"If it aint broke, break it and then start whining!"
 

THE CAR IS A 1990 190E 2.6L

MY PROBLEM IS THAT I JUST HAD THE ALTERNATOR AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS REPLACED ON THE CAR AND THEN MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON WHICH MEANS THAT ITS NOT CHARGING, OR THE ALTERNATOR IS BAD...ANYWHO, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SMOG PUMP (OR AIR PUMP? IS THE SMOG PUMP AND AIR PUMP THE SAME THING??) ITS THE ONE THAT SITS RIGHT ON TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE ITS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE I FIGURED THE BEARINGS MUST BE BAD AND INSTEAD OF SPENDING $1300 LIKE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INDIE MB MECHANICS SUGGESTED FOR A NEW ONE, ID JUST TAKE OFF THE OLD ONE AND SPRAY SOME LIQUID WRENCH INSIDE THE BEARINGS (THIS TRICK WORKED FOR MY BLOWER MOTOR AND IT WORKS GREAT NOW: THANKS CDPLAYER51). I DIDNT KNOW HOW TO TAKE OFF THE AIR/SMOG PUMP SO I TRIED TURNING THE TENSIONER ROD TO LOOSEN THE BELT, THEN I REALIZED THAT I DIDNT KNOW WHAT THE EFF SO I TIGHTENED IT BACK UP AND "snap!" THE ROD BREAKS AND FALLS INTO THE ENGINE SOMEWHERE. I RECOVERED THE LONG SREWLIKE ROD, BUT THE PART THAT YOU TIGHTEN WITH THE HEXAGON TOP IS STILL SOMEWHERE INSIDE. SO THATS MY STORY, NOW THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, I WANNA KNOW:

1. DID I COMPLETELY RUIN MY TENSIONER ALTOGETHER OR JUST THE ROD THING AND CAN IT BE REATTACHED OR PURCHASED SEPARATELY?

2. HOW DO YOU GET THE SMOG PUMP OFF? IS IT COMPLICATED OR SHOULD I JUST LEAVE IT TO THE MECHANICS?

THOSE THAT HAVE READ PREVIOUSLY POSTED BULLETINS FROM ME KNOW THAT I HAVE SPENT OVER $3-4K IN A MATTER OF MONTHS ON MY CAR. PLEASE HELP.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP AND INPUT IN THIS MATTER.

Does it have its own belt? I just took the belt off on mine in my 420sel.

Picture attached
 

http://catalog.peachparts.com/item.wws?sku=1032000236







Have a great day

do i have to disassemble everything? it looks really complicated. is that rod necessary...my belt is already tight

<<OR SHOULD I JUST LEAVE IT TO THE MECHANICS?
>>


Yes.....

Yes, that rod is necessary to tighten the belt. The reason your belt is already tight is because you didn't loosen the lock down bolt on the tensioner assembly before messing with the adjustment rod.
If it looks too complicated, then get a manual or leave it for the mechanic.

ok. but what about the smog/air pump? how difficult is that to fix or replace? what if i leave it as is. will it ultimately end up messing something else up?

If it locks up it could damage the belt tensioner assembly. You could replace the pulley assembly.

http://catalog.peachparts.com/RenderScriptTemplate.epc?_cmd=epccat_VehicleAAA&cookieID=2GC0TNHG02GW0O33EC&yearid=1990%40%401990&ma keid=MB%40%40MB%40%40X&modelid=190%2DE%2D005%40%40190E++2%2E6&keyword=air+pump&mode=PA&subcatid=B607 0@@Air+Pump+Pulley

hmmmmm anytime there is something to do with the belt or anything the belt wraps around, i get reluctant because i never know what im doing. im afraid of making the problem worse....i mean i just spent about $1300-$1400 for the tensioner, pulley, and whatever else a few months ago and here i am with a broken tensioner rod! how much is that going to cost me? a whole new tensioner assembly??? and even if the part is not expensive, the labor will be.

If you are as questionable to the degree your post seem to indicate, going to a mechanic is certainly going to cost you less than attempting it yourself...there are some things that are best left to others with the experience ....you may just be better off doing so , but it is your decision.

this is true....i will have to just take it for what it is. thanks for your help everyone.

I have to agree with Arthur, you seem hesitant to get in there, get dirty, and determine what is needed to repair your problems. If it was my car, I would resolve the tensioner adjustment rod first, then check the pulley bearings on the air pump and replace if necessary.

If you're lucky, you only broke the adjustment rod on your tensioner. If so, you can replace it, but it takes about the same amount of labor time as replacing the entire tensioner.

Good luck on your adventure.

ok, so the smog pump froze up today and i could smell the belt burning so i shut off the engine. im guessing the bearings are bad or something. tried to spray a lubricant on/inside the pulley part, but i was not successful so i ultimately called the tow truck to take it to a shop :( i am so depressed right now.