Everything I read says to pull the distributer to replace the water pump. Can it be done without pulling the distributer?

__________________
65 190d sold
85 380SE sold
87 560 SL 180K
84 380SE 96K (mint)

I guess it's impossible to replace it without pulling the distributer.

__________________
Master Computer Engineer, A+, Network+, MCP/MCSA/MCSE 4/2k/2k3 - Messaging, MCTS, MCITP, MCT, Brainbench, ICDL and starting Ph.D

380SE 1984 <------- Totaled by flipping accident
300SE 1988 <------- Sold
Volvo S70 2000 <---- 4 family
Opel Omega 2002 <-- 4 family
560SEC 1989 <------ Sold
560SEL 1990 <------ Sold
560SEL 1991 <------ 4 my mother
560SEL 1989 <------ Sold
600SEL 1992 <------ Current

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkhazenzcc

I don't think that it can realistically be done without removing the distributor, but it isn't a big deal to do this, if you follow the instructions in the manual. You should set the engine to 0 timing (turn clockwise only!!!) AND examine the rotor on the distributor to be aligned with the mark on the top of the distributor body (you have to look, could be wrong by 180 degrees, if so, turn the engine around again). From this point, it's one bolt to take it off, and if you don't move the engine crank, very easy to put back on correctly.

THe real PITA is removing the lower pulley before getting the water pump out/on. It may LOOK like you can do the replacement without doing this; trust me, you can't. See other posts for more info.

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

You only need to lift the distributor to make room to remove one bolt. I loosened the bolt on the water pump and marked the distributor in two locations, the base and the rotor shaft. Loosen the distributor and lifted about 2 inches, removed the bolt and let the distributor back down until I did the reassembly. When I checked the timing, it was right on the money. This is not a difficult procedure.

BDBENZ

__________________
87 560 SL
93 300E 2.8
91 300CE-24

Another tip is to run a line across all the pulleys on the bottom, because MB has a habit of off setting bolts so things go on one way. This will save you time of lining up six bolts.

__________________
Auto Zentral Ltd.

It's been awhile since I did mine but all I did was lift the dist up, not all the way out.

As one other said, you will have to take the harmonic balancer all the way off to get that the last 2 or 3 bolts. It will look like the crecents in the balancer will allow you to get a socket in but it just barely misses lining up.

Good luck-a real PIA job. Took me an entire weekend to get mine done.

JB

Getting geared up to replace the water pump once I have pinpointed the high pitch noise coming from either the water pump or the fan clutch. Hope its just the fan clutch. Since both components are driven by the same pulley/fan belts I can't just isolate one from the other to determine the source of the noise. Definitely a bearing going, but which one? Time will tell. Water pump not leaking so I hope its just the fan clutch. Could sure use a good tip on pinpointing the source of the noise. I thought about removing the fan and clutch temporarily, but I belive the mounting bolts would be too long to lock the pully back down without the fan/clutch mounting base behind them. With engine off, there is a very slightamount of play when you grab the fan and twist it. Doesn't seem excessive to me, but if I was an expert I would be answering the questions, not asking them.

__________________
65 190d sold
85 380SE sold
87 560 SL 180K
84 380SE 96K (mint)