2002 CLK 430 Squeaking Noise from Engine

[gyoung]

When I start my car it makse a fairly loud squeaking noise that seems like it is coming from the engine. If my car has been sitting for a while and not driven it is going to make that noise, eventually the noise will go away. it is very irritating.

Someone told me to start my car and if the a/c is turned on turn it off to see if the noise will go away thinking it is the a/c belt. That didn't work.

Any suggestions?

 

[Stomper]

Worth checking that the bottom pulley (see various good reports on here regarding vibration damper or harmonic balancer) is not shot and rubbing on the engine casing. Apart from the noise, the tell tale on my ML430 was bits of rubber and metal filings by the base of the radiator under the bottom pulley. If it is this then get it done immediately as have read that it can cause some nasty damage if left.
The rubber bushing between the outer and inner sections of the pulley breaks down and allows the outer section to 'float' in and out therefore could be rubbing initially then clearing which could account for the symptoms you describe.
Hope this helps Dave.

 

[jimsinessex]

My 230K CLK had a squeak which seemed to come from every part of the engine in turn and drove me mad. It eventually turned out to be the exhaust bracket to torque converter bolt ever so slightly loose. With the bonnet down see if the noise sounds louder from under the car than from the bonnet area.

As your noise does go away it could be as the exhaust heats up and changes alignment slightly.

Good luck

Jim

 

[cefiro_drifta]

fan belt slipping ???

 

[gyoung]

Well it is not the fan belt. I had the car put on a diagnostics machine and it did not come up with anything. I am taking her in to Mercedes, hopefully we can figure out the problem is and it is not to costly. I will keep you posted.

 

[cefiro_drifta]

water pump on its way out ??

 

[gyoung]

Squeaking Noise

Well I took my car to Mercedes and found out that Jim was absolutely correct a loose exhaust bracket was making all that noise. A $91.00 fix. Thanks for your help.

 

[jimsinessex]

Well I took my car to Mercedes and found out that Jim was absolutely correct a loose exhaust bracket was making all that noise. A $91.00 fix. Thanks for your help.

Glad you got it sorted. In my case it just needed a nut tightening, despite adding a spring washer it has loosened off once since then but now I recognise the squeak

Since then the welds failed on the same bracket and had to be rewelded. This time it generated a sharp tapping sound which again led me a merry chase all over the engine until I realised it was just as loud with the bonnet down as up. I bent down, heard the sound coming from under the car and problem solved.

On the plus side, after 224,000 miles the exhaust system is still the original one, can't fault MB quality there.

Jim