Power steering failed with battery charge light

kheath74

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W124/1989/300CE
I was driving home tonight and I smelt an electrical burning smell and then the dash light came on in my W220 320 CDI with the red message "Battery Charge Visit Workshop" at that moment the power steering failed and it was very hard to drive the vehicle.

I was luckily only a half mile from home and I got it home, am I looking at a power steering belt here or alternator?

I cannot drive the car so am getting the AA out tomorrow morning to check this over.

Any ideas on this?
 

Cole@MBS

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
13,702
Reaction score
950
Age
54
Location
Southampton
Website
www.mbssouthampton.co.uk
Your Mercedes
124 300 CE 24 Coupe, C220CDI, Porsche 911 4s, Dolomite sprint,
Power steering belt!! or saying that, seing it a 320CDI, it could be the top pulley or the alternator pulley thrown off!!
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Your serpentine belt has gone sir and fairly easy to fit,so nothing that bad,,I can send you the instructions
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Power steering belt!! or saying that, seing it a 320CDI, it could be the top pulley or the alternator pulley thrown off!!

Yes that pulley and why not,,at least with the belt off you can twiddle with it
 
OP
K

kheath74

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W124/1989/300CE
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Thanks! I am no one for under bonnet stuff but is it something I can check for myself, any instructions would be great!
 

Cole@MBS

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
13,702
Reaction score
950
Age
54
Location
Southampton
Website
www.mbssouthampton.co.uk
Your Mercedes
124 300 CE 24 Coupe, C220CDI, Porsche 911 4s, Dolomite sprint,
Open bonnet, look around the front of the engine, see if the belt is in one bit or snapped or threaded into bits, or take a photo and put it on here!
 
OP
K

kheath74

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W124/1989/300CE
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
I have had a look and yes there is a snapped belt at the front under the engine front. I have attached a photo of the belt. Engine is still hot so I assume this belt provides cooling too and is why the manual is very clear not to drive when it has failed?
 

Attachments

  • DSCF0001.JPG
    DSCF0001.JPG
    17.5 KB · Views: 58

Cole@MBS

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
13,702
Reaction score
950
Age
54
Location
Southampton
Website
www.mbssouthampton.co.uk
Your Mercedes
124 300 CE 24 Coupe, C220CDI, Porsche 911 4s, Dolomite sprint,
I have had a look and yes there is a snapped belt at the front under the engine front. I have attached a photo of the belt. Engine is still hot so I assume this belt provides cooling too and is why the manual is very clear not to drive when it has failed?

If the belt has snapped, then it just needs replacing, cheap as chips!!

You need somebody tho to check that all the other pulleys are free and without bearing play!!
 
OP
K

kheath74

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W124/1989/300CE
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Whats the best plan of action on this? I have AA homestart can get them out tomorrow to look at it, but I dont know if they would replace the part or tow me to a garage. My wifes father knows his cars very well so can I source the belt from somewhere and ask for his help?
 

Cole@MBS

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
13,702
Reaction score
950
Age
54
Location
Southampton
Website
www.mbssouthampton.co.uk
Your Mercedes
124 300 CE 24 Coupe, C220CDI, Porsche 911 4s, Dolomite sprint,
Where abouts are you, the belt from merc is a stock item and around £25 only!!
 
OP
K

kheath74

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W124/1989/300CE
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Im in Newcastle Under Lyme near to Stoke, I can get the belt in the wifes car, I know there is a main dealer in Hanley so I can get up there. Lets see if I can get the father in law into gear!
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Im in Newcastle Under Lyme near to Stoke, I can get the belt in the wifes car, I know there is a main dealer in Hanley so I can get up there. Lets see if I can get the father in law into gear!

If you would like the fitting instruction just ask
 
OP
K

kheath74

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
247
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W124/1989/300CE
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
I would very much appreciate the instructions television, thanks!
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
I need an Email address please,,you can delete it in a few mins
 

Alex Crow

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
10,677
Reaction score
47
Location
Super Suffolk
Your Mercedes
W169, W124, w202, W203, KTM 250 EXC, VW T25 camper and a Polo in a pear tree
sorry to say it, but i fear something has gone astray to cause the belt failure. favourites will be the water pump, or alternator pulley. get someone to have a quick look and come back here with more questions.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
sorry to say it, but i fear something has gone astray to cause the belt failure. favourites will be the water pump, or alternator pulley. get someone to have a quick look and come back here with more questions.

I did suggest twiddling with the pulleys earlier on, and as you say must be done
 

Cole@MBS

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
13,702
Reaction score
950
Age
54
Location
Southampton
Website
www.mbssouthampton.co.uk
Your Mercedes
124 300 CE 24 Coupe, C220CDI, Porsche 911 4s, Dolomite sprint,
sorry to say it, but i fear something has gone astray to cause the belt failure. favourites will be the water pump, or alternator pulley. get someone to have a quick look and come back here with more questions.

Did say that in post number 2 Andy!!!
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Go back to your post and edit out the address in "edit"

Do check that all pulleys turn freely with no roughness.

The info on the tensioner is not for it to be removed,so just use the adjustment part
 

Alex Crow

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
10,677
Reaction score
47
Location
Super Suffolk
Your Mercedes
W169, W124, w202, W203, KTM 250 EXC, VW T25 camper and a Polo in a pear tree
sorry chaps, yes you both did. i just felt this thread was looking a little optimistic with the belt change - it almost certainly needs more than this.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
sorry chaps, yes you both did. i just felt this thread was looking a little optimistic with the belt change - it almost certainly needs more than this.

Perhaps I should have added to check to see if the alternator pulley wobbles when the new belt is on,, I do agree that the rubber smell prior to it breaking is a give away point here.

An examination of the old belt should show that
 
Top Bottom