When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I know there's a lot of information on this topic on this site and I spent a few hours yesterday reading all that I could find. Some heroic stories/experiences there. I'm replacing the adjusters on a 2012 CLS550 with 120K miles on it. Starting on the camshaft adjuster replacement on the right bank and ran into a few issues.
Installed the adjuster locking tool
Marked the teeth where the sprocket
Marked the teeth at the top of the holding tool white
Couldn’t remove the intake adjuster as it was under tension. Had to pull the exhaust adjuster to get it out
The exhaust adjuster is under tension and shifted about 10 degrees counter- clockwise
Not sure how to get this back together with the tension.
Any thoughts?
[img alt="This is the setup prior to removing the adjusters. They're both out now and the task is how to get them back in. Thanks for any help.
"]https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbworld.org-vbulletin/1160x622/screen_shot_2026_02_08_at_08_22_50_0c29371217bdeef 920c36c4250ddd4e853a94e53.png[/img] This is the setup prior to removing the adjusters. They're both out now and the task is how to get them back in. Thanks for any help.
met the chain with yellow
Update: Have the adjusters held in place and trying to get my alignment marks right. In the following pictures, the left cam adjuster was under tension when I released it and it turned counter-clockwise about 2 teeth width on the sprocket. Any ideas on how to get this lined up? Again, thank you for any help.
So I decided to take a break from the frustration of the right side cam adjusters and see what kind of feedback I could get and work on something simple. The left side check valve and chain tensioner would be the easy items to feel like we were making progress. Using the MB check valve and the special tool, the check valve wouldn't seat fully flush. I can snag a fingernail on it which I'm guessing means it will leak when I put the new tensioner on. With regards to the tensioner, the timing was at 40 degrees and the timing marks at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock where they should be. The tensioner was under a lot of tension and I don't think I could get enough slack in the chain even with a pry bar to fit the new one in. Is there something in the guts of this motor that makes this timing system such a pain? Any thoughts?
Man oh man...and I have those parts in my cart on FCP....was trying to figure out why I was going to pay $5k to get just the bank 1 adjusters replaced...
Thank you for the great photos, I am sure the cavalry will be here soon enough with answers.
Everything seemed reasonably straightforward when I started. The biggest problem was the right exhaust camshaft that was under tension from what I guess was the valve springs and it snapped out of position. That's when things got strange/difficult.
My advice from what I've done thus far is DO NOT pull both cam adjusters. Leave one in place to hold the timing chain and work each adjuster individually. If one of the adjusters is jammed by timing chain tension, use the special T100 tool and release tension to get the first adjuster out vs. releasing the second adjuster and pulling both out. From my AllData manual, it says, "Installation:Right-hand timing chain is placed first on the intake camshaft adjuster second on the exhaust camshaft adjuster". That might keep you from having the timing chain alignment issues I'm having.
If you get started on your car and need me to send you any pictures or observations, please let me know.
I replaced the right bank (passenger side) adjusters and added check valves to both sides that weren't installed and new chain tensioners. Got everything put back together and the engine started quickly with no rattles but was very rough idling, flashing check engine light and strong gas odor from exhaust. Pulled the codes and got the following ones:
- P0128 (replaced the thermostat for this one)
- P2610 - ECM off time
- P0300 - random misfires
- P0305, 0306, 0307 - misfires on cylinders 5, 6 and 7
- P0019 - crankshaft / camshaft position sensors or engine timing
What's interesting is, the misfires all appear to be on the side that I didn't touch the cam adjusters so wondering if anyone has any thoughts on next steps? I was going to pull all of the pigtails I added to the cam magnets and position sensors for oil migration to see if there was anything there. Anything I'm missing?
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
