ML320 Pulley Disintergrating!!!

[J.Smith]

I have a 1999 ML320, I have noticed that one of the Pulleys (quite low down on the engine near the centre) is starting to fall apart! From what I can see, it has a thick rubber collar inbetween the outer & inner parts of the Pulley, it is this rubber part that has appeared to split and protrude.

Any advice as to whether it is a DIY job would be helpfull. Also, if I have to go to a mechanic, how would I describe the problem? What would happen if it completely fails whilst driving?

Many thanks in advance.

Ronnie.

 

[panason1c]

Hi Ronnie,

This is a known issue, you need to have the 'crankshaft pulley' (also known as a 'harmonic balancer') replaced immediately, this pulley will cause a lot of damage if it fails completely......have a look at this link from the USA for more info.....

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w163-m-class/1175614-harmonic-balancer.html

Here is one of the posts from above link...

"Both of our 98 ML's had to have the harmonic balancer replaced, It's not pretty when one blows apart, it took out everything in front of it (radiator, fan, fan shroud, hoses, other pullies, etc...) and the oil pan".

 

[television]

It is a straight forward job as panason1c says at this stage, it is simple to fit, the most important thing is the torque of the bolt that holds it on, done incorrectly can lead to the failure of the key way in the crankshaft,

Number 23 in the link

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.662&CT=M&cat=19Y&SID=03&SGR=015&SGN=01

 

[J.Smith]

Thanks for the info guys. But to be sure we are talking about the same part, I have photographed the fault & circled it. Thanks again.

 

[panason1c]

Yep, that's the crankshaft pulley (harmonic balancer)


Fit a new serpentine belt at the same time

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Yep, that's the crankshaft pulley (harmonic balancer)


Fit a new serpentine belt at the same time

Totally agree - new pulley and belt. My pulley failed and shredded the belt

 

[J.Smith]

Thanks Panasonic. Is it a job I can do on my own with normal tools, or does it need specialist fitting or any specialist tools? In the meantime should I not use the car? Cheers.

 

[panason1c]

I would advise you to have a good indie do the job for you, the pulley needs to be tightened to a very high torque.

Get it done asap!

 

[pomm001]

I have a 1999 ML320, I have noticed that one of the Pulleys (quite low down on the engine near the centre) is starting to fall apart! From what I can see, it has a thick rubber collar inbetween the outer & inner parts of the Pulley, it is this rubber part that has appeared to split and protrude.

Any advice as to whether it is a DIY job would be helpfull. Also, if I have to go to a mechanic, how would I describe the problem? What would happen if it completely fails whilst driving?

Many thanks in advance.

Ronnie.

Just looking at this post , i have heard of about 5 people i know all with different makes of vehicles all suffering with TV dampers coming apart, they can give very strange noises, one example was where the the ouy -of-balance damper put a 'harmonic' into the cam drive belt and for all the word you would have thought cam problems as they were being rattled by the damper. Maybe there has been a bad bach of glue

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>they can give very strange noises

Yes, it's an indication of how well these devices can absorb the torsional vibrations of the crank at troublesome engine speeds.

Either bad glue or similar manufacturing problem, or, perhaps it's just that these engines might have a particularly virulent crankshaft vibration problem, and these are just fatigue failures of pulleys which, when new, were absolutely AOK.