Crankshaft Balancer Failure! UPDATED - Page 13 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

1999E320 · #1 09-14-2003, 07:09 PM

THANKS ITB76 FOR THE INFO. I WILL TRY IT AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES.

Heavymetals · #2 09-16-2003, 11:04 PM

This forum has great info!
Had my 98 E320 Wagon (71k mi) for one month.
Found this forum and had the balancer and belt replaced.
$80.00 balancer, $40.00 belt, $250 (ouch!) labor.
At idle can't even tell the car is running!
When taking off no low level vibration (hum?) now.
Put the old balancer under a microscope and numerous cracks and evidence of seperation from the inside hub.
Heat, age, and torque = failure
This car is like another world compared to the 300TD (84) wagon that it replaced (which I bought used and drove for 14 years).
Again,thanks for the info!

Heavymetals · #3 09-16-2003, 11:59 PM

Here is a picture of the cracks.

nguyensteve · #4 09-23-2003, 07:42 PM

Hello Group,

Please advice, My 2000 E430 Sport with 64k miles

with the Balancer part #

112-035-09-00

Should I be worry about the balancer breaking down soon.

Thanks,
Steve

grapes11 · #5 09-23-2003, 07:49 PM

NO, your balancer is an updated one. No worries.

YuCrew · #6 09-26-2003, 09:51 AM

I've attempted to read all the posts at this terrific site. Isn't $5,000 for timing chain cover, oil pan, new balancer, belt, etc EXCESSIVE. I don't seem to find anyone else with a repair exceeding $2,200. I have registered a NHTSB complaint. I also have appealed to President of MBUSA, but have not yet received a reply.

Anyone looking for a class action participant?

logikman · #7 09-26-2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by YuCrew
I've attempted to read all the posts at this terrific site. Isn't $5,000 for timing chain cover, oil pan, new balancer, belt, etc EXCESSIVE. I don't seem to find anyone else with a repair exceeding $2,200. I have registered a NHTSB complaint. I also have appealed to President of MBUSA, but have not yet received a reply.

Anyone looking for a class action participant?

YuCrew:

Thanks for taking the initiative. Also, make sure that you inquire and find from your dealer's friendly mechanics and the others you know with similar engine, and add more members to the complain.

On another note, the repair should have costed about $2400 for alll the stuff..

B52 · #8 09-26-2003, 01:02 PM

Heavymetals-
Every other auto manufacturer on earth utilizes a rubber mounted harmonic balancer that lasts the lifetime of the engine and then some. The reason for the failures is that this design uses the outside ring of the harmonic balancer to drive engine accessories, causing added stress to the rubber. This problem is not an issue that should "have a lifetime" and be a maintenance item. It should be designed so that this is never an issue. Get the serpentine belt off of the balancer and it will never fail. Other manufactures have designs that never or very rarely ever fail.

logikman · #9 09-26-2003, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by B52
Heavymetals-
Every other auto manufacturer on earth utilizes a rubber mounted harmonic balancer that lasts the lifetime of the engine and then some. The reason for the failures is that this design uses the outside ring of the harmonic balancer to drive engine accessories, causing added stress to the rubber. This problem is not an issue that should "have a lifetime" and be a maintenance item. It should be designed so that this is never an issue. Get the serpentine belt off of the balancer and it will never fail. Other manufactures have designs that never or very rarely ever fail.

I second that opinion! You can't have a solid metal pulley 'as harmonic balancer' has to isolate things vibrating at a diff frequencies.... Obviously, for simplicity sake, lets call it, we will double the width of the rubber ring thus putting only 1/2 the torsional and or shear stress on it.. It should last longer..

All said, its not a 'bad batch' as bad batches don't span across multiple production years. I would say, it depends more on your driving style and/or ambient temperature than anything else, as for life of these. IF all rubber components have to be replaced, the first thing I can think of are the engine mounts etc., which are under severe load conditions. Also, for god's sake this is a premium vehicle. Its not a Hyundai.

Its almost unfathomable why a manufacturer would not do a voluntary recall, and or at least a service bulletin about it. ...

Anyway, no mercy from me as for why it should be considered, 'acceptable' life. I have a nissan with 160 miles and I havent paid for timing belt replacement.

sf280 · #10 09-26-2003, 09:56 PM

Mine just went out today on a 99 C280 with only 29,700 miles on it. My car has a Starmark warranty, can anyone let me know if this should be covered?? There was also a 2000 S-class at the shop for the same problem, so this is obviously not an isolated case - especially after reading everything here.

rsl007 · #11 09-28-2003, 03:37 PM

Maybe not related, but I have noticed a vibration from the engine at first start-up in the morning lasting about 5 seconds...then stops. I just noticed that my fan has a distinct wobble at idle. The car is a 1998 E300 turbo diesel, with 80K miles on it. Is this anything possibly due to the harmonic balancer?
RSL

1999E320 · #12 09-28-2003, 11:04 PM

WHEN REPLACING BOLT, IS LOCTITE REQUIRED AND WHAT COLOR IF NEEDED?

#13 09-30-2003, 06:01 PM

I'm interested in a low mileage 2001 E430. It was originally sold in November 2000. Here's the Vin number, can anyone tell what the build date is? Would it have the new balancer?

WDBJF70J11B1734xx

Benzmac · #14 09-30-2003, 09:13 PM

I don't know if it is a must. We use Blue Loctite on ours. We have had NO returns.

Benzmac · #15 10-01-2003, 10:40 PM

We charge 2.5 hours labor plus the part.

Labor, $180/
Part, $80
Bolt, $3.00

Less than 300 with no belt. IF you add the belt, it is an additional charge of about 40-60 dollars (Part only) The labor doen't change.