how long to replace water pump and hoses belts on 450sl - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

abe g · #1 03-04-2008, 11:35 AM

On my 77 450 sl how much time to replace waterpump, belts and hoses? (if every thing goes well). Thanks again, Abe G

ScottinSoCal · #2 03-04-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abe g

On my 77 450 sl how much time to replace waterpump, belts and hoses? (if every thing goes well). Thanks again, Abe G

If you're doing it yourself and you've never done it before - 4 days.

abe g · #3 03-05-2008, 02:39 PM

To ScottinSoCal: This forum is a great help to many of us. Your reply is not one of them. Abe G

ScottinSoCal · #4 03-05-2008, 04:11 PM

Then do it and see. Unless you're hiring someone to do it for you (in which case it doesn't matter how long it takes, but only what the book lists) or you've done it before so you know all the ins and outs and tricks (and if you have, why would you be asking), I figure it's going to take you 4 days.

But do it and prove me wrong.

Roncallo · #5 03-05-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abe g

To ScottinSoCal: This forum is a great help to many of us. Your reply is not one of them. Abe G

A friend of mine needed the throttle body replaced on his 560SL. I asked him how difficult the job was and his reply was "It was really quite simple, I just signed the check".

To answer your question you asked how long does it take and you didnt like Scotts reply of 4 days. How's 3 hours sound. Thats about what it would have taken me 20 years ago when I worked at the dealer. Now today at 51 and not in any kind of rush it would take about 2 weekends ~ 4 days.

John Roncallo

Tims450SL · #6 03-08-2008, 01:22 AM

ScottinSO CAL happens to be one person who has the most pinpointed advice and before you over react to his 'true' statement, I suggest you try it. It isn't a 289 Ford. Wait till you start dismantling stuff...hope you won't need to ask him where to put it all back together at.

rgp717 · #7 11-14-2010, 12:43 PM

So, did you replace your water pump? Did it really take 4 days?! I susect my waterpump (85 380SL) has also gone bad. Curious though. On most american cars I've had, when a water pump goes bad, the fan wiggles a bit. The fan on my mercedes is tight with no wiggle.

I've replaced water pumps before (Ford and Chevy). Is it still the opinion of the forum that it will take 4 days?

mgburg · #8 11-14-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tims450SL

ScottinSO CAL happens to be one person who has the most pinpointed advice and before you over react to his 'true' statement, I suggest you try it. It isn't a 289 Ford. Wait till you start dismantling stuff...hope you won't need to ask him where to put it all back together at.

That's why we have computers (confusers) and all these new, fancy-dancy-new-fanggled (sp?) cameras...so we can take pictures of each step and download them into our confuser...then when we end up with a 6" bolt in our hand at the end of the job, we can go to the confuser, turn it on and in the reverse order of how we took the pictures WHEN WE WERE TAKING THE PARTS OFF THE 1ST TIME...we can see EXACTLY where (Step 2), the 6" bolt we now hold in our hand, should have gone before we completed Step # 99 $$$$$!!!!!!

Use the camera, computer and common sense...it will still take 2 weekends and 14 trips to the auto-parts store (4 days) to change your H2O pump...and that's if you DIDN'T break any part with a "star" on it and have to wait for it to be shipped in from overseas...like my "tool" for the rear-end seal job...4 weeks on a shop's hoist with the rearend taking up a whole bench.

Enjoy the job...er...hobby!

BTW: Rent the kid from next door so he can teach you some new words to use when you crack you knuckles or take the upper three layers of skin off the back of your hand...or the "ever-so-lovely" cut-to-the-bone that's bound to happen...he might be able to drive you, with his vehicle, to the ER if the cut is deep enough...

rowdie · #9 11-14-2010, 05:23 PM

Abe must still be working on it. It has only been 2 years and 8 months since he posted the question.

abe g · #10 11-17-2010, 02:31 PM

I think gremlins were at work here! I last posted this question years ago! Never got a decent reply! (all the wise guys answered.) Went to to a local repair shop, took about 4 hours experienced labor. Downside, mechanic broke one of the distributor cap leads, didnt tell me, said if"car runs funny come back" . Replaced with new cap myself, never did come back to that shop. Regards, Abe G PS Only John Roncallo came up with an answer (3 hours) to a simple request for a time estimate. (at age 83 I have seniority over Johns 53)

GaryF · #11 11-18-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abe g

Only John Roncallo came up with an answer (3 hours) to a simple request for a time estimate.

Not really, we/you still don't know how long if you'd done it yourself. 4 days might still be correct.

rowdie · #12 11-18-2010, 10:38 AM

Didn't say you were taking it to a shop.

abe g · #13 11-18-2010, 10:43 AM

Why not just junk the car and forget about the repair? Is this what has become of a very helpful forum> Why does a simple question (approx hours to replace waterpump) take over 2 years to get a reply? and all but one never answered the question just smart alec , snide remarks! This forum is better than that. Regards, Abe G

rowdie · #14 11-18-2010, 11:16 AM

You received your answers in just a few days. Not being a wise guy but you did not ask how long it should take an experienced MB mechanic to replace it. You asked a generic question and received a generic answer. For an inexperienced person without the proper tools Scott may have been correct. For a pro like John the answer was correct.

abe g · #15 11-18-2010, 11:58 AM

To Rowdie: I dont knowwhat your agenda is, it doesnt answer anything and opens a can of worms! "generic" question? What kind of cr--p is that? A simple question deserves a simple answer. Are we lawyers or car enthusiasts? Lets end this. Abe G