I put a new alternator in my '84 190D a couple weeks ago. In doing so I noticed the pulley didn't line up perfectly with the crank, this was the same on the old alternator (which I put in back in December) so I moved my spacers over. Unfortunately this alternator had a different kind of center nut so I had to put in some washers so the nut would run tight against the pulley.
The first time I drove it any amount I had breakfast with Fred. On my way home the nut and therefore pulley came loose and dropped the belt. Drat. Fred to the rescue! He came and we put the belt back on, drove a couple miles to his friend's house, pulled the alternator (which is really easy), put the pulley back on tight and ran it on with an impact gun and locktite, not coming loose again. Until today (about 500 miles later). On the way to work just as I got off the highway I felt the steering go heavy, looked down and saw the temp gauge at HOT, shut the engine down and pulled off the highway, managed to roll onto a quiet street. Pulley loose, belt dropped. Fortunately I was close enough to walk to work. Fred had been encouraging me to buy his '87 190D so I gave him a shout to tell him the tale and inquire about how soon I could get it. Around lunch time Fred called me, he was in town and within a couple minutes was at my office. We drove to the car and as I pulled the alternator (with a wrench he had given me) he pulled not one but TWO alternators out of his trunk. One was a junkyard pull that looked pretty good so I installed it. The model number was similar but slightly different, I forget exactly but the one I had was like a 43, the one Fred bought was like a 41. I installed Fred's alternator and it works like a dream. In fact it fits better than the one I took out. I *think* my problem this whole time is that the alts I've been getting from WorldPac (through CarQuest) haven't been exactly right... Anyway I started the car and drove back the mile or so to work with no odd noises or feelings or smells. It looks as though I may have dodged a bullet although I recall writing that once before. So three cheers for Fred the best friend a boy could have! -Curt _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
