[W126 Coupe] How do you change your alternator belt?

[kirk erichsen]

Good advise Ramon on the R&R procedure with two minor additions. The belts are tensioned from position of the accessory to the pulley, or between any two accessories and a pulley depending on the run the belt passes over. You'll note the tensioning setup as you loosen the bolt to free the belt. For all the simplicity of serpentine belts used on later motors and the diesel engines of the same time period, quality V belts are shorter, stretch a bit less and tend to be a bit longer lasting. 

I'll second the Gates belt choice, get the premium variety with superior construction and elastomeric materials, they don't cost that much more. The other point I'll add is that I would caution storing the used belts in the boot for emergency use. Used belts neglected in the boot don't tend to improve with age. A better measure of safety would be to buy two sets of identical belts for each accessory drive, one for the replacement in situ, the other to be inserted into gallon size heavy-duty freezer bags to keep them from dry-rotting on you and included in your long-haul car kit (along with fluids, tools, bulbs, fuses and the like). You'll note that 13 mm and 17 mm spanners get used quite a lot, you can't do without them in your kit. 

-K



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Kirk R. Erichsen
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Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:58:52 -0700
From: mike.ramay at gmail.com
To: m0nm0n at aol.com; mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] How do you change your alternator belt?

It's a DIY. IIRC, 13mm and 17mm wrenches and a 10mm socket will do it. The PS Pump belt comes off and the alternator belt is next. Buy a brand name belt!! I like Gates but there are others. Might as well replace them all while you're in there. 


FYI, I take the old but serviceable belts and toss them under the spare tire in the trunk for emergency use.

On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 11:51 AM,  <m0nm0n at aol.com> wrote:

My alternator belt on my 82' 380 sec needs to be changed. Is it easy to replace by yourself? do you need any special tools? Thanks, Ramon


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