240d help please - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jason Beal · #1 03-16-2003, 01:47 PM

I posted a question and nobody answered it. I have this long bolt coming out of (what appears to be my) power steering pulley. I used a wrench and tightened it down, but as soon as I drove it, it worked it's way back out, and now is totally loose. I have a Haynes, but it stinks, it doesn't show anything.

I'm wondering if the PO put the wrong mounting bolt in or what I'm missing. I just dont' know. But I can't drive this thing because that darn bolt keeps coming back out. I'm afraid it is going to just fly off.

Thank you very much.

Jason

Wasuchi · #2 03-16-2003, 01:58 PM

Try some sort of thread locker.

JimSmith · #3 03-16-2003, 02:11 PM

Jason,

If you have a digital photo, please post it. You may have to manipulate it to get it below 65 kb, but a picture will help a lot. Most threaded connections on rotating assemblies require a locking device to prevent them from doing exactly what you have described. It may be that you are missing the locking device. Good luck, Jim

Jason Beal · #4 03-16-2003, 02:23 PM

OK see if this works

Jason Beal · #5 03-16-2003, 02:25 PM

From the top you can see the play.

JimSmith · #6 03-16-2003, 02:38 PM

Jason,

I see you figured out how to post the photos. I hate be an art critic, but I don't see the bolt you are talking about in either photo. Does the bolt come out of the center of the pulley? Does it rotate with the pulley? Sorry, Jim

mickey mouse · #7 03-16-2003, 02:44 PM

That bolt looks like one of three that move in slots to adjust the belt tension. All three should have a flat washer with a nut. After adjustion the belt tension, the nuts on these three bolts need to be tightened.

Jason Beal · #8 03-16-2003, 02:46 PM

The first picture the bolt is between the two hoses. It was out like that and I turned it (it took FOREVER) until it came back through the pulley. The second picture just shows the space between the pulley now with that bolt worked back out.

mickey mouse · #9 03-16-2003, 03:01 PM

Sorry I spoke to soon. I was refering to the power steering mount. Upon looking at your photo again, I believe you are at the air conditioning mount and I've forgotten what is at the other end of that bolt, however as the other guy said, I to think thread locker would help. Also, look for a possible missing bolt. I think there should be a total of four. One as a hing point and three on slots, all of which need to be tight after the belt is tensioned.

Jason Beal · #10 03-16-2003, 03:22 PM

Thanks for the info. I meant AC in my first post. It says power steering in my Haynes, but the PS is above that pulley. I don't have ac or care about it, maybe I'll just remove the belt. Thanks for all help on this so far (and I'd love more if it's out there). I'll have to get in there tomorrow.

Wasuchi · #11 03-16-2003, 08:13 PM

Ouch, it is the ac! Don't let that one fall out because it isn't easy to find a replacement.... especially if the spacer thing falls off too. (don't ask how I know) Since you don't care about having ac right now I would at least take that stuff off if you can't get it tight in case you change your mind some day.

Jason Beal · #12 03-17-2003, 03:09 AM

Yes that is the bolt. I got it back in and it seemed tight, no noise and then I got one block away and I could hear it was loose again.

(I still need to figure out how to circle and write on my pictures)

leathermang · #13 03-17-2003, 06:56 AM

Ok, although I think something more is wrong, possibly the threads stripped in the hole,,, here is what you can do with a bolt which tries to back out...(One block is too quick for it to loosen enough to hear it under normal conditions).

Take out the bolt, get some Berryman or like spray cleaner with a tube.... you need to get a long way in this one..through your ac unit...

clean/flush and let the hole dry... Clean and dry the bolt... Apply RED Locktite to a straw side and get some up into the hole on the threads..... then put some on the first inch of the bolt and put it together.... Don't start your engine for as many hours as you can manage... like overnight...

You should be fine after that... RED Locktite... on normal sized bolts like this only add about 5 lbs of torque to the LOOSENING process... I have used the RED since my 71 Harley started throwing stuff off on the road from the vibration...

Find the other bolts holding this thing on and do the same to them... something is allowing this to try to move when the engine is running... so more than one bolt is involved in the fix....

If you have a way , check to see if your pulley is running true....

EDIT... ok... this looks more like a stud with a locking nut on it.. any chance when you 'tighten' it up that it is the nut tightening against the ac... AND NOT THE STUD THREADS... This is one way it could get loose that fast...check to see if there is a nut missing on the rear end of that stud... in other words it may be like all thread with a nut on each end.... I will look at mine when it gets light here...

JimSmith · #14 03-17-2003, 09:26 AM

Jason,

Sorry I kind of disappeared for a while. I am out in Colorado skiing with the family and had to go pick up my son in at Durango La Plata County airport. He stayed behind to compete in the FIRST robotics competition with his high school team. They won and he was very excited.

Anyway, being out here with my cars and manuals in Connecticut, I cannot be of much help. I think Greg (leathermang) is doping this one out though, so I think you will get to the end of the problem soon.

Also, I think you sent me a Private Message, which my mail box refused as it was too full, again. I emptied it so this won't happen again for at least another week or so.

Once again, sorry for skipping out on you. Jim

Jason Beal · #15 03-17-2003, 01:21 PM

Thanks for the info Leather and Jim. The other side of the bolt does NOT have a nut. I thought it should when I looked a it. When the bolt was all the way in and coming out the other side the thread does not run (on the back side of the pulley) the full length of the bolt. So if a locknut was on it, it would still have and inch or so between it and the back of the pulley. See what I mean?

Anyway, I'll mess with it again tomorrow and take a good look at it. I really thought there should be a nut on the back at first too. If that's not the case I'll do the locktight like you said.

How do I remove the fan shroud for easier access to this pulley?

Jim don't worry about not getting back too fast. I can't tackle this until later anyway so I posted this weekend hoping to get to the bottom of it over a day or so. It dumped some prefect snow up in the mountains here in Utah and I can't wait to go skiing this week.