Evening all.....just joined and wanted to say hi and thanks for a great site....i have been stopping by for a while but now i have a problem i thought i would join and see what help i can get...
its a long story so bear with me...
2 weelks ago my car began to smell burning rubber....checked and saw nothing and then one night after driving out in snow alternator light and power sterring lights came on and gave up. lifeted bonnett and the crankshaft pulley had disintegrated.....the outer band had come away as the rubber inner band burnt away.
i carefully drove home (less than mile) and parked up.
checked on here and found problems with them so called mercedes benz here in brighton in uk. they knew there was prob so said bring it in BUT could not guarantee due to age and mileage of car.
Anyway the breakdown service i use AA said they would be out to pick me up within 2 hours and guess what 9 days later they still have not come.
Adverse weather and all that.....bit of snow and country comes to standstill...
anyway took to my local garage today after recharging battery to give life to ecu and so on and guess what ...they cant get the bolt off.....
it is not a bolt but a hex allen key jobbie....17mm.....they tried the airgun but cant get it off.....they said they will have to take rad off and thats 5 hour job.....at £70 and hour we are talking £300 and thats not including the new part as i already bought that.
finally.....my question is.....now that i have got the car home can anyone advise wether the methods seen on youtube of using breaker bar wedged under suspension and cranking the engine to loosen the bolt will work....what damage can it do if any and if that does not work what else can i do......
i love my ml and wont be beaten by a bloody 17mm bolt....
any help really appreciated guys......cheers
gary
PS have to say that mercedes here in brighton were fantastic.....really helpful but due to mileage and age of car could not do as head office said it was natural wear and tear....that i can understand at 117,000 miles and nearly 11 years old.

 

alot of benzes had a recall on that. which in that case it will be FREE to replace it.
the bolt does come off. just need a tool to hold the crank pulley then a large breaker bar always works!! you might need to put on some extra leverage on the end of the breaker bar but it will come off.

 

Hi Gary,
I bought my '99ML320 about 2,5 years ago at 132,000 miles on it and after replacing broken transmission in it my first trip was to clossest Mercedes dealer to fix all recalls for this car which are free replacement of a power steering hose (not a clamp as the buletin says) and harmonic balancer. I'm a third owner and these repairs were not done till 2008, without any question plus I got free car wash.
Now, to your balancer leftover problem. You can buy new or used one and install it yourself. Buy a good quality 17mm allen impact socket and borrow or rent impact gun. I'm sure there are some remainings of the balancer on the shaft that you need to clamp down (large jawless wise grips with adjustible motorcycle style roller chain or long prybar). You may have to remove the radiator to get the impact gun there but I would try first 1/2" x 24" long braker bar, I'll bet it will move the screw and brake the thread lock compound on it. Watch not to do any damage to engine timing cover, if it is not already done. You could take small grinder and precut slot into balancer from top and bottom and split it off with light impact of a chissel. Then heat up a little just the end of crankshaft and unscrew the bolt.
I'm sure you can find the balancer removing procedure on aldata web site, here in US accessible in any public library.
Or try some other Mercedes dealer for recall repair on your truck.
Good luck,
Bernard

 

afternoon guys....many thanks for the replies....i have this morning been into town and purchased breaker bar and after speaking to a guy i know with an ml one of thise chain wrench things that is normally used for taking oil filters off with but a heavy duty one. my mate said he used one with an extention bar on and tucked it under the suspension arm and then used the breaker bar to sort the nut out.
i dont have much faith in the chain actually gripping the pulley enough to warrant me putting wieght on the breaker bar as i think it will just spin....but hey ho i give it a go.
after that my next option is to use the breaker bar under the suspension arm and crank the engine......but concerned about this method if honest.....but needs must and all that...
finally from my little knowledge of this engine i see that the crankshaft wheel/HARMONIC BALANCER spins clockwise.....can anyone confirm this....last thing i want to be doing is bloody tightening the bolt if i get it wrong.

Finally about my car.....i see you guys have what car you have on your profiles....i will work out how to pop mine on......i have silver ml320 99.....22" alloys and she goes like the wind....when she works hahaha. am about to lower front end to improve stance. Also have merc vito van......love mercedes and trying to buy the wife one to replace the little fiat punto...not much joy at mo but getting there.

Have great day all and all best for 2010...i will let you know how i get on with the blasted bolt !!!

 

afternoon all.....well have tried the chain thing and did not work.....would not grip and just span wshen i tried to use breaker bar.....next i tried to wedge the breaker bar under suspension and crank car to break the bolt....tried many time and did not work......would leaving 6" before the breaker bar hit something solid help the process or having the bar wedged under the suspension arm be enough?????
Ideally i need the tool is the one that holds the pulley in place so that i can put some weight on the breaker bar.....can i get one from anywhere......not on your life.......
my next option could be to cut the pulley off with grinder and then chisel and pray i can get bolt off but dont really want to go down that route as once pulley off i am limited to my options......secondly machine mart do an electric impact wrench that gives 450 torque which is surely more than enough to get bolt off.....the compressor and air wrench we used only had 2hp and gave 200 torque.......
any views guys...????
Cheers from cold and wet UK
Gary

 

FANTASTIC NEWS.....nope i have not sorted the car.....but i did have a phone call from my local mercedes benz dealers and they have had e-mail from mercedes benz head office and they will sort the harmonic balancer FREE of charge all in...
great news and the guy said they will check any other recalls on the car and sort them as well.......cant ask for more than that can i....
all i got to do now is arrange getting my car there.....bout 10 miles so i dont think i can do the drive unless i take couple spare batteries......i will get it loaded.....
phew !!!!!
cheers all and will let you know how it goes and get pics on asap.
have a great new year everyone
gary

 

wow...even better news....called my recovery company and within the hour a lorry was here to pick up and take to mercedes garage.
so......all in all a very nice day.....mercedes will repair and sort my car and the recovery company have been and picked it up and it is currently on its way there now......very nice.
gary

 

Hi Gary,
I've told you, you will get it done. Very good news and Happy New Year to you.
They will take good care of your SUV now since it is covered under recall.
Good luck,
Bernard

 

Good Afternoon I am new to Forum but have had same issue of Crankshaft Pulley on my ML320. I have started my own thread but wonder if you can help me as I have not had the wonderful experience you have had with Mercedes.