All the belts are off my 300TD and I need to move it 10 miles to finish the job and put new belts on. Will it hurt anything to drive 10 miles without belts? I know I won't have power steering or AC, and the battery won't get charged. I'm mostly wondering about the water pump. It seems that's not driven by a belt, so I should be OK. Or not? thanks. Larry Larson

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1985 300TD
2001 Jetta TDI
1996 Passat TDI wagon

I would not.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

ok, thanks, is there are reason? what would be damaged? Larry

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1985 300TD
2001 Jetta TDI
1996 Passat TDI wagon

All water pumps I have seen on TD's are driven by belts. I would not do it either.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I think your engine will overheat pretty quickly - I wouldn't chance it. Thermo siphon cooling just isn't going to cut it here. In the end a 10 mile tow is going to be a lot cheaper!

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1984 300TD

The water pump is driven by two belts. No belts = no water pump.

Can you at least put one of the belts that drives the alternator and water pump? Even an old one? I don't remember if that one drives the fan, but if not you could jumper the electric fan so it runs.

You should have the coolant moving when the engine is running.

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

It's not only heat, but heat distribution. The engine can take a fair amount of heat if distributed (fairly) evenly by coolant flow.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

My belt broke once as I was pulling into work. I also thought that I could get home a fix it. Who needs the alternator?, I was thinking.

I forgot about the water pump. I looked at my gauge on the expressway 6 miles later and it was pegged. I shut off and coasted a while. I pulled into a gas station and called a buddy. He took me to a parts store and I bought a belt. We went back and I put it on and all was right with the world.

What a scare!

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

I threw a belt on my 240D while on the freeway and drove it another 20 miles to get to my mechanic's who was the closest source for belts on a Saturday morning. If I went any faster than 55mph the engine temp would reach the red but it made it and the car had no leaks or loss in performance in the 10k miles I drove it after that.

But if you can get a ride to get the belt I would definitely do that instead.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I wouldn't do it. Once when my belt broke a few years ago I was able to make it home...

However that was being within a mile of home and even then I stopped after about half a mile because the temperature was starting to rise (It doesn't take long at all) I waited a few minutes for the temp to come down, accelerated and then coasted the rest of the way with the engine off.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Make a duct tape belt if you have to.
I killed my 93 Ranger trying to get to the next exit without a belt, and a friend of mine recently killed his Buick when he threw a belt.

I wouldn't chance it

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I would not do it. You'll wreck the engine. The water pump IS indeed belt driven. A half a mile starting with a cold motor driven slowly? 10 miles? Never.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

You can steal a pair of your wifes pantyhose and wrap them around the belt path and tie them. works as an emergency measure, I have done it. No belts is asking for a dead engine. Cheers Dan

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It's always something simple
91 300D 603.960 (from japan) 194K
92 Toyota Diesel Landcruiser HDJ81-t 116K
02 Golf TDI new head courtesy of PO
87 300D
97 BMW 525 TDS Wagon 5spd
bunch of Onan and other diesel generators

The belt drives:
alternator - can do without
compressor - can do without
water pump - can do without if you drive 1 mile and rest for 1 hour
power steering - you may have a hard time steering it. I find it very hard to steer without power steering on a 300D.

In theory, it is possible. In practice, you need to rest and let the engine cools down.

Have you ever thought of using penty hose to wrap round the water pump?

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8396293

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.