Engine Growling
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
2001 E 430
Engine Growling
I have a 2001 E430 (W210) and the past week my engine has a slight growl. I check oil level and I was a little low. Still above Minimum levels but low so I added a quart to see if that would help. It hasnt. It still has a growl from start to about 30 mph. after that road noise makes it hard to tell but I assume it is still there. The car has 106k miles. and still runs great, I just want to know if there is any PM work I need to do.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
SL600 r230, SL600 r129, SL500 r230, ML320, C280 Sport, R170 450SL, 190e 2.3 16V (2)
Is the growl from the engine itself? Or maybe the belt idler bearing, belt tensioner, alternator bearing, power steering pump, AC pulley, AC when engaged?
I'm betting your idler or tensioner bearing is going to hell.
Pull the belt if you know how, and spin all the pulleys. If you have a bad one, you'll know it when you spin it by hand.
I'm betting your idler or tensioner bearing is going to hell.
Pull the belt if you know how, and spin all the pulleys. If you have a bad one, you'll know it when you spin it by hand.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
The idler pulley is easy to check and replace. Reduce the tension on the belt and remove it from the tensioner pulley, remove the belt from the idler pulley and spin the pulley. If it spins very freely with a slight whirring sound, the bearings in it are bad. I replaced the idler pulley in less than 10 minutes today. The pulley was $35 from the dealer.
