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.
Take a wide angle photo of your engine front.
A few photos left to right to make a panaromic view of all involved pulleys , will be good.
We can figure it out with above photos because some pulley/s is only allowed to receive the back side ( smooth) side of the belt, not the ribbed side.
Is this right placement for the belt on tensioner? I had it in the middle and when I started the car it moved to the end and I shut it off, is this normal place for it on the end like that?
Compare that you did follow the whole routing correctly, true?
Did you check idlers freeplay??
Specialy the one after your steering pump.
BTW the old tensioner NEEDS to get replaced else your new belt will be short lived. If you must drive like this... do not run A/C compressor to prevent slippage.
FYI : this is potentially unsafe repair as your steering pump runs from shared belt.
Loosing belt stops steering assist without warning. I've had that happen to me while turning so I can warn you about loosing steering.
Service requires a kit: [tensioner + idlers + belt] at once.
Besides inspect steering high pressure hose for active leak.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; May 8, 2025 at 02:03 PM.
Ya I did it pretty quick once I had diagram, new tensioner will be here Tuesday , I let it run for a while seems good to go I just don’t know if that belt to close to the edge, I had it lined up in the middle as it ran it moved to the edge…. Ya other day I was on real busy hwy right around a bend and I heard flapping , when I pulled over the belt was shredded, my tensioner I replaced 2 years ago the wheel had a slant and belt kept slipping I’m hoping I can drive this till new tensioner comes in
Ya I did it pretty quick once I had diagram, new tensioner will be here Tuesday , I let it run for a while seems good to go I just don’t know if that belt to close to the edge, I had it lined up in the middle as it ran it moved to the edge…. Ya other day I was on real busy hwy right around a bend and I heard flapping , when I pulled over the belt was shredded, my tensioner I replaced 2 years ago the wheel had a slant and belt kept slipping I’m hoping I can drive this till new tensioner comes in
don't discount the plastic idler pulleys with the dry bearings.
They actively guide the belt in position.
When idlers are wobbly... then belt is all over the place as you describe.
You need to inspect every unit for freeplay:
ALT
Water Pp
Idler pulleys
Steering Pp
A/C compressor
Main harmonic balancer
Main crankshaft pulley also designed to require replacement. It uses rubber that turns into chewing gum to wobble 1st class.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; May 8, 2025 at 02:20 PM.
It’s on correctly, belt in the grooves, no noises, I just wasn’t sure if belt was supposed to be on the edge like that, nothing wobbling or anything like that
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.
