How do you install a serpentine belt on a Mercedes c280?

Answer 1

just did my '95 C280, straight six, with AC, here in So Cal.

I used a Dayco belt that was $40, Mercedes OEM was $70.

You can find the order of the belt in the user manual that came with the car (page 118 in my book under "Practical Hints"). My belt broke off so I didn't have to remove it.

I removed the fan shroud because there just isn't enough room. The shroud is held on by clips on the top. I used a screw driver and pried them up. Shake the shroud around until it comes out, should be easy to do.

Locate the belt tensioner, Drivers side of the motor, it's small and shiny. Mine used a 15mm on a ratchet with a long pipe used for leverage. To Remove Tension, push the pipe to the right (Drivers side) Remove your belt.

Now for installation. I put the alternator on first, then the Idler and fan and Finlay the Tensioner. Left the PS, WP AND AC OFF

Next I went under the car (jacked up the car for this part) and installed the belt around the Crank Shaft (bottom pulley) This was very tight.** Make sure the belt is installed correctly around the CS. I didn't, AND THE BELT CAME OFF. I had to do it all over again.**

Once the Crank Shaft pully, Alternator and tensioner were on. I put the belt over the AC pully.

Back on top, I removed the tension and finished the job by installing the belt over the WP & PS.

I hope this helps. The whole job should take about 30 mins. It took me an hour and a half because I didn't know what I was doing. The second time I installed the belt after it fell off, it took me about 20 mins. So I think 30-40 should be a good guess.

Update:

I just did my wife's 1997 C280 and used this post above as a guide. First thing I did was make a diagram of where all the belts run on the pulleys. There are 7 different pulleys. The tensioner pulley is the small one on the driver's side of the engine between the crankshaft pulley and the fan. It requires a 15mm 6 point socket. You will have to remove the fan shroud first to make room. It's made of 2 pieces. Where it says "Open" and "Close" on the shroud, slide the inner piece to the right to separate them. Take off the clips holding the outermost section and remove, then you can take off the inner part.

Put on your socket and crank it clockwise towards the driver's side to release tension on the tensioner pulley. It will slide off and then hang up on your socket. Release the tension and remove the socket wrench. Now you can work the belt off all the pulleys easily except between the fan and the crankshaft. You'll be thinking you need to remove the fan but you don't. Just work it through the small gap and rotate the fan to help pry it off. This will be while you are under the car with it jacked up and bottom cover removed.

Now start putting the belt on in the reverse order referring to your diagram. Get in on between the fan and crankshaft first and then work it on to the other pulleys. When you are ready to put it on the tensioner, it's really a 2 person job: one to hold the socket on the tensioner and cranked as far as you can and the other to put the belt on. I tied a rope to the socket wrench and anchored it to my air compressor as I was working alone. I did that from the top then went underneath to push the belt onto the tensioner pulley. A final check to make sure nothing was binding anywhere (it was) and that the belt was on all the pulleys correctly. I untied the socket on the tensioner and released the pressure. Put the fan shroud back on and the bottom cover and started it up. Good job! My first time and it took me a few hours to do it with research online. Mercedes wants to keep everything a secret. Hope this helps you.