Engine Timing .. Need help
2008 ML350 M272 W164, 140K, always taking care of it, no issue untill ...
Issue:
P0016 RIght intake camshaft adjuster retard.
Fix:
Replace Right Intake Camshaft djuster.
Repair stopped
New Cam Adjuster in but not lining up with chain (PIC 1)
Picture shows that
When Engine is at 40 Degrees
Brass Color chain link is lined up with the letter R
BUT
As you can see nothing else lines up.
I tried rotating the enginie clockwise twice , three times and nothing happens except the Brass Chain link is no longer matching the letter "R".
PIC 2 below shows the camshaft lined up when @ 305 degrees!!! which is the proper way to do this?
Last edited by The_Pharoah; Jun 10, 2024 at 10:55 PM.








VIN is ok
https://www.classicjalopy.com/2021/0...r-replacement/
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Can anyone hlep please, Could this be that teh chain jumped and now no syncing with the Adjuster? Can I readjust it?








Last edited by vesiadog; Jun 11, 2024 at 06:56 PM. Reason: wording





I am looking online to buy a chain, I see that some come complete in circle and some come with the attach on links, I guess this is to thread the chain through without taking the cover off? Can you tell me more about this please?
Last edited by The_Pharoah; Jun 11, 2024 at 08:37 PM.





I am looking online to buy a chain, I see that some come complete circle and some come with the attach on links, I guess this is to thread the chain through without taking the cover off? Can you tell me more about this please?
I have only changed the timing chain tightner before on my wife’s 350. But did a lot of reading in case I had to go further. You will be installing a new tightner also … good luck
Is there a specific way the Cams should be on the engine? Look at this picture, I had to take out the Exhaust cam to remove the plastic guid to get the Intake adjuster out, I used a T60 to rotate the intake cam when putting on the adjuster, but I am worried I rotated too much!!
Sorry for the multiple questions, I am sure you understand and I am thankfull.
Last edited by The_Pharoah; Jun 11, 2024 at 08:51 PM.




Is there a specific way the Cams should be on the engine? Look at this picture, I had to take out the Exhaust cam to remove the plastic guid to get the Intake adjuster out, I used a T60 to rotate the intake cam when putting on the adjuster, but I am worried I rotated too much!!
Sorry for the multiple questions, I am sure you understand and I am thankfull.
Look up as many diagrams as you can find to get the crankshaft and cams properly lined up. Also once you have everything lined up I would slowly turn over the engine by hand (breaker bar) making sure nothing is hitting (valves &!pistons)
For this thread to be helpful to others, I am listing my steps so far adn where I hit the snag:
Vehicle:
2008 ML350 M272 W164, 140K, always taking care of it, no issue until ...
Issue:
P0016 RIght intake camshaft adjuster retarded.
Fix:
Replace Right Intake Camshaft adjuster.
Fix steps:
- Bought an OEM RIght Intake adjuster with Bolt and Pulsar Wheel
- Removed the harness out of the way
- Removed the Camshaft front cover.
- Removed the right (Passenger Side) camshaft cover. Be careful, these bolts should be replaced as they are torqued to 12Nm and then turned 90 degrees
- Rotated the engine to 40 Degrees TDC ( Top Dead Center)
- Removed the bolt from the Intake Adjuster (This has never been removed before and was almost impossible to unbolt, I had to use my impact gun as carefully as I could).
- Removed the bolt from the Exhaust Adjuster (Ditto)
- Removed the Centrifuge and oil collector from the back of the Exhaust Cam
- Removed the Plastic Cover from the back of the Intake cam
- Removed Tensioner bolt.
- Removed the Exhaust adjuster (MUST Put a 3mm pin through the plate hole)
- Removed the Exhaust camshaft.
- Removed the sliding pin from the engine cover to Plastic Guide using a CTA Tools 5082 Rail Pin Slide Hammer Set - Compatible with Mercedes Benz (Amazon)
- Removed the Intake Adjuster ( I wanted to mark the colored chain link but could not find it - maybe because the adjuster was retarded?) Trouble begins.
- Replaced the intake adjuster with the replacement part, Found the colored chain link but could never sync with the other marks on the adjuster
- Tried more than once to rotate the engine to see if I can get the chain link and the markings on the adjuster to line up but could not/.
Mistakes:
I am sure that I rotated the engine (for the lack of knowledge) counterclockwise, not a full rotation but close to that and that "according to google search" jumped the chain and was not syncing.
I tried many times to put on and remove the adjusters that I turned the cams a little too much "I had to twist the cams a little to fit the adjusters'' - Not %100 sure until i find how the cams position should be on the engine (PIC number 3)
Attempting to:
Confirm the cams position
Remove engine cover and check out the chain, hopefully I can reposition correctly ??!! Not even sure if I can do that.
I will keep this thread alive until I get my car working again ...Not giving up
Shout out to @vesiadog for the help and support
Last edited by The_Pharoah; Jun 11, 2024 at 11:15 PM.
I I spend the whole day and sometime yesterday to "Manage" to remove everything off the front timing cover, Water ump, Thermostat, oil cooler, release the Hydraulic reservoir (broke hte pipe edge, the bolts to the AC compressor, still hanging since no bolts going to the cover on it now, the Harmonic pully needed a tool to remove, Thank you AutoZone.
Now, don't know how to physically remove the cover!!I went under the card and used a long braker bar to PUSH gently against the cover, I saw a very light line of oil seeping through but that soon stopped and so did I, I don't want to damage it.
By the way, now since I took the left cam cover off and got the chain from that side, I can see the colored chain link on the left side but not the right side, which confirms that I have jumped the chain, I need to get the cover open and fix the chain and match all 4 colored links to be on time.
If anyone can help? I am thankful
Last edited by The_Pharoah; Jun 14, 2024 at 06:22 PM.




I I spend the whole day and sometime yesterday to "Manage" to remove everything off the front timing cover, Water ump, Thermostat, oil cooler, release the Hydraulic reservoir (broke hte pipe edge, the bolts to the AC compressor, still hanging since no bolts going to the cover on it now, the Harmonic pully needed a tool to remove, Thank you AutoZone.
Now, don't know how to physically remove the cover!!I went under the card and used a long braker bar to PUSH gently against the cover, I saw a very light line of oil seeping through but that soon stopped and so did I, I don't want to damage it.
By the way, now since I took the left cam cover off and got the chain from that side, I can see the colored chain link on the left side but not the right side, which confirms that I have jumped the chain, I need to get the cover open and fix the chain and match all 4 colored links to be on time.
If anyone can help? I am thankful
Read some of post here : I believe you probably have more bolts to remove;
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/m272-m273-engine-timing-case-and-guide-pin-removal.3086837/
Last edited by vesiadog; Jun 14, 2024 at 08:52 PM. Reason: wording



