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.
2010 GLK with 100k miles just turned 11 years old.
Earlier in January, started the car during wet weather and had really loud squeal that went away.
One month later, pull out of the garage and 1 mile away power steering goes then battery light comes up. Belt is melted. One of the idle pulley seized it seems. See pic 1.
Thankfully was a mile away, my friend towed me back with a rope.
Ordered new pulleys and tensioner and new belt. Back to normal.
2 months later (last Fri) I hear weird noise when the car is running. I pop the hood and I see that belt is not aligned on the tensioner. Which is really weird because crank pulley is right next to it. I thought maybe new OEM tensioner is not upto spec. I put old tensioner back on, but still not aligned. Then I realized that the crack pulley outer part separated and moved. Look at pic where belt is melted where it's fine vs later pic where it's off. So looks like new harmonic balancer is in order.
2006 Alfa Romeo Brera, 2010 GLK350, 2018 BMW 640i GT, 1997 Subaru SVX, 2012 Moto Guzzi Norge GT8V
The same kind of thing is common on the Subaru SVX (I've owned 3). There is a layer of rubber in the harmonic balancer \pulley and over time it deteriorates and the outer pulley starts to slip on the center.
Replaced the crank pulley. Car runs smoother, less vibration in the steering wheel on start up. Could be because it's warmer out.
I would say the pulley tool is a must. I used half of the floor jack handle as extension for it and a 2 foot breaker bar for the pulley bolt and that took quite a bit of effort. It was going slow, I though I was breaking the bolt. Second pair of hands helps to keep pulley tool in place. The rest was easy until torquing to 148fl lbs and then 90 degrees. I don't think I got full 90, probably 75-80 degerees. I was afraid to break something. That pulley is not going anywhere.
So $180 for corteco pulley, $17 for MB pulley bolt and $90 for the tool plus 30min and a beer.
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.
