A 160 convoluted belt replacement

[RSavage]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere and also if I used the wrong name in the subject.

Brother-in-law has an S reg A-160. Apparently the belt which drives the alternator, waterpump, PAS, aircon and goodness knows what else has snapped. He has obtained a replacement and persuaded me to fit it tomorrow.

I'm afraid my expertise lies more with Range Rovers and motorbikes rather than Mercedes so am hoping that someone can point out any pitfalls, tricks or even simply how to do the replacement!

TIA

Richard

 

[BigJohn]

Hi

Have look at these:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/albert.rowe/mypage.1.htm

http://baby-benz.com/portal/


All the best its not going to be the easyist belt you have changed.

 

[RSavage]

Hi


All the best its not going to be the easyist belt you have changed.

Thanks!

I'll try to give some sort of feedback

Richard

 

[mattkh]

Thanks!

I'll try to give some sort of feedback

Richard

Good luck Richard.

On a different note, has the A class sometimes smelt of petrol inside the car.

 

[RSavage]

Good luck Richard.

On a different note, has the A class sometimes smelt of petrol inside the car.

I'm afraid that I have no idea - it's my brother-in-law's car. I will try to remeber to ask him.

Regarding the belt - well that was not a success as it hadn't snapped but had come off the rollers because the lowest idler roller - between the a/c compressor and alternator had decided to commit suicide by melting. The centre roller bearing is solid and presumably the belt tension is high enough to break the bond between the nylon(?) roller and the bearing.

Anyway, B-I-L is in the process of trying to order a replacement roller

Incidentally, does anyone know if resetting the tensioning roller is any more complicated than slackening it and then re-tightening it? Albert Rowe's page, although pretty comprehensive, does rather gloos over the actual re-setting. I have seen instructions, admittedly for toothed cambelts, which involved using three-pronged belt tension gauges. I presume that doesn't apply here but would prefer it to be confirmed by someone who knows!

Cheers


Richard


Oh and the a/c on the 160 seems to be leaking - drips of oily, yellow-ish fluid from the o/s end of the radiator cluster. It doen't taste like anti-freeze or brake fluid so I'm assuming a/c lubricant. Any thoughts?

R

 

[type49]

The tensioner is a pre set sprung loaded so it will set itself.

 

[mattkh]

Oh and the a/c on the 160 seems to be leaking - drips of oily, yellow-ish fluid from the o/s end of the radiator cluster. It doen't taste like anti-freeze or brake fluid so I'm assuming a/c lubricant. Any thoughts?

R

Is it possible to put a picture of the area.

 

[type49]

Oh and the a/c on the 160 seems to be leaking - drips of oily, yellow-ish fluid from the o/s end of the radiator cluster. It doen't taste like anti-freeze or brake fluid so I'm assuming a/c lubricant. Any thoughts?

R

It sounds like AC leak detector fluid which would now be contaminated with R134a gas - you don't want to be putting that in your mouth
The area you descride is the reciever drier but there are also 2 x O ring seals for the condensor on that side, so it may just be one of those.

 

[RSavage]

It sounds like AC leak detector fluid which would now be contaminated with R134a gas - you don't want to be putting that in your mouth
The area you descride is the reciever drier but there are also 2 x O ring seals for the condensor on that side, so it may just be one of those.

My conclusion too. I did only taste, not swallow - honest:-? Don't forget I'm really a Range Rover bloke.

Pictures of the leaky area are difficult as the A160 is in Essex and I am in Kent. If I get dragged over there again I will try to obtain pics. I suspect that B-I-L will be replacing it soon as he has gained a second child.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice.

A friendly forum

Rgds

Richard