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

[lsmalley]

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.