[W126 Coupe] Saturday's MB gathering

[Richard & Nancy Diefenbach]

Gerry's experience with the assistance he received is a good example of how
MBCA members are always available when a problem occurs.  We always seem to
have a knowledgeable person at our events and I can recall many times when
they or another member have come to their aid.  

Happy motoring,

Dick Diefenbach
N. New England Star Section, 
Mercedes Benz Club of America

'64 230 SL (Euro)
'85 280 SL (Euro)
'87 560 SEC (Euro)
'04 320 Wagon


All:

Yesterday we had an MBCA-sponsored annual GTG in Centerville, TX which is
attended by members of the Houston,Dallas and Austin chapters of MBCA.
Usually about 15-20 cars attend.  Centerville is about halfway between
Dallas and Houston and is about 1.5-2 hours drive from each city -- a
caravan left each city in the morning.  I went with the Houston caravan and
we had about 5-6 cars.

I decided to drive my 560SEC, becuase last year I took my E500. When I got
about 5 miles before Centerville, I noticed my battery and ABS lights were
lit up, and my fuel reserve and other lights were glowing faintly.
Immediately turned off the A/C, radar and radio and decided to see if I
could limp it into Centerville.  No problem doing so. Parking the car at the
BBQ place we reserved for the club there, I got out and looked underhood.
Immediately saw the problem -- no alternator belt. Or rather, strands of
what was left of it were sort of wrapped around the A/C compressor pulley on
the other side of the engine compartment !

Now Centerville is a town of 906 people, so Dave ought to identify with it
very well. One of the Benz attendees, a young driver of a 1994 E420, looked
up auto parts places on his smartphone while I was extricating the old belt
remains from my A/C compressor. He located a parts place about 300 yards
from where we were and was off to get a belt as soon as I gave him the
measurements from mine!  He returned about 15 minutes later with an
American-made Gates belt that was of the proper size, and I installed it in
about 20 minutes.  Now remember it was 95 degrees out and it was at 1PM, so
the hottest part of the day.

Had to remove the smog pump belt, loosen the alternator adjuster (to get the
new belt on), and remove the A/C compressor/crank pulley belt by loosening
the belt tensioner before I could slip the new alternator belt on the
pulleys. Didn't bother to replace the smog pump belt because it was not
necessary.

After I went inside and ate at the BBQ joint (the others were just finishing
up their meals) I scarfed down some brisket and ribs, and then the group
headed the 4 miles to Fort Boggy State Park for a show and shine. At 4:30 PM
I packed up and headed south to Houston, going 75-80 MPH all the way. It was
100F indicated on my dashboard on I-45. Arrived at home just after 6PM and
everything was fine. I'm going to order a new set of all of the belts even
though they were Contis and all of them had been replaced in October of
2009.

The lesson learned is that belts seem to give way in the Texas heat quite a
bit earlier than they did in the Pacific Northwest. I was thanking my lucky
stars I was driving my SEC, with individual belts, rather than the
serpentine-belt-equipped E500 or E320. When your serp belt goes, you are
dead in the water. When your SEC belt goes, all you need is a 13mm, 17mm and
19mm wrench to loosen and/or replace everything to get yourself back on the
road, and you can use NAPA or Western Auto belts to get you home.

Here's a couple photos of the remains of the belt....and the new one
installed.

Thanks to those fellow Benz owners who were there who lent me their tools
and also fetched the replacement belt (and wouldn't even let me reimburse
him for it).

Cheers,
Gerry

P.S. The US-made Gates belts fit lower in the pulleys than the proper Conti
/ MB belts do. Using a US-made belt is not a long-term solution because
riding lower in the pulley causes more friction and heat, and thus shorter
life for the belt.  Replace as soon as possible with the proper belt !!