need parts FAST !!!!! belt tensioner
 

I threw the main belt and need the tension arm, and the shock I was told..
the price i thought was a little bit high anyone know where to get it for a good price?

Right at the top of this page - from FastLane or PartsShop, best dang prices PLUS Airborne Overnight delivery for a nominal fee.

what is it located under....the name of the parts???? I'm not sure if I'm calling it right because what I looked at was about $200 cheaper than the mechanic told me it would be...

Using FastLane's online catalogue, searching your year and model I found the tensioner at the foloowing link.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&year=1987&make=MB&model=300-E-002&category=G&part=Accessory+Belt+Tensioner

This and all the tensioner items can be found under the cooling system link, many have pictures to help ID the part in question.

I always hear about these tensioners going bad but never understood which part of it did. What can go wrong with this tensioner besides the threading rod that adjusts it up and down? (stripped)

I suppose the pulley could go bad but other than that there are no other moving parts on the tensioner itself that can wear out?!

~Paul

___________________
'91 300E, 215K miles

well I shredded the belt and the arm was stripped so it wouldn't tighten.....thanks for the help...

The shock bushing can wear out. The associated play afterwards makes a terrific amount of noise at idle...sounds like a rod going south!

Ill tell ya what goes wrong. Its the fact that MB uses rubber as the elastic element in the tensioner. There is rubber in between two circular pieces of metal which is normally under tension (twisting). After a lot of time and heat the rubber looses its strength and takes on a new "set". And then its junk.

You won't have this problem anymore as soon as you modify it by adding ga.14 x 3" long tension spring hook towards a piece of plate 3/16 x 1 x 4 with 2 holes bolted on the power steering resevoir, just change the two bolts to make them a bit longer. The whole thing serves as a counter tensioner which help the molded rubber thing. I got tired of replacing the whole tensioner unit (3 times at $200.00 each) so i made changes and after 8 years it doesn't bother me anymore. Apparently, its a lousy MB design.... imagine a molded rubber on an aluminum casing that serves an enormous torque? that small shock absorber doesn"t help much either.... Good luck...

A simple O ring inserted between the bushing and the washer, no more rattle. Good as new.

The whole rubber molded on the casing serves as torque belt tensioner and one's the rubber begins to deteriorate, which is squeeze between the shaft and casing (bolt), then you can hear this clinging/banging noise specially when it's on idle. Then there's the problem... solution....... replace the whole tensioner unit again & again & again.... they don't last.. until you modify it. Inserting an O-ring in between the unit and the holder bolted together might help eliminate noise temporarily but one's the o-ring is pressed and squeeze between metal to metal then there's the problem again... From a city driving experience (stop and go)they only last 25000 to 30000 miles!!!!!! that's bad/lousy engineering design.

Pineda
I don't have the problem yet, but each time I do anything with the belt I keep my fingers crossed that there wont be a problem with the tensioner. I'm interested in your modification, could you post some pictures or a sketch of how you did it?
Thanks
Ernie

Yes please post a picture and directions of this modification.. This d*mn tensioner, adjuster and belt problem is going to cost me an extra $100:mad: for a hood hinge. Please don't ask why (look under the post "I don't believe this *****) just post the modification:D :D .

thanks guys for all the info......it just cost me $450....

please post about the bracket you made........

speedylizard,

I know that this is alittle late in the response but, What came out to $450.. The tensioner and the shock(damper)? If so where did you purchase these items from? Did that include labor, lunch and drinks???