it happened suddently today, while i was driving the computer prompted "fan problem" but I kept on driving for 10 minutes then another alert from the computer "battery/alternator problem" and within 1 minute I lost my power steering. I was lucky the speed was slow enough for me to handle the extremely heavy steering to return home just half a mile away. I found the fan belt was broken and it jammed the fan behind the radiator and it explained why I got both alerts from the computer. My question is: how come the power steering is gone? Does the fan belt has anything to do with the power steering.

I'm not familiar with your car but most cars of that vintage have a single belt that drives the water pump, alternator, fan and power steering. If you were driving for so long (anything more than a minute!) without the belt I'd be concerned of overheating. Does your car have a gauge to display engine temperature?

Sixto
93 300SD

Sixto, thanks for the info. Strange that the tempreture gauge did not show high temp. Looks like I only need to get a new fan belt and also the fan if it is broken.

yeah, definitly don't drive it if your belt is off!

RED messages in the cluster are important and are meant for you to stop driving when they come up so no damage is caused. AMBER ones are just to notify you to get it fixed at the next chance you get before bigger problems arise.

if your belt was cracked and just broke, no big deal just put a new one on. if the belt wasnt, and it slipped off becase of the tensioner or anohter pulley was loose, that part needs to be replaced along with the belt.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Is it not possible that this gentlemen has encountered the problem where the pulley on the end of the counterbalance shaft has come apart. Forget the correct terminology but the car seems to be of the model that experienced that problem.

I just got it towed to the shop and will tell you guys what exactly had broken. Thanks all for your info and suggestion.

Got my car back this evening, the mechanic told me the only problem that I had is the broken fan belt. Including the tow (about 10 kilometer), fan belt and labour he charged me US100 which sounds not bad here in Hong Kong. I wonder how much it costs you folks in the States doing the same thing by a non-MB shop?

The belt costs about US$50 at discount and labor rates vary in the range of $75-120 per hour at most MB independent shops. Maybe $35-50 per hour for a 'generic' shop. The risk is that a generic shop will see a late model MB and inflate prices beyond what a reputable MB independent shop will charge.

Sixto
93 300SD