Car is a 99 E430, 90,000 miles.

There's an occasional washing machine noise coming from the front of the engine, thought it was either the water pump or power steering. It got worse today so I took another look and can see that the serpentine tensioner pulley is wobbling. Took of the belt and there's way too much play.

Doesn't look like a big deal to replace - if one of you out there has done this before I'd appreciate any tips.

thanks in advance,

Peter

Hi,
My clk 430 98 with 220,000 km has the same problem......the only thinh is that the spring is very strong and I use a wrech with a pipe to apply more torque.
i will chage mine next week......
Alberto

Removed old tensioner pulley this evening, very simple, not a lot of room but enough to put a torx socket on the stud and a 15mm open end on the nut. Required very little torque; maybe too little (anyone know what it should be?). The bearing cage on the tensioner pulley had broke - glad I decided not to drive it today.

While there I tested the other pulleys and the idler was a little rough. Popped the plastic cover off the hub and undid the bolt. However the bolt is really long, too long to get past the fan; if MB in their wisdom had notched a fan blade it would be easy to pass. As it is I'll need to either remove the fan or leave the idler unchanged. I'm still surprised that they couldn't have worked it so that replacing the idler didn't require removing the fan - is there a way around this?

Peter

OK well it seems you can't replace just the pulley on my car, apparently the tension has been through umpteen updates and it now comes as a unit with the spring and mounting. Should have known it was going too well.

Question - does anyone know the torque for the mounting bolts?

thanks,

Peter

Try replacing the drivers side engine mount on your car and you won't complain about removing the fan blade anymore.

__________________
Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles