How much damage have I caused?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rgnprof · #1 06-01-2004, 11:39 PM

I was working on my Mercedes 250 AC compressor today because it has been vibrating something fierce. Found a nut that was missing off of the bracket (number 16 and 17 on the attached picture - it screws right into the lower crankcase).

As it turns out, the stud is no good, bent and the nut won't tighten down the bracket. I replace the stud and nut with a bolt. Unfortunately, the bolt was too long and when I went to start the car it made an awful noise! I didn't even get the engine started so I didn't crank it long, but when I removed the bolt it had obviously been hit by something - it was bent and flattened on one side. I replace it with a shorter bolt, this time making sure that it would not go in the crankcase any further than the original stud did.

My question is - how much damage did I cause and to what? Like I said earlier, I didn't let it even start but the bolt obviously hit something inside the engine. Any thoughts?

BTW, fixed my vibrating AC compressor - runs much quieter and smoother!!!

Ryan

cth350 · #2 06-02-2004, 12:42 AM

To summarize, you replaced the stud at the base of that strut with a bolt that was a bit to long, so it was inside the crank's space and it got wacked, right?

Well, if you're lucky, a crank weight hit it at an oblique angle and carved up the bolt with no damage to the crank. If you're unlucky, a rod end cap hit it, and you've distorted the fit on the bearing enough to spell doom for that piston.

Somebody with the oil pan off on an engine could tell you which extreme is possible. More than likely, you're quite lucky because of the softness of the bolt involved.

-CTH