Does anyone in the Phila area have the Harmonic Balancer holding tool? I want to rent it for a few dollars. I was going to buy it, but the chances of using it more then once on the same car is remote.. At least you can make a few bucks on it.. It should take no more then a hour to do the job..

Peter

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Peter L. House
1998 Sport E430
Azure Blue
110,000k Miles

1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon
V8 Bucket Seats
Factory Moon Roof

My ML 320 1999 had this happen at 45,000 miles. New pulley and belt fitted

'99 e430, the part had to be replaced at 56K miles as it was visually ready to go. Mech found at routine inspection.

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GParker
'99 E430 - Smoke 'n Parch

I didn't see an investigation for the M112 engine's harmonic balancer for the E-Class on NHTSA's web site. Maybe I just couldn't find it.

I would assume that all complaints filed for the M112 engine would carry over to all models, but maybe not if enough complaints aren't filed. Maybe more E-Class owners need to log their complaint.

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Dave

1998 E320
2001 SLK320
2000 Lexus RX300

I found this on the NHTSA's website, like you said the recall should carry over to all models with the M112 & M113 engines.

NHTSA Action Number : PE03058 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A
Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model: E320
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. Year : 1999
Component : ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
Date Investigation Opened : December 17, 2003
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
ODI HAS RECEIVED 35 REPORTS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH M112 OR M113 ENGINES. THE M112 SERIES IS MERCEDES-BENZ'S FIRST EVER PRODUCTION V6 ENGINE AND ITS MODULAR DESIGN ALLOWS IT TO SHARE MANY COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER, WITH THE M113 SERIES V8 ENGINES. THE M112 AND M113 ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY PROVIDES ACCESSORY POWER VIA A SERPENTINE BELT. THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.

checked my 99 ML 320 and it appeared to have thousands of little cracks. My extended warrenty company paid for the repair. The ML had 70K miles on it. Then checked my 98 E 430 and it appears to be fine. This information probably saved me a vehicle break down and a large repair bill.

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98 E430(sport), 99 ML 320 (sold) , 05 C 230(sport) Mark

Group,
My balancer failed at @ 38,000 miles--not only did it take out the belt but the alum oil pan had to be replaced. Aunt has an E430Sport with 20,000 miles on it--same EXACT failure with resulting distruction to belt and oil pan. This is just the short of it--NEVER PURCHASE A MERCEDES AGAIN PERIOD. Garbage cars. Hate to say it BUT the japanese market has my vote.

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John B

01 E430/39k - Dropped the car off yesterday for an intermitant ABS/BAS/ESP lights. They called and asked to keep it another day for R&R of harmonic balancer due to wobble.
Also, Ball Joints, side seals on the differential, muffler leak & AT shifter binding.

Warranty runs out end of September...

we have a e320 wagon with 50K on it.
SO far no problems but I guess we should take it in to the dealer to have this checked out.

Cerbomark,
Which company do you have for your extended warranty? Mine refused to cover this repair as it was not a "lubricated part".
Felt like I was getting it from not a lubricated part!

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Learn as though you will live forever.
-Ancient Hindu Proverb
(Are there any modern ones?)

1998 E320 Blk\Blk
1995 BMW 530i (bad engine) sold
1989 BMW 535i sold after 170,000 fun miles
1996 Lincoln Town Car (6 passenger land barge, still smooth and quiet at 130,000 miles, make me an offer!)

Hi, GRC. I hope you don't mind me chiming-in here. My C43 has the MB Starmark Component Coverage. It specifically lists the timing chain cover and HB as being covered.

My previous G35 used CNA National Warranty Corp.'s T2 Automotive Preferred Care package. It covered the entire engine and ancillaries except for specific exclusions. The timing chain cover and HB are not listed as exclusions.

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Dan
1998 C43

Hi all,

I almost purchased an '01 e320 today with 52k(why i didn't is a different story) but the pre-inspection check revealed a harmonic tensioner showing cracks and signs of wear. It was recommended that I have it changed if I were to buy the car.

Replacement of the harmonic balancer prior to a failure is not an expensive job. If it fails while driving and causes "collateral damage" then things can get ugly. If the vehicle is otherwise in good condition, recommended replacement of the harmonic balancer wouldn't be enough of a reason to walk away.

Good luck.

__________________
Learn as though you will live forever.
-Ancient Hindu Proverb
(Are there any modern ones?)

1998 E320 Blk\Blk
1995 BMW 530i (bad engine) sold
1989 BMW 535i sold after 170,000 fun miles
1996 Lincoln Town Car (6 passenger land barge, still smooth and quiet at 130,000 miles, make me an offer!)

Actually, the mechanical inspection went well and I would have negotiated HB fix into the price, but what I learned at the body shop killed the deal - basically 75% of the car had been painted with poor worksmanship. Dealer, and body shop told me to walk away the car had been in accident and the body work was done on the cheap. By the way the Carfax was clean - go figure.
Regards,
n

The current spate of HB failures is not a first for M-B.

A Recall Campaign (Safety Recall #96-0413) occurred in April, 1996; approx. 152 MY '96 vehicles (R129, W140, W202 & W210) equipped with the M104 were affected. W210 vehicles were most prevalent in the affected chassis list. The campaign was initiated because MBAG determined that the "engine damper pulley may break due to a manufacturing fault."

M-B acknowledged that:

"The drive belt pulley on your car's engine could develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, your car would not have engine cooling, battery charging and power steering. Loss of these systems could cause you to lose control of the car."

An improved pulley was offered, installed free of charge; the working time required was approximately 1.5 hours.

In the letter that accompanied the Recall Campaign Bulletin, M-B of NA stated, with emphasis:

"WE SENT YOU THIS NOTICE BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SAFETY."



Skip forward 8 years and we now have HB failures in the hundreds (thousands?) in a different engine family... and M-B denies a problem exists... guess they're now more concerned about their bottom line than our safety.