The problem first appeared today as i was at a drive in restaurant and noticed some motor noise as i pulled up to the window. Thought it must be the guy behind me, but quickly discovered i had no one behind me so it must be me. Got home and popped the hood and quickly noticed a slightly wobbling tensioner pulley. Stopped the engine and saw a few, very small, shiney, metal flakes scattered about. I can wobble the pulley a little by hand. Of course my first action was to log onto ShopForum and see what you guys had to say. I did a lot of searching, learned a heck of a lot, but couldn't quite get the answers I needed. What parts should i order? do I need just a pulley, just a tensioner? what about the shock? I really need to get these parts here post haste so I'll need to order early tomorrrow morning. My guess is that it is just the pulley, but it would be prudent to replace everything as the car has 77,000 miles on it. Am I right?
Thanks
Guy

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Guy Everhart

1998 E320 Wagon

Guy:
It sounds like the belt tensioner is bad, I've seen may of these fail. Luckily it's ALOT easier than the ones you've been reading about, cheaper too. I'd order up a belt tensioner, unless I'm way off track and it's something else.

Gilly

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Thanks Gilly, I checked FastLane and it looks like about $175. Do you think I also need the pulley? I should have pulled it off and looked this afternoon, but I,ve been working on taxes that I extended last April, and just couldn't work it in.
Thanks again,
Guy

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Guy Everhart

1998 E320 Wagon

Pulley should come with the new one -- good luck; requires E-torx to replace, but most auto stores carry a cheap set.

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BenzRepair,
Thanks for your input. Yes this is on my E320. Have a great rest of the weekend.
Guy

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Guy Everhart

1998 E320 Wagon

If you're positive it's the pulley ONLY, then I believe you can buy it seperately, otherwise the tensioner comes with the pulley, as already stated.

Gilly

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If this is on your '98, The tensioner pulley contains a large spring for tensioning, instead of the troublesome rubber-sandwiched tensioner pulley mechanisms found on earlier engines (M102, 103, 104). Rarely see the mechanical spring tensioner assembly go out, but they are a very simple and uncomplicated replacement, compared to the sometimes nightmarish jobs that tensioner replacement of yesteryear required. You should not have to replace the entire tensioner assembly, just the pulley (very common), but it is easy enough to replace if you want to.

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