Hello All,

First of All forgive me, I am not 100% au fait with the MB, I tend to work on that *other* german car (dont shoot me!)

Anyway, My Wifes 94 C280 has a Slipping belt whenever the A/C is on.

We took it in for its 15K Yesterday to the Dealer (MB Park Place), and ask them to check it out.

The Service Advisor Came back and said it needed a "New Belt and Tensioner" cost to R and R, $700!!

Now unfortunately he could not really elaborate for me on that, only to say that the slipping belt was related to the A/C

So my Question, is the A/C compressor attached to the Timing Belt in anyway, is it on a seperate Belt. Is the cost above reasonable considering its a "Dealer price" ?

If you need me to be more specific let me know and I will help.

Thanks!

David

__________________
Connecting Via Two Tin Cans and piece of String

Current:-
'02 ML320 '00 Jaguar XK8 '97 Jaguar XJ6

Previous:-
'00 ML320 '97 C230 '94 C280
Jaguar '93 XJ6 VDP
BMW '96 328i, '93 318is
Lancia '93 Thema Turbo, '91 Thema
More Fiat X1/9s than I should admit to
Citroen '86 Visa Gti

It does sound like the dealer has diagnosed correctly. I have just had my poly Vee belt and tensioner replaced after a failure of a bearing in the tensioner and then the little shock absorber that anchors the tensioner to the engine block. Anyway, the belt would buck and upset all of the components running off it, notably the power steering pump.

However, the cost sounds way excessive. I was told this was a half hour job. Certainly, they did mine in the space of a morning. It was under warranty, so I can't tell you what the parts cost.

__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

fastlane.com and figure approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hour to do the job. This is a good DIY'er job if you are capable.
Make sure you have a diagram of the belt path before removing it.

__________________
Jim

$700.00 is way too much. typical dealer price.
belt tensioner has several parts and can be replaced
individually. i had mine recently repaired. my mechanic
replaced the rod and the adjuster. parts and labor cost
is $200.00 canadian dollars. labor ate up half the cost.

and yes your a/c will be affected by a defective belt
tensioner. my a/c compressor used to cut out before the belt tensioner was repaired. thanks to the advice of Steve B. of this forum, problem solved.

[Edited by joel on 06-23-2001 at 09:10 PM]

Thanks to all responses I *do* appreiate it!

Timing belt.....Doh!! Should have looked under the hoof then posted! Well I made myself loko a fool there, I should have figured out it wasnt a Timing Belt, well I did warn you I wasnt 100% Au Fait with them.

First of all, Car has 105K on it, was in for its 15K interval Service, sorry for any confusion

Having had a look "under the hood" I can now see exactly the belt refered to, its the "Engine Belt: isnt it?

Well For other reasons, I am looking around for a shop,the dealer has happened to suit in the past, having done some research here, I am looking at three mechs in the Fort Worth Texas Area, namely:-

Oberklasse
German Auto Source
Auto Heinz

so if anyone has recommendations or warnings let em know via here or email davidmferner@hotmail.com

Thanks once Again.

__________________
Connecting Via Two Tin Cans and piece of String

Current:-
'02 ML320 '00 Jaguar XK8 '97 Jaguar XJ6

Previous:-
'00 ML320 '97 C230 '94 C280
Jaguar '93 XJ6 VDP
BMW '96 328i, '93 318is
Lancia '93 Thema Turbo, '91 Thema
More Fiat X1/9s than I should admit to
Citroen '86 Visa Gti

DavidF.C280 (I keep thinking that that's me when I see that!!),

It seems as though you have already figured your problem out, but just so you know, you can find out how many current, and stored poly-V-belt recognitions there are via your Climate Control Unit.

Press and hold REST (car and climate control on) for about 5 seconds until you get the number 1 and another number (in-car temp), it should flash between the 2 numbers. Press the ARROW down, to direct the air to your feet, that should put you at menu number 52, which is the number of stored slips in your poly-v-belt. If you press the button again (air flow to feet) you should be at 51, and that tells the current number of slip recognitions in the poly-v-belt.
Give it a try! Good luck!

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)