YOU HEAR STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD -STOP TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
This morning on the way to my office I heard strange scratching noise comming from under my hood. Idler pulley seized (the one attached to the water pump housing) besides tearing apart belt (no big deal) it ripped out part of the water pump housing.
The part that sucks the most is I could not stop ( one way street under construction - nowhere to pull over and million cars behind me), I know better not to drive when somethig broke under the hood and makes weird noises.
Needles to say $200 repair turned in to $1000.
Todays day sucks .
This morning on the way to my office I heard strange scratching noise comming from under my hood. Idler pulley seized (the one attached to the water pump housing) besides tearing apart belt (no big deal) it ripped out part of the water pump housing.
The part that sucks the most is I could not stop ( one way street under construction - nowhere to pull over and million cars behind me), I know better not to drive when somethig broke under the hood and makes weird noises.
Needles to say $200 repair turned in to $1000.
Todays day sucks .
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
IF YOU HEAR STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD -STOP TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
This morning on the way to my office I heard strange scratching noise comming from under my hood. Idler pulley seized (the one attached to the water pump housing) besides tearing apart belt (no big deal) it ripped out part of the water pump housing.
The part that sucks the most is I could not stop ( one way street under construction - nowhere to pull over and million cars behind me), I know better not to drive when somethig broke under the hood and makes weird noises.
Needles to say $200 repair turned in to $1000.
Todays day sucks .
This morning on the way to my office I heard strange scratching noise comming from under my hood. Idler pulley seized (the one attached to the water pump housing) besides tearing apart belt (no big deal) it ripped out part of the water pump housing.
The part that sucks the most is I could not stop ( one way street under construction - nowhere to pull over and million cars behind me), I know better not to drive when somethig broke under the hood and makes weird noises.
Needles to say $200 repair turned in to $1000.
Todays day sucks .
For people that haven't checked their idler pulley, see this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/270130-stock-c32-m112k-owners-check-your-oe-idler-pulley.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia, PA
2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
IF YOU HEAR STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD -STOP TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
This morning on the way to my office I heard strange scratching noise comming from under my hood. Idler pulley seized (the one attached to the water pump housing) besides tearing apart belt (no big deal) it ripped out part of the water pump housing.
The part that sucks the most is I could not stop ( one way street under construction - nowhere to pull over and million cars behind me), I know better not to drive when somethig broke under the hood and makes weird noises.
Needles to say $200 repair turned in to $1000.
Todays day sucks .
This morning on the way to my office I heard strange scratching noise comming from under my hood. Idler pulley seized (the one attached to the water pump housing) besides tearing apart belt (no big deal) it ripped out part of the water pump housing.
The part that sucks the most is I could not stop ( one way street under construction - nowhere to pull over and million cars behind me), I know better not to drive when somethig broke under the hood and makes weird noises.
Needles to say $200 repair turned in to $1000.
Todays day sucks .
Had the same thing happen last fall, with an aftermarket pulley kit. Bill sounds about right... my idler unfortunately slammed into the AMG specific oil cooler, which added a $500 part (IIRC) and additional labor to the repair... was around $1,800 all told.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 358
Likes: 1
From: Snellville, GA
'03 C32, '08 ML63
This same exact thing happened to me. I heard it and had the car towed but unfortunately I still needed a new waterpump. Total repairs were $750 for me I believe.
Sorry to hear it happened to you though. Best of luck...
Sorry to hear it happened to you though. Best of luck...
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 4
From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
Well, at least I can say it has not happened to me (I am not trying to rub it in). I did follow boohoo's advise (https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/270130-stock-c32-m112k-owners-check-your-oe-idler-pulley.html) and instructions to swap out my idler pulley with an updated unit. Total cost= $35. Total time= 10 minutes.
Thank you, boohooramblers.
Thank you, boohooramblers.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
03 C32 AMG
Well, at least I can say it has not happened to me (I am not trying to rub it in). I did follow boohoo's advise (https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/270130-stock-c32-m112k-owners-check-your-oe-idler-pulley.html) and instructions to swap out my idler pulley with an updated unit. Total cost= $35. Total time= 10 minutes.
Thank you, boohooramblers.
Thank you, boohooramblers.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, IL
C32 AMG
Update.
Pulley $72
Water Pump $250 remanufactured from MB dealer
Belt $60
Thermostat $34 ( may as well change it @ 68000miles)
Two air filters $18 each
parts total $452
labor + tax $390 ( includes towing )
total loss $842
Car ready for p/u @ 10am tomorrow.
Next time something breaks and makes noise I'm not moving an inch- lesson learned.
Water Pump $250 remanufactured from MB dealer
Belt $60
Thermostat $34 ( may as well change it @ 68000miles)
Two air filters $18 each
parts total $452
labor + tax $390 ( includes towing )
total loss $842
Car ready for p/u @ 10am tomorrow.
Next time something breaks and makes noise I'm not moving an inch- lesson learned.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 510
Likes: 3
From: san jose, ca
2002 C32 1987 190E 2.3 334K miles and going
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 18
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
one of my idler pulley failed before when i was on the freeway as well (evosport pulley). however it didn't destroy anything other than itself (not even the belt) which I was extremely lucky.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Morehead, KY USA
SLK55 AMG, E320 BlueTec, ML350, (formerly) C32 AMG, MR2 Turbo, HD-FLH-FSE, BMW R100RS, Ducati M900
Idler Pulleys
Thanks to you guys, I replaced two of my idler pulleys and the main SC'er pulley over the last 4 months. Using the techniques from the forum here, I listened to and decided to not replace the last one but went ahead and bought the replacement. I just keep it in the trunk and figure, I'll replace it when I get a non-rainy Saturday. It is an easy job. These are all cheap and simple to replace and good insurance for a reliable C32. My car had about 50k on the clock when the first pulley started making minor noises. They all chimed in after that.
Irish
Irish
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 4
From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
I am tech-inept in every way and I still got it done in 10-15 minutes.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 2
From: nj
a car that can't do the throttle reset.
Nice. Now I feel better at trying this... and I will probably off myself if I fail.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,513
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From: In a box
W211 E55
Anyone on the original setup would be well served to replace with new OEM or better.
