Pulley Failure! My C32 Left Me Stranded
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
2003 Magma Red C32 AMG, 2003 Silver C32 AMG
Pulley Failure! My C32 Left Me Stranded
Yesterday I woke up and started my journey to a car show with my girlfriend in my Silver Track C32. Half way there and a hour away from home, my alternator message popped up in red and my power steering went out so I immediately pulled over because I new it was something with the belt and the car was no longer being cooled.
After popping the hood I noticed the belt was off but not destroyed? So then I assumed it was a stuck pulled. I began to rotate all the pulleys and then when I got to the Idler pulley, It burned the crap out of me! I took my phone and examined it, and quickly realized I was stranded. The belt also got wedged and stuck when I was trying to see if I could get it out of the way. It had to be cut.
When I got home I removed it and It looks like it destroyed its self and the thing it bolts too...
I managed to record it all for my YouTube and so I could get your opinion. Do you think I need a new water pump?
Here it is:
Pulley isn't stock. I've attached a couple pictures of the failure.
After popping the hood I noticed the belt was off but not destroyed? So then I assumed it was a stuck pulled. I began to rotate all the pulleys and then when I got to the Idler pulley, It burned the crap out of me! I took my phone and examined it, and quickly realized I was stranded. The belt also got wedged and stuck when I was trying to see if I could get it out of the way. It had to be cut.
When I got home I removed it and It looks like it destroyed its self and the thing it bolts too...
I managed to record it all for my YouTube and so I could get your opinion. Do you think I need a new water pump?
Here it is:
Pulley isn't stock. I've attached a couple pictures of the failure.
Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 94
Likes: 6
2008 C300
Yesterday I woke up and started my journey to a car show with my girlfriend in my Silver Track C32. Half way there and a hour away from home, my alternator message popped up in red and my power steering went out so I immediately pulled over because I new it was something with the belt and the car was no longer being cooled.
After popping the hood I noticed the belt was off but not destroyed? So then I assumed it was a stuck pulled. I began to rotate all the pulleys and then when I got to the Idler pulley, It burned the crap out of me! I took my phone and examined it, and quickly realized I was stranded. The belt also got wedged and stuck when I was trying to see if I could get it out of the way. It had to be cut.
When I got home I removed it and It looks like it destroyed its self and the thing it bolts too...
I managed to record it all for my YouTube and so I could get your opinion. Do you think I need a new water pump?
Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaOSuEnviio
Pulley isn't stock. I've attached a couple pictures of the failure.
After popping the hood I noticed the belt was off but not destroyed? So then I assumed it was a stuck pulled. I began to rotate all the pulleys and then when I got to the Idler pulley, It burned the crap out of me! I took my phone and examined it, and quickly realized I was stranded. The belt also got wedged and stuck when I was trying to see if I could get it out of the way. It had to be cut.
When I got home I removed it and It looks like it destroyed its self and the thing it bolts too...
I managed to record it all for my YouTube and so I could get your opinion. Do you think I need a new water pump?
Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaOSuEnviio
Pulley isn't stock. I've attached a couple pictures of the failure.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,562
Likes: 197
From: Austin, TX
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
This is a common failure. It appears to have damaged the mount so I would replace the water pump. It is a pain but probably about time if it hasn't been done anyway. To help avoid this in the future you can get a pulley saver/ belt wrap kit from needswings. It has a larger idler pulley to slow down the rotation.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. This is a costly tow for a pretty cheap part.
One of the first things I do with a used car is to go through all systems and moving parts to check for wear, as well as replacing all fluids and filters. I spent about a month getting my C32 in working order, and well over $2000 in parts, all DIY. The list of failures on the posts here gives the items to inspect.
In this case, I pull the belt off and wiggle / spin these pulleys. I've replaced 3 already as preventative measures, and wrote a list of suspect items to keep an eye on. I bought a stethoscope to listen to them also (<$10).
As a pilot I need to make sure an airplane is airworthy before every flight, as I can't just pull over to fix something. I treat my cars the same way. I've yet to be stranded (knock on wood) in the last 30 years, but have had 2 alternator failures that allowed me to limp home as the batteries slowly drained.
One of the first things I do with a used car is to go through all systems and moving parts to check for wear, as well as replacing all fluids and filters. I spent about a month getting my C32 in working order, and well over $2000 in parts, all DIY. The list of failures on the posts here gives the items to inspect.
In this case, I pull the belt off and wiggle / spin these pulleys. I've replaced 3 already as preventative measures, and wrote a list of suspect items to keep an eye on. I bought a stethoscope to listen to them also (<$10).
As a pilot I need to make sure an airplane is airworthy before every flight, as I can't just pull over to fix something. I treat my cars the same way. I've yet to be stranded (knock on wood) in the last 30 years, but have had 2 alternator failures that allowed me to limp home as the batteries slowly drained.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
This is a common failure. It appears to have damaged the mount so I would replace the water pump. It is a pain but probably about time if it hasn't been done anyway. To help avoid this in the future you can get a pulley saver/ belt wrap kit from needswings. It has a larger idler pulley to slow down the rotation.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
2003 Magma Red C32 AMG, 2003 Silver C32 AMG
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. This is a costly tow for a pretty cheap part.
One of the first things I do with a used car is to go through all systems and moving parts to check for wear, as well as replacing all fluids and filters. I spent about a month getting my C32 in working order, and well over $2000 in parts, all DIY. The list of failures on the posts here gives the items to inspect.
In this case, I pull the belt off and wiggle / spin these pulleys. I've replaced 3 already as preventative measures, and wrote a list of suspect items to keep an eye on. I bought a stethoscope to listen to them also (<$10).
As a pilot I need to make sure an airplane is airworthy before every flight, as I can't just pull over to fix something. I treat my cars the same way. I've yet to be stranded (knock on wood) in the last 30 years, but have had 2 alternator failures that allowed me to limp home as the batteries slowly drained.
One of the first things I do with a used car is to go through all systems and moving parts to check for wear, as well as replacing all fluids and filters. I spent about a month getting my C32 in working order, and well over $2000 in parts, all DIY. The list of failures on the posts here gives the items to inspect.
In this case, I pull the belt off and wiggle / spin these pulleys. I've replaced 3 already as preventative measures, and wrote a list of suspect items to keep an eye on. I bought a stethoscope to listen to them also (<$10).
As a pilot I need to make sure an airplane is airworthy before every flight, as I can't just pull over to fix something. I treat my cars the same way. I've yet to be stranded (knock on wood) in the last 30 years, but have had 2 alternator failures that allowed me to limp home as the batteries slowly drained.
Last edited by ImMax; Oct 10, 2016 at 06:17 PM.
