whiteml

Hi All,

I finally went to the dealer to purchase the balancer. It costed $54 before tax, and the part number was 112-035-13-00-05. It's an excellent piece, considering the oil filter was $24, this chunk of metal was a STEAL!

Does anyone have a write-up or a how-to on the replacement of the harmonic balancer? I was looking for the belt tensioner, but was unable to find it. The procedure should be:

1) loosen the belt tensioner wheel
2) remove the belt
3) remove the harmonic balancer
4) do the reverse in the same order

Am I missing anything? Where is that tensioner??

Thanks in advance!
-Matt

autogunner

Their is a pulley on the right side "looking from the front of the car" about middle way down. It has to be pulled all the way back up and to the left. Some old models took a large torques bit but the later models you can use a 15 or 16mm socket with a long breaker bar to pull it around. When you pull it make sure you pull it counterclockwise. The tention isn't that strong but getting the little pin in the hole at the bottom once you get it all the way up is the hard part. You need to put the pin in to make it easy for you when you are tring to put the belt back on. This all may sound hard but its not. Two things to remember are your belt sequnce "routeing" and most important make sure your belt is on all pulleys good if not you wont be able to get it over the tentioner pulley or if you do and let it go then it will eat your power streering pulley off or shread your belt; also dont forget to take the holding pin back out after you put your belt back on, or it will do the same. Hope this helps Autogunner.

GregW / Oregon

Pics...

whiteml

Autogunner,

Thanks for the tips! I now see the tensioner, but where is the pin that you are talking about? I only see a 15 or 16mm nut on the bolt that the tensioner mounts to, but nothing else.

Btw, you mentioned that I need to loosen the tensioner nut counterclosewise, is that standing from the front (pulling the wrench from driver side to passenger side)? In other word, does this bolt have reversed thread? What about the harmonic balancer bolt?

Thanks.

GregW,

Thanks for the pics, that'd really help when I put the belt back together.

-Matt

GregW / Oregon

Thirty pages of posts on harmonic balancer issues here: http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforu...threadid=63512 Here are a couple relevant to removing the old balancer:
-----------------------------------------------

"The HB is like a big pulley.
Just to get the pulley, a tool such as this one (112 589 00 40 00) is likey needed:



Discount price for the tool is > $150.00.
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From MercedesShop Shop Forums:

"DR.DIESEL
Location: Puget Sound. Wa.
Posts: 305

Like most MB engine bolts, the crank bolt uses a strech shank and
has a maximum service measurement. when you are dealing with torques of around 400+NM, I tend to replace these things.
Just like steering wheel bolts, why chance it to save $4?
Make sure your guy uses the correct balancer counter holding tool! If not, and he uses a flywheel lock or ring gear cheater,
you can bend or even break these crankshafts.
It takes the correct tool to hold these when loosening and torquing. PN# 112 589 00 40 00.
The torque is very important also.
step 1 ----- 200nm
step 2 ----- 95 degree angle of rotation.

Motor mounts are self explanitory.
Good luck.
DR.D"
---------------------------------

"B52
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 20

The bolt on mine was frozen tight. I tried using a 3/4" drive 600 ft lb air impact gun to remove the bolt, and it would not budge it. I was concerned about damaging the crank also, since the bolt was so tight. Call me a caveman, but I used a chain type pipe wrench wrapped around the harmonic balancer (where the serpentine belt rides) and a 4' cheater bar, and it worked like a charm "

autogunner

The belt tentioner has the 15mm head to the left side of the pulley. It is made on to the tentioner, you do not remove it. As for the pin, it is not their you either have to buy it at the dealer or use a small nail. When you turn your 15mm counterclockwise and you get it maxed out the hole for the pin is at the bottom of the pulley arm. The pin fits under the pulley arm, into the front of the block. Autogunner.

E320Star

why are u replacing Harmonic Balancer? what issues did have with your car that makes beleive it is the Harmonic balancer? Thanks

whiteml

I am replacing it because there is a chunk of rubber sticking out on the balancer wheel. It's pretty obvious if you just look down in the front of the engine. The balancer will eventually fail, and will cause serious damage to the rest of the engine.

allenjdmb

just DO IT. It will fail. It's a cheap and easy fix, and probably cheaper than the towning bill alone when the original one fails.

MB AMG

Uh, oh. Tomorrow i'm going to check it while the engine is running. If there's nothing wrong with it should I just leave it? I'm wondering how much the dealer is going to ask.

GregW / Oregon

Check it every 1k or so. Every one does not fail; no sense in doing it unless it's warranted.

bfukumoto

Just received my recall notice in the mail a couple of weeks ago. I actually thought this was for my 2000 E430 since I have been waiting for the notice, but it turns out the notice was for my 1999 ML320. Oddly, the letter only has the VIN in fine print and the body of the letter doesn't reference the VIN or specify the year or model at all. I actually think this is part of MBUSA's tactic to either confuse or get owners to pay less attention in hopes that they don't bring their vehicle in. But, there is no expiration date on the letter and if the pulley should come off even after the recall service was performed, you'd probably still have a legit claim.

C43AMG

Had mine done 3 weeks ago on my C43 at the $TEALERSHIP.My advice - GO OVER YOUR VEHICLE WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AFTER THEY ARE DONE THE WORK - MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN THE SAME CONDITION IT WAS WHEN YOU LEFT IT.