SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Squealing / squeaky belt when cold - fixed!
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: San Jose, CA
04 SL55 AMG
Squealing / squeaky belt when cold - fixed!
I had a terrible squealing sound from the supercharge belt that lasted for the first 5 minutes or so until the engine warmed up.
Found a fix! While the engine is running, using an aerosol can of silicone spray (with the red tube extension attached to the nozzle), lightly spray the v-grove side of the belt. For me, the squeal instantly went away.
I gave it a few more light sprays for good measure. Yay!
Found a fix! While the engine is running, using an aerosol can of silicone spray (with the red tube extension attached to the nozzle), lightly spray the v-grove side of the belt. For me, the squeal instantly went away.
I gave it a few more light sprays for good measure. Yay!
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From: Chicago
W215 V12TT Build by Speedriven, W221 S550 4Matic
I had a terrible squealing sound from the supercharge belt that lasted for the first 5 minutes or so until the engine warmed up.
Found a fix! While the engine is running, using an aerosol can of silicone spray (with the red tube extension attached to the nozzle), lightly spray the v-grove side of the belt. For me, the squeal instantly went away.
I gave it a few more light sprays for good measure. Yay!
Found a fix! While the engine is running, using an aerosol can of silicone spray (with the red tube extension attached to the nozzle), lightly spray the v-grove side of the belt. For me, the squeal instantly went away.
I gave it a few more light sprays for good measure. Yay!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 169
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From: San Jose, CA
04 SL55 AMG
Well, the can just says spray silicone lubricant. I might have posted too soon... I think the fix might have only been temporarily as the squeal, while not as bad, was back the next morning.
For the real fix, I think I need new belts and the pulleys need cleaning prior to installing the new belts. I read somewhere that after taking the old belts off, to clean the pulley surfaces with a scotchbrite pad, degreaser / brake cleaner to make sure no contaminants are on the pulley.
I've been searching, but I cannot find a DIY on belt replacement... waiting for my service manual to arrive.
For the real fix, I think I need new belts and the pulleys need cleaning prior to installing the new belts. I read somewhere that after taking the old belts off, to clean the pulley surfaces with a scotchbrite pad, degreaser / brake cleaner to make sure no contaminants are on the pulley.
I've been searching, but I cannot find a DIY on belt replacement... waiting for my service manual to arrive.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 314
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From: Malibu, Ca
SL65, 427 COBRA (CSX-3127)73 911S, 246GTS (DINO SPYDER), CORNICHE,1962 PORSCHE TWIN GRILLE ROADSTER+
I had the same HORRIBLE belt squeal on my SL55 and the dealer could not fix it!
This is the first that I am hearing from others about the sqeal in their SL55s!
My SL55 had the same very loud and HORRENDOUS belt squeal and several MB dealers were unable to fix the problem! They replaced the belts,pulley, idlers etc and the squeal kept coming back. After a while it got much worse and would last longer. It would SQEEEEEK AND SQEEEEEAL in the mornings up to 5 minutes or 5 miles. This was both very annoying and embarrasing in a $135,000 Mercedes
There was absolutely not doubt it was from the belts as opposed to a bad bearing in the idler or pulley etc, because as you discovered the second you spray the belt with lubricant the noise instantly disappears! But the dealers were totally baffled and unable to fix the squeal after numerous attempts.
The silicon spray works great but only for a few days. I kept the can in the trunk.
I hope that you have better LUCK finding the problem or just keep a can of silicon spray handy!
My SL55 had the same very loud and HORRENDOUS belt squeal and several MB dealers were unable to fix the problem! They replaced the belts,pulley, idlers etc and the squeal kept coming back. After a while it got much worse and would last longer. It would SQEEEEEK AND SQEEEEEAL in the mornings up to 5 minutes or 5 miles. This was both very annoying and embarrasing in a $135,000 Mercedes
There was absolutely not doubt it was from the belts as opposed to a bad bearing in the idler or pulley etc, because as you discovered the second you spray the belt with lubricant the noise instantly disappears! But the dealers were totally baffled and unable to fix the squeal after numerous attempts.
The silicon spray works great but only for a few days. I kept the can in the trunk.
I hope that you have better LUCK finding the problem or just keep a can of silicon spray handy!
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: San Jose, CA
04 SL55 AMG
Interesting... I know what you mean, however... coming home my neighbors wanted to check out my new ride and as soon as I started it it squealed like an injured pig!
I'm glad you posted, because my belts look just fine and I was going to try replacing them.
I'm wondering if there is an "alignment" problem... i.e. if all the pulleys are plumb with each other and on the same vertical plane. There's got to be a way to fix... I can live with the "chirp" of the SC engaging, but the squeal during warmup is driving me nuts!
I'm glad you posted, because my belts look just fine and I was going to try replacing them.
I'm wondering if there is an "alignment" problem... i.e. if all the pulleys are plumb with each other and on the same vertical plane. There's got to be a way to fix... I can live with the "chirp" of the SC engaging, but the squeal during warmup is driving me nuts!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 314
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From: Malibu, Ca
SL65, 427 COBRA (CSX-3127)73 911S, 246GTS (DINO SPYDER), CORNICHE,1962 PORSCHE TWIN GRILLE ROADSTER+
The belt alignment is what I felt could be the issue.
The belts being out of alignment was something that I definitely suspected and I even tried (with no success) to discuss this with the numerous MB techs and shop foremen.
Obviously a laymen who drives a Mercedes knows nothing about things mechanical and they blew my ideas off! They kept throwing parts at it and even tried to order the wrong size belt (smaller) from a C class. I told them this was a Mickey Mouse band aid attempt to fix the problem and would never work..
Of coarse when the C class belt finally arrived from Germany it would not fit....What a surprise!
The MB dealer finally admitted that they had tried everything and had no other ideas and needed more time (up to a month) to try and figure out what was causing the squeal.
That was the last time I saw my SL55...
Obviously a laymen who drives a Mercedes knows nothing about things mechanical and they blew my ideas off! They kept throwing parts at it and even tried to order the wrong size belt (smaller) from a C class. I told them this was a Mickey Mouse band aid attempt to fix the problem and would never work..
Of coarse when the C class belt finally arrived from Germany it would not fit....What a surprise!
The MB dealer finally admitted that they had tried everything and had no other ideas and needed more time (up to a month) to try and figure out what was causing the squeal.
That was the last time I saw my SL55...
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Joined: May 2009
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AMG
Replacing the belts on an SL55 is too easy to discribe. 17mm socket and a small extension for the non supercharger belt. You could have both of them off in about a minute. Upper Auto Tension is very visible for the Supercharger Belt. The longer one is a bit tougher to find. Its just to the right of the Harmonic Balancer and above looking toward the engine.
Both belts are available for about $ 30.00 Ea. I would also check the idler pulleys. I just replaced my dual idler unit that supports both belts myself.
That part is a little bit over $ 400.00 list. Not too keen on spraying anything on these belts. If they are in good shape and all the other components are worrking and inline it should be very quiet. Just the noise of the SuperCharger Clutch at idle.
Both belts are available for about $ 30.00 Ea. I would also check the idler pulleys. I just replaced my dual idler unit that supports both belts myself.
That part is a little bit over $ 400.00 list. Not too keen on spraying anything on these belts. If they are in good shape and all the other components are worrking and inline it should be very quiet. Just the noise of the SuperCharger Clutch at idle.
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From: Dinwiddie, VA
SL55, CL55, Range Rover, Lexus LX470
I had the same problem in my CL55, turned out that I had the wrong size belt for my Renntech pulley. I too tried spraying silicone on the belt, but just like WD-40 it's just a quick and short lived fix. The Funny thing is, it only did it in the cold weather.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
Me too, 55...
It was really noisy when cold, I mentioned it on a warranty claim ticket, and they replaced the belt at NC. When it started making just a light chirp at startup, I mentioned it again,at another dealer. They sprayed it, suggested belt replacement (?!). This was only after about 3k miles on the other belt...I'm guessing they see a bunch of it and don't even look now. I can live with the very slight chirp for a minute or so....
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From: Dallas
SL65
It's probably pulley alignment. I had a stock SL55 that was quiet as a mouse. I then put in a pulley along with a new larger belt to accomodate it. All was fine until about 1k miles later it started to squeak when I started it. Eventually went away after a few minutes but the more miles I put on it the longer it would squeak until it just squeaked all the time. I took the belt off and flipped it around and no more squeak, at least for a while. It came back. New belt and the same thing after a while. The new pulley was out of alignment slightly and caused wear on one side of the belt.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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my 2 feet
same problem
im having this same problem. squeaking noise at startup when its cold outside. it almost sounds like air is seaping out of the supercharger or something. so no one found out exactly what it is and how to fix it yet?
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 169
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From: San Jose, CA
04 SL55 AMG
I installed new belts and that fixed the problem... have about 4,000 miles and still no noise.
I guess there are different brands of belts you can buy. The supercharger belt I bought was made by CONTITECH (purchased at allmercedes.com for $26) and on the flat side, has a cross-hatched texture to it which I believe helps with grip and helps eliminate squeal.
I guess there are different brands of belts you can buy. The supercharger belt I bought was made by CONTITECH (purchased at allmercedes.com for $26) and on the flat side, has a cross-hatched texture to it which I believe helps with grip and helps eliminate squeal.
