Mercedes Belt Tensioner

How to Replace the Belt Tensioner in Your Mercedes

22 Nov, 19

Various belts can be found inside a Mercedes-Benz, and each is critically important to the functioning of numerous engine parts. One of the most essential ones is the serpentine belt (or drive belt). This is the rubber element responsible for connecting various engine parts and keeping them in motion. The serpentine belt in your Mercedes drives accessories installed in your motors such as the water pump, air conditioner compressor, and alternator.

As with any belt in your vehicle, maintaining proper tension is critically important. This is where the belt tensioner comes into play. Drivers often find that automatic spring-loaded belt tensioners can seize up or wear out and become weak. It is essential to replace the tensioner when necessary, since a lack of proper tension can cause the serpentine belt to slip and wear down quicker. This article describes what is involved with replacing a serpentine drive belt tensioner in a Mercedes-Benz.

Getting to Know Your Drive Belt Tensioner

The serpentine belt is the engine part that connects various essential components in the engine bay. The belt itself is basically a long rubber loop that transfers power to the air conditioner, the alternator, power steering, and the water pump. As you might imagine, these are all pretty important to your Mercedes functioning properly.

The serpentine belt can be found on the engine’s side and is accessible from beneath the hood. The drive belt is not the same thing as the vehicle’s timing belt, which is located beneath protective covers and runs the engine camshafts. The tensioner is a vital part of this belt.

Serpentine belts are grooved on one side and smooth on the other. This tensioning belt is hooked around pulleys of several engine parts and is often considered as the rubber band for your engine. Like any rubber band, the serpentine belt needs to have proper amounts of both tension and elasticity to function at optimal levels.

Warning Signs of a Faulty Belt Tensioner

As the mileage increases on your Mercedes, the belt tensioner pulley can begin to wear and crack. It can eventually fail while the motor is running if it is not replaced in time. If the drive belts come off the numerous pulleys, extensive damage could occur. When the tensioner pulley bearing fails, you will usually hear noises from the engine’s front section.

When you first turn on the engine, the serpentine belt is what connects all the parts of your engine that bring the car to life. Without this drive belt, there would not be enough torque for either these components or your vehicle to function.

Seized belt tensioners can cause a loose drive belt to roll off and malfunction. Among the most common symptoms of a loose belt is hearing a loud squealing noise as you start the engine when the engine. If the serpentine belt consistently slips off the pulley, this is an indication of a failing tensioner.

Replacing the Belt Tensioner in Your Mercedes-Benz

While different varieties of Mercedes models may slightly differ, there are common traits of replacing the belt tensioners. You should follow the manufacturer-specific instructions for installing the new replacement after removing the faulty belt tensioner using these steps:

● Step 1 – Disconnect the battery
● Step 2 – Jack up the car
● Step 3 – Remove airbox and air filter
● Step 4 – Remove the wideband
● Step 5 – Unscrew/unclip the hose clamp
● Step 6 – Disconnect all throttle bottle hoses
● Step 7 – Remove the intake manifold
● Step 8 – Remove the supercharger
● Step 9 – Remove the belt tensioner

German Automotive Master Technicians

It is important to have your German automobile Mercedes Belt Tensioner Replacingdiagnosed, serviced, and repaired by certified technicians experienced with these vehicles. Santa Barbara Autowerks is a premier dealer alternative that has received tremendous praise from customers for consistently offering professionalism and high-quality service for various BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Mini Cooper, Mercedes, and Porsche vehicle models.

With over 40 years of combined German automotive expertise, our team of experts provides superior diagnostic, maintenance, and repair service to customers in and around Santa Barbara, CA. Please do not hesitate to contact Santa Barbara Autowerks at your earliest convenience to schedule an appointment to have your European vehicle services by our highly-qualified team of technicians.

Call Us Today!