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  #31  
Old 08-06-2000, 04:48 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 5,318
Larry -

I have been following this and the only possibility that I can think of is that something might have go wrong with the torque converter or flywheel.

Clearly a long shot, but what's left?

I once had a Corvette that had the same sort of weird vibration, and it turned out that half of the clutch disk was gone.

Good luck - this has to be horribly frustrating.

Chuck

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  #32  
Old 08-06-2000, 05:52 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 166
May I be so bold as to point out one other thing that has been suggested that, as far as I can tell from the various posts, has not been checked out? That is the possibility of contaminated fuel. The purge treatment may give some insight on that or running the engine on fuel known to be good while the hoses are set up for the treatment.

Another of my $.02 worth.

Larry, for goodness sakes, get this solved! We are all going nuts trying to figure out what's wrong.

------------------
Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles
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  #33  
Old 08-07-2000, 12:52 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Seattle WA USA
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I'd like to explore this harmonic balancer problem some more. I've lost two on my 1979 240D. The first time it took out my radiator, the second time luckily it missed. I've never seen this before on other types of cars. How common is this and why does it occur? Are the bolts loosening or shearing, or is it just a bad design?
Thanks for any input.



------------------
Steve
1979 240D
1990 300E
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  #34  
Old 08-07-2000, 02:01 AM
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Posts: 166
Steve,

You have asked some questions that really go into the quick with me. First, what happened: I had the crankshaft oil seal replaced on my car to stop a leak; that was the beginning of my problems. After the balancer came off the third time in the next 20,000 miles, I pulled the car home and called the area Mercedes Service Representative. (All the repairs had been done at dealerships.) I told him what had happened and that I was at a total loss as to what to do. He made a special trip to my dealer the next day. Ordered new parts by air and conducted a seminar with the service department techs on how to install the harmonic balancer. He had them strip away all the parts right down to the crankshaft and reassemble it with all new parts. It seems critical that the correct torque is used on the bolts and, I think, some Lock-tite was used. Once the dealer had done this, I took it upon myself to back off on the tension at which the belts were set. MB specs call for extremely tight belts. I reset them only to a tension at which they would not slip. I even instruct the dealer service shop not to set the belts to specs. They know instantly why I make that request. So far, there has not been another incident and that was about 55,000 miles ago. I still can't help wondering if it is going to happen again, however.

If the "incidents" resulted in crankshaft damage, I have been told that the only permanent fix is a new crankshaft. Let's hope that hasn't happened.

Now, for my opinions. From talking to people at the dealership and from reading this forum, I get the impression that it is not an unusual occurance. The problem? I think mine stemmed from the fact that no mechanic (technician?) who worked on my car knew the correct procedure for installing the balancer. I also get the impression that the design is not all that we are led to believe we are getting when we buy one of these expensive automobiles.

Anybody have some different ideas?

Hope this is the information you are seeking and that your balancer won't come off again. Good luck.

------------------
Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles
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  #35  
Old 08-07-2000, 07:49 AM
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Location: Gainesville FL
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The 616 and 617.5 motorsdo have a number of balancer problems. The 240D usually has the bolts shear holding the lower belt pulley to the crank. These repair quite easy.

The other failure; the balancer, itself, falling from the crank is usually after a repair. It is also much more critical as the balancer usually removes some of the crank in its way off. The balancer should be a tight fit and we use a factory tool to pull it on. If the pulley slides on or is turnable (without alignment dowels)by hand it will have future problems.
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  #36  
Old 08-07-2000, 02:38 PM
mattsuzie
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Now that it seems many of the good suggestions have come out, here is maybe a dumb one, at least for the overheating. Would it be advantageous to drive the engine with NO thermostat. If it still overheats, you know it ain't that. I once pulled a thermostat and notice someone used the end of baseball bat as a flow reducer!!!!!!

------------------
'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'84 300 SD (sold it)
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  #37  
Old 08-20-2000, 10:38 AM
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Moof !
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Seattle WA USA
Posts: 469
Sorry for taking so long to respond on this. Thanks Ted and Steve for the information regarding the harmonic balancer. You have provided some valuable information.

My first balancer failure occurred a year after a (factory?) rebuilt motor was installed. The balancer and radiator were replaced by a non-Mercedes shop (happened out of town). A year after that replacement, it failed again. This second time it was replaced by an independant local Mercedes specialist shop. That was 3 years ago.

I'm wondering if it would be a prudent course of action to replace and retorque the bolts every year or so? Any comments?

Thanks

------------------
Steve
1979 240D
1990 300E

[This message has been edited by dakota (edited 08-20-2000).]
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  #38  
Old 08-20-2000, 03:22 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 166
Steve,

Your suggestion of replacing and retorquing the bolts periodically leaves me with mixed feelings. While the idea certainly has merit in attempting to keep the situation under control, I can't shake the feeling that once it has demonstrated stability, perhaps it should be left alone. You know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Perhaps some our more learned and experienced comrades in this forum will favor us with their views on this?

------------------
Ted
1979 240D
160,000 miles
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  #39  
Old 08-20-2000, 04:11 PM
ralfmalph
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Larry,does the vibration change when changing from drive to reverse? When pushing "EC" and then the middle ACC button again? Have you tried slightly unloading the engine mounts and rear trans mount while the engine is running w/ the daughter inside to listen for changes in pitch or tone. Does the car have the "capture mount" right behind the oil pan? If so . slip the retainer clip off of the 19mm bolt head and loosen the bolt about three turns then retighten it.Also, the rear mount has a 6mm tool size allen facing aft. Do the same this bolt, then grasp the drive shaft and pull down.You should perceive 3-5mm deflection. If not, replace the mount.
If this is more of a felt vibration than audible, a torque converter rotor bearing failure may be the deal, and will have sluffed off swarf throughout the transmission. u know what that means.
Check the easy stuff 1st ( u know that too)

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