C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

Wtf tensioner pulley disintegrated on highway!!

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Old Dec 24, 2016 | 03:38 PM
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Wtf tensioner pulley disintegrated on highway!!


Notice that the plastic portion of the pulley is GONE!
Driving to my parents Christmas Eve, I noticed a clatter sound from my engine. My power steering was gone and alternator light came on. I still had power on gas pedal. Fortunately was just a mile from the house. I opened my hood and to my great surprise my drive belt was shredded. Then I looked at the tendioner pulley and it was in gone! No plastic portion of the pulley at all! See pics! Im going to the dealer Monday to get the pulley and belt!
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Old Dec 24, 2016 | 06:03 PM
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Ouch!
I'm glad you didn't have to go far!

On the M271 engine, there's one serpentine belt, and it also drives the water pump. So, when that belt goes, there's no water pump, and there's near zero cooling of the engine (just by heat conduction in the stationary water - there's very little convection).

Fwiw, for others, what the typical belt, pulleys, and belt routing looks like.
The water pump is under the big pulley with the 4 bolts.





Back to wrapping presents...

Last edited by RedGray; Dec 24, 2016 at 06:09 PM.
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Old Dec 24, 2016 | 08:51 PM
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https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html
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Old Dec 25, 2016 | 02:41 PM
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Merry xmass

Hi all thanks for your help and merry Christmas. Fortunately I had beer in my car as well my tools. Upon further inspection, the supercharger baffle came loose and clearly rubbed against belt causing shredding. But I have no idea why the tendioner pulley disintegrated..
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Old Dec 25, 2016 | 11:36 PM
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Removed the supercharger baffle today (while drinking my xmass beers) to find it was loose and clearly rubbed again the belt that caused it to shred!!
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Old Dec 29, 2016 | 10:12 PM
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Broken pulley



Found the broken pulley in my engine compartment when I was repairing my car. What could have caused this?!
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Old Dec 30, 2016 | 01:10 AM
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Check the alternator pulley one way clutch by sticking something through the front and try to rotate the inner fins. They should rotate one way and not the other. If they don't rotate at all then it's locked up and causes strain on the belt system. Also check to see if the ac compressor seized up.
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Old Dec 30, 2016 | 01:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Rocman8
Check the alternator pulley one way clutch by sticking something through the front and try to rotate the inner fins. They should rotate one way and not the other. If they don't rotate at all then it's locked up and causes strain on the belt system. Also check to see if the ac compressor seized up.
Well I replaced the tendioner pulley and now the car runs great- all the pulleys sound like music. I will check the ac compressor and alternator pulley, but they seem to be working.
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Old Dec 30, 2016 | 05:04 PM
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Bad luck continues

Today my control arm felt intense vibration. I know it was the control arm because the other side went bad a few years ago. So to add insult to injury, I had a second repair this week. On the bright side, the guys at merchants fixed it quickly for a relatively low price.

The mecganic also said that my experience with the bad tensioner pulley is very common, and he repairs 4 or 5 of these a week..
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Old Dec 31, 2016 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by LexBrett2
The mechanic also said that my experience with the bad tensioner pulley is very common, and he repairs 4 or 5 of these a week..
That's good to know.
Thanks!

I'm already replacing the tensioner and pulley in my restoration project.

Sounds like a good idea to do the belt, tensioner, and pulley at 50K mile intervals, when I'll also be replacing the timing chain.
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Old Dec 31, 2016 | 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Rocman8
Check the alternator pulley one way clutch by sticking something through the front and try to rotate the inner fins. They should rotate one way and not the other. If they don't rotate at all then it's locked up and causes strain on the belt system. Also check to see if the ac compressor seized up.
Hey Man,
Does the belt have to be off to check the alternator pulley? Do you just stick a normal flat head screw driver to see if seized? Or need a spline tool? What spline tool?
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Old Dec 31, 2016 | 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by LexBrett2
Hey Man,
Does the belt have to be off to check the alternator pulley? Do you just stick a normal flat head screw driver to see if seized? Or need a spline tool? What spline tool?
Belt stays on. Anything that you can reach into the front of the alternator to try and spin the internal fins will work.
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Old Jan 1, 2017 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Rocman8
Belt stays on. Anything that you can reach into the front of the alternator to try and spin the internal fins will work.
thanks again for your help
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Old Jan 1, 2017 | 07:01 PM
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When I changed my clutch pulley on the alternator it was easier then you think. Mine was definitely in a bad way.

watch this video, it will help you to determine if its bad

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Old Jan 1, 2017 | 10:14 PM
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Checked the alternator pulley clutch tonight, it was really easy. The clutch went clockwise but not the other way, so I guess the pulley is fine. Many thanks!
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Old Jan 1, 2017 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by LexBrett2
Checked the alternator pulley clutch tonight, it was really easy. The clutch went clockwise but not the other way, so I guess the pulley is fine. Many thanks!
Great! How about the ac compressor? Can you spin the center 7mm freely?
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Old Jan 1, 2017 | 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Rocman8
Great! How about the ac compressor? Can you spin the center 7mm freely?
Since my AC is working and the compressor is spinning, do I still need to check it?
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Old Jan 1, 2017 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by LexBrett2
Since my AC is working and the compressor is spinning, do I still need to check it?
If your ac is blowing cold then you are good.
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