JPetros2008

Don't mean to try and stir up any feelings or anything by making this thread. Just wanted to get some feedback before I take the car in to Mercedes within the next couple of days.

I have a 2008 and just passed 100,000 miles earlier this week. I was just leaving a friend's house and was about to get on the highway when the dash lit up red with a battery light. Immediately, the power steering was gone and I struggled to keep the car on the road while going around the ramp. I took the first exit and realized the temperature was shooting up. Quickly pulled over into a parking lot and shut the car off as the car was clearly in limp mode. Opened the hood and heard noises coming out of the coolant area and saw some trying to seep out (because of the high temperature maybe?). I let the car cool down and after about 15 min put the key back in and turned it (didn't start the car) to see any error messages. The red battery message was gone, but there was a message saying to "check the coolant level". I've never had any sort of coolant message at all before.

I figured I'd check it tomorrow morning once everything has cooled down completely. Any idea what I should be hopeful for?

Thanks guys. Pray for me

JPetros2008

Also forgot to mention that I was playing music while driving the car and at one point the navi screen went down automatically and the music stopped while I was driving a few minutes after the battery light initially came on. Not sure if that helps at all, but just wanted to list everything that happened.

deadlyvt

Sounds more like a accessories belt issue... Belt come off or pulley break? You would lose power steering and the water pump wouldn't be running so it will over heat

deadlyvt

Where was coolant coming from ?

JPetros2008

Started trying to bust out of the top. Some obviously was able to come out even through the closed cap. It may have been because it was overheating?

I'll look into the accessory belt in the morning as well.

Jasonoff

A failed HG could cause a car to overheat but there's a lot of other more likely reasons.

When you have the cooling system examined make sure they do a pressure test.

Merc63

You lost power steering, alternator and your water pump.... Is your belt still on the engine ??

Sounds like a no brainer belt blew apart to me? Hopefully you didn't let that engine get too hot.

D3-AMG

Based on the description of symptoms and photo, I'd be surprised if this was anything other than a belt gone bad.

chrisridebike8

I haven't seen it written anywhere. Is there a recommended interval to change the accessory drive belt?

JPetros2008

It was 100% the belt. Opened up the hood and saw it clear in the daylight.

Any idea how much this will cost?

AMG3.2

It's not a hard DIY. The dealership will charge you like $60 for the belt. Check your idler pulleys while your in there as well.

hachiroku

ya...double check all pulleys are moving smoothly. an accessory belt shouldn't shoot off unless something caused it to.

glennhl

Happened to me, bad pulley and lost the serpentine belt. Called tow truck, had pulley and belt replaced, good to go.

glennhl

Not sure if there is an interval, but I replace mine after they fail!

AMG3.2

Same here. About a month and a half ago, I start hearing a funny squeaking type noise. About 24 hours later, the pulley seized and failed while I was on the freeway. Talk about sketch. Luckily, I felt the power steering start to get harder while seeing the battery light illuminate and immediately knew it was time to get over to the right lanes and pull over. Opened the hood, and saw a mangled mess. Replaced both idler pulleys and belt with OE parts and am good to go.

It's the first time anything like that has ever happened to me and it could have been so much worse so just make sure to take a look at all pulleys while your in there and pay close attention to any play that you feel.

Also, if/when replacing, make sure to put a dab of locktite on there as well. I recall it being the blue version.

BLKROKT

Some helpful links (couldn't really find a DIY, but it shouldn't be hard):
http://weistec.com/media/productfile...er_install.pdf
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...ml#post6194574

AMG3.2

Good stuff.

OP, a tool that'll be worth it's weight in gold if you are going to DIY is this:

https://www.amazon.com/Alltrade-6486...tine+belt+tool

JPetros2008

Looks like one of the pulleys went bad. I've attached a picture. Hopefully you guys can help me figure out what part I need to order.

BLKROKT

Order the Weistec billet pulleys. Probably cheaper, and good insurance while you're in there anyway. I have mine on order as preventative maintenance - I don't like surprises like this.

Skizz

+1.

I had them put on mine. Stocks were starting to make a little noise. These are solid as a rock and dead quiet. I think you can buy the bearing assemblies from Wesitec as well if they start wearing and the rollers are still good. The assemblies are held in place with retaining rings.

Merc63

You guys are recommending a guy that thinks his head bolts popped, when clearly a belt issue to change it himself lol, not sure this is a good idea, take it to a shop.

Phil Chow

http://weistec.com/all/c/c-63/2008-2...r-pulleys.html

Here's a link to them for anybody interested.

Didn't even know that they existed, maybe I'll get these done.

Anybody know how difficult/easy the installation on these is?

Skizz

Full disclosure: I had mine done under ELW warranty by my awesome MB amg tech as the stock pulleys were getting a little noisy. He suggested I buy the Weistec's and he put those on instead of replacing them with stock units. He was in there already with some other stuff, so he said it didn't take much to swap them all over. So, I can't give any input on the ease/difficulty level of installation. Sorry.

Merc63

Removing the fan is the worst part. It's easy to change them out once you have the fan removed.

BLKROKT

I've got these pulleys coming too and will prob do it next week. What's the deal with the fan? Couple of bolts and electrical connection and it slides up and out like most other cars, right?

Also did you change out the tensioner when you did yours?