SLK idle pulley noise demo - Page 2

Ikarus · 07-27-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by jliu

Thats sounds like the beginning stages of an idler pulley issue. The video is of one that is really bad. Mine was sort of inbetween and getting worse towards the video in the last week. Don't forget you are listening to the video with the hood up and the mic in front of the car.

The whine is unmistakeable. Unfortunately you didn't really wind it up ... sounds like you only went to 2000 rpm or something. Could you perhaps make another sound clip and wind it up to at least 3500?

It certainly seems to be progressing. My car just hit 6000 miles and I'm sure it didn't sound like that when I bought it a year ago. When it started, I heard it only when the roof was up. Now I start noticing it even when it is down. In the cabin it is most audible in the rpm range I used when I made the recording (2000 - 3000 rpm). Above that, other engine sounds start dominating and it's not audible anymore. I'll make another recording from the outside with the hood up over the weekend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by in2dwww

That sounds more like a fan is whirring around. Was it hot outside?

It was around 68F (20C).

jliu · 07-27-2007

I just noticed your talking about a slk280. I don't know what a normal slk280 sounds like. But I also noticed your in the bay area.

Shoot me a PM and we can try and meet up so I can hear it in person.

jliu · 07-30-2007

Ikarus ... it was great meeting another SLK owner today!

TO summarize what I heard ...

The sound is not in your imagination ... but of course it is very faint. It sounds like a very high pitched whine that increases with RPM. While not loud ... I certainly can understand how annoying it can be.

This is the same sound I had which was fixed by changing the idler pulley. The sound was coming from the top side so it doesn't seem to be one of the bottom pulleys. I'd just get it replaced. You can try working with EuroElites in Fremont if none of the dealers want to do it.

Ikarus · 07-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by jliu

Ikarus ... it was great meeting another SLK owner today!

It was all my pleasure. Not only did I get some good advice, but I also got to admire your monster of an SLK55 AMG. Impressive numbers and it definitely looks the part.

Gayle280 · 08-10-2007

turned out whine was fixed pretty much (still slight sound) idler pulley...so the mystery for me is solved. Dealer replaced under warranty.

Ikarus · 08-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle280

turned out whine was fixed pretty much (still slight sound) idler pulley...so the mystery for me is solved. Dealer replaced under warranty.

Thanks for the update! Could you also post the part number listed on the repair slip, please?

quaidorsay · 08-11-2007

I had this problem, its the idle pulley. I made a big deal of it here and mbworld. it was the idle pulley that had to be replaced.

Yes, hopefully they'll replace the right one too!

Q

Ikarus · 11-04-2007

My car was due for its first oil change. I brought it to a different dealership this time and asked them to also check the engine noise. They ended up once again changing the upper idle pulley under warranty (part number 272-202-08-19) and suprise, suprise, it still sounds the same. I would have been nice of them to consider a different pulley this time.

**etyu** · 11-05-2007

Ask the head technician to isolate the source of the noise. They have a stethoscope that has a long steel tube as its listening piece. It may be the lower idler pulley.

They replaced the upper idler pulley in mine but told me to return if noise continues and they'll replace the lower idler pulley. Knock on wood, so far I haven't noticed the cat's cry from the engine area with the bonnet/hood open.

DansSlk · 11-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by etyu

Ask the head technician to isolate the source of the noise. They have a stethoscope that has a long steel tube as its listening piece. It may be the lower idler pulley.

They replaced the upper idler pulley in mine but told me to return if noise continues and they'll replace the lower idler pulley. Knock on wood, so far I haven't noticed the cat's cry from the engine area with the bonnet/hood open.

Lower idler pulley on a 55 mate?

PsychoAzn · 11-06-2007

YouTube - blow off valve duck call

what about this?

**etyu** · 11-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

Lower idler pulley on a 55 mate?

This was from the service advisor and not the chief technician himself. I asked him (service advisor) how many idler pulleys on the 55, and he said two -- upper and lower.

Perhaps he was thinking of a non-55 like the 350 or 280 perhaps?

Perhaps you can shed some light on this subject mate. (Thanks in advance

)

DansSlk · 11-06-2007

On a 55 you have 7 pulleys.

Connected to -

Pulley 1 Crankshaft
Pulley 2 AC Compressor
Pulley 3 Power Steering Pump
Pulley 4 Guide (Idle) Pulley
Pulley 5 Generator
Pulley 6 Coolant Pump and Fan
Pulley 7 Tension Pulley

Perhaps he was talking about numbers 4 and 7 or more likely he got confused because of the following -

SLK280/350 Pulleys -

Pulley 1 Crankshaft and vibration damper
Pulley 2 Tension Pulley
Pulley 3 Guide (Idle) Pulley - Lower
Pulley 4 Coolant Pump
Pulley 5 Generator
Pulley 6 Guide (Idle) Pulley - Upper
Pulley 7 Power Steering Pump
Pulley 8 AC Compressor

Ikarus · 07-24-2008

In this thread on mbslk.de, user Aljubo reports he was called by MB for a recall on the "Spannrollen" affecting (all?) V6 engines. The literal English translation is "tension pulleys" (plural). As of now, there is no detail as to which pulley(s) are affected. I'll keep an eye on the thread, but perhaps someone here has heard anything? Dan, perhaps?

DansSlk · 07-24-2008

Its sprung for maintaining belt tension, whereas the idlers are just that - a pulley that guides the belt to functional pulleys.

That being said it could apply to many part numbers or more than one recall could have been issued, I'd check for sure but I'm still off work.

07-27-2007	#22 (permalink)
jliu Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bay Area, SF Posts: 184 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hmmm I just noticed your talking about a slk280. I don't know what a normal slk280 sounds like. But I also noticed your in the bay area. Shoot me a PM and we can try and meet up so I can hear it in person.

07-30-2007	#23 (permalink)
jliu Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bay Area, SF Posts: 184 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	heard it Ikarus ... it was great meeting another SLK owner today! TO summarize what I heard ... The sound is not in your imagination ... but of course it is very faint. It sounds like a very high pitched whine that increases with RPM. While not loud ... I certainly can understand how annoying it can be. This is the same sound I had which was fixed by changing the idler pulley. The sound was coming from the top side so it doesn't seem to be one of the bottom pulleys. I'd just get it replaced. You can try working with EuroElites in Fremont if none of the dealers want to do it.

11-05-2007	#29 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,281 Country: Thanks: 377 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Ask the head technician to isolate the source of the noise. They have a stethoscope that has a long steel tube as its listening piece. It may be the lower idler pulley. They replaced the upper idler pulley in mine but told me to return if noise continues and they'll replace the lower idler pulley. Knock on wood, so far I haven't noticed the cat's cry from the engine area with the bonnet/hood open. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

11-06-2007	#33 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,756 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	On a 55 you have 7 pulleys. Connected to - Pulley 1 Crankshaft Pulley 2 AC Compressor Pulley 3 Power Steering Pump Pulley 4 Guide (Idle) Pulley Pulley 5 Generator Pulley 6 Coolant Pump and Fan Pulley 7 Tension Pulley Perhaps he was talking about numbers 4 and 7 or more likely he got confused because of the following - SLK280/350 Pulleys - Pulley 1 Crankshaft and vibration damper Pulley 2 Tension Pulley Pulley 3 Guide (Idle) Pulley - Lower Pulley 4 Coolant Pump Pulley 5 Generator Pulley 6 Guide (Idle) Pulley - Upper Pulley 7 Power Steering Pump Pulley 8 AC Compressor __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

07-24-2008	#35 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,756 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Its sprung for maintaining belt tension, whereas the idlers are just that - a pulley that guides the belt to functional pulleys. That being said it could apply to many part numbers or more than one recall could have been issued, I'd check for sure but I'm still off work. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

08-10-2007	#25 (permalink)
Gayle280 Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Henderson Nevada Vehicle: 2006 SLK280 Pewter,heating package,comfort package,satellite radio Posts: 133 Country: Thanks: 20 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	turned out whine was fixed pretty much (still slight sound) idler pulley...so the mystery for me is solved. Dealer replaced under warranty.

08-11-2007	#27 (permalink)
quaidorsay SLK World Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sydney Vehicle: purrrr fect. Posts: 41 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I had this problem, its the idle pulley. I made a big deal of it here and mbworld. it was the idle pulley that had to be replaced. Yes, hopefully they'll replace the right one too! Q

11-04-2007	#28 (permalink)
Ikarus Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Vehicle: 2006 SLK 280 w. 6M Other Toys: 2000 New Beetle GLS w. 5M Posts: 596 Country: Thanks: 18 Thanked 40 Times in 20 Posts	My car was due for its first oil change. I brought it to a different dealership this time and asked them to also check the engine noise. They ended up once again changing the upper idle pulley under warranty (part number 272-202-08-19) and suprise, suprise, it still sounds the same. I would have been nice of them to consider a different pulley this time.

11-06-2007	#31 (permalink)
PsychoAzn Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 Other Toys: 2005 ML350, 2007 C200 Posts: 105 Country: Thanks: 6 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	YouTube - blow off valve duck call what about this?

07-24-2008	#34 (permalink)
Ikarus Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Vehicle: 2006 SLK 280 w. 6M Other Toys: 2000 New Beetle GLS w. 5M Posts: 596 Country: Thanks: 18 Thanked 40 Times in 20 Posts	In this thread on mbslk.de, user Aljubo reports he was called by MB for a recall on the "Spannrollen" affecting (all?) V6 engines. The literal English translation is "tension pulleys" (plural). As of now, there is no detail as to which pulley(s) are affected. I'll keep an eye on the thread, but perhaps someone here has heard anything? Dan, perhaps?

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-general-discussion/3388-slk-idle-pulley-noise-demo.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
HELP: spinning/whirring sound at highway speeds! - MBWorld.org Forums	This thread	Refback	10-28-2007 05:14 PM
HELP: spinning/whirring sound at highway speeds! - MBWorld.org Forums	This thread	Refback	10-04-2007 12:52 PM
HELP: spinning/whirring sound at highway speeds! - MBWorld.org Forums	This thread	Refback	10-03-2007 09:40 PM

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