I dont believe this *****(When I mess up I do it in grand fashion) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rich30769 · #1 07-10-2002, 09:45 PM

You wont believe this *****(sorry for the expletives). First off, for some reason unbeknownst to me, I cant seem to tighten my serpentine belt. Already ruined 2, count'em 2 tensioner adjusters. Unbelieveable. Then with the hood fully opened I tried to back my car up alittle (still cant figure out why), my hood ornament gets caught in the clothesline, instead of the d*mn emblem breaking, it snaps my hood backwards, then it shoots fowards but never passes the nook which keeps the hood fully opened. I figured no harm done. BULL*****!!! The hinge on the passengerside is bent. I cant even close the D*MN HOOD

now.
Now, not only cant I figure out what's the problem with me tightening the belt (must wait for the next adjuster to come) but now my hood is 1/4 of the way open...

I really hope this means something good is about to happen. This ***** all started with charging the ac and for some stupid reason I decided to change the belt. It did look glazed so I figured since I'm under the hood I might as well change the belt..I feel like an IDIOT

.

How can I tell if the tensioner is shot altogether..The car does have 200k mi on it?

suginami · #2 07-10-2002, 10:45 PM

lol. Don't give up!

That is one of the funniest things I've read in a loooong time!

drbrandini · #3 07-10-2002, 10:58 PM

Make sure to loosen the locking bolt in front then turn the adjuster bolt otherwise youll strip the tensioner out.

Things will get better.....they always do just keep your head up......and not the hood....oops!

Gilly · #4 07-11-2002, 12:04 AM

On the tightener, once it's removed, it's easy enough to tell if it's worn or not. On the part on the back, the flat spots that the tightener fixture slips on to, the flats should be pointing directly at the idler pulley on the tightener, +- 10 degrees.
Gilly

rich30769 · #5 07-11-2002, 06:50 AM

Thanks..

..I check everything this weekend..DAAAMN DAAAMN DAAAAM....Oh yeah. The AC works fine..

#6 07-11-2002, 09:10 AM

Sorry. I can't resist!! - Hey Richie - look at the bright side - with the A/C working - you have a really cool car with a hood that won't close!:p :p :p
PS: get a hood hinge from the bones yard - they are not hard to install!!

rich30769 · #7 07-11-2002, 05:39 PM

moedip,
You say they are not that hard to install? From what I'm seeing it looks like I have to remove the fender as there are a few nuts that seems to be in between the fender.. Please someone tell me that this hinge can be changed fairly simple..Is this covered in any of the manuals, just in case? Tried to see if the hinge could be straightened? No such luck, as soon as I tried to close the hood the hinge bent again.. Hope that I can find a junk yard with this part, the dealer wants between $69 and $80.

PS: Back to the belt. It seems that when I tighten the bolt nothing gets tighter, nothing moves at all. That adjustment indicator isn't present on my car which means someone was in there once before(I guess). Can anyone tell me what's the problem?

TIA

#8 07-12-2002, 08:36 AM

Remove the fender? I'll have a look at my 560sel this weekend and see what is involved. Just changed the passenger hinge on the 928 Porsche and it was simple. If Porsche didn't make it hard - I can't see why Mercedes would. If you want a real nightmare try to change the valve cover gaskets on the Porsche!!!

:p :p
On your tensioner - you are talking about the bolt that tightens up the tensioner after ajusting it-- right? If so - take the tensioner off and try to thread the bolt and tighten it into the hole - if you can't draw it tight and it keeps spinning it's wheels - you may have bad threads in the hole the bolt screws into. If that is the case you will have to get the thing re-tapped. It could be that whoever had the car before cross-threaded the bolt and screwed up the threads. That is all I can think of. Anyone else????

Gilly · #9 07-12-2002, 09:53 AM

Hard to answer this without knowing if you mean the big bolt on the front of the tightener, or the threaded adjusting nut. i'd go along pretty much with moedip if it's the front one, I don't know how successful you'll be, may ultimately end up with a new accessory bracket.
On the threaded rod, if you've been having problems with it, like a worn out tightener, you've probably stripped the rod and now need a new adjustment device, which is the threaded rod and nut assembly, with the collar that slips onto the tightener itself.
OH, another hot idea is maybe that tightener device you put on backwards, with the little lever the rod hooks to pointed the wrong way, it'll go on 2 ways but only one is correct.
Gilly

rich30769 · #10 07-12-2002, 03:23 PM

Maybe I have the d*mn tightener device the wrong way! I presently have the end with the short rod on the inside. Should it be the other way or is it on the right way.

The big bolt tightens no problem, it's when I tighten the adjuster, the tensioner doesn't seem to move enough for the belt to get tight. I know it moves because I tried a few things with the belt off and I did have to loosen the adjuster so I could put the big bolt in. It just seems that when the big bolt is in the tensioner doesn't move when I tighten the adjuster..

DALE DORIA · #11 07-12-2002, 06:06 PM

Richie........Sorry to hear about your problems, but I got to tell you.........it is a funny story!

At least the AC works!!!!

Gilly · #12 07-12-2002, 07:56 PM

I believe you have the tightener device installed correctly if I am understanding you. There is only 1 rod, the threaded one. It hooks to a part that slips on to the back of the tensioner, and the rod should be on the engine block side of the tensioner. The rod is left-hand thread. The long nut on top of the threaded rod slips through the bracket with the odd-shaped hole in it. The nut and rod are slipped up through the hole, you can't install the rod through the hole then thread the nut onto the rod from on top of this bracket, the wide part of the nut has to be below the bracket, not on top of it.
When the nut is turned clockwise it tightens the tensioner, the rod is going down towards the tensioner, not pulling up on the rod.
Gilly

rich30769 · #13 07-13-2002, 09:51 AM

Yeah, I have it installed correctly. Still I have to wait for the new rod to come (maybe yes maybe no) I might still be able to use the old rod..

OK. I'm glad to bring comedy relief to all. Now can someone tell me if changing this hinge is going to be a nightmare? Is this fender going to have to come off? from the looks of things, I believe it will, unless someone can pass on a trick to me so I don't have to remove the fender.

PS: Hinge from the dealer ranges from $69 to $80. They must be ordered, no one has them in stock..