Mercedes W201 190E 16V EVO

Dear Friends
Hope you are all doing well and your cars as well
If you have some deep experience or interest having replaced the tensioning device you may have some info for me.
I replaced the belt tensioner some months ago, the elastic element inside lost the elasticity turning out of position. I installed an aftermarket MAPCO piece of…sh…whose bearing pulley lasted…few hours… then started to whistle …
I installed an original (new old…) from dealer and it works but today the first minute with cold engine I heard a small whistle, disappeared quite soon attaching air con, I’m still not sure which was the origin (tensioner pulley again, air compressor pulley…new, alternator new,…) but here my basic consideration:

The belt tensioner, since when installed, is oscillating when in operation, is this normal or should il stays almost stable in position?
I don’t have from factory the damping system on the belt tensioner, with the shock absorber. Yes there are two configuration, below the crankshaft pulley or between water pump and crankshaft pulleys. From EPC the first old configuration would have been applicable, but I miss any bracket since factory (engine replaced from Mercedes with a 1988 new engine).

Are you running with or without these “apparently optional” shock absorber?


Thanks in advance for any exchange of info.


Best
Marco

A diagram is more than thousand of words

No comments or check inside your engine bay if you have or not this damper (shock absorber) attached on the belt tensioner?
Please

Greetings!
Probably, depending on the year of production, there were options both with a shock absorber on the belt tensioner and without shock absorbers.
For example, I don't have a shock absorber installed.

Hi and many thanks !
Useful to know you don't like me, I was wondering the reason some engine has and some not… I think that having it it prolong the life of the tensioner.
I’d like to post I’ll try a video to show my tensioner in operation to have your comment it’s working correctly: it’s brand new but my point is if is normal that it oscillates or it should not.
Thanks !
Best

I cannot post the video it seems

Greetings!
Maybe try to upload a video to YouTube and share the link.
Unfortunately, I do not know how to upload a video to the forum.
I think that many people will find it interesting and useful to see.

Good day!

I worked a lot to manage this, I never uploaded in you tube

This is the link you can see three videos:

Two show the movement of the belt tensioner and one the belt tensioner pulley from frontal view, just to see that the pulley itself work perfectly, in my opinion, so question is if the oscillation of the pulley is considered normal …and yes what is normal

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvE0 ... BJp0Rlw73U

Please comment here

Greetings!
Your videos are not available for viewing because your privacy settings do not allow them to be viewed. Try to change in the settings.

Thanks for letting me know and have tried.
I hope now I changed some settings and people can see
Best

Please guys let’s check my link

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvE0 ... BJp0Rlw73U

Thanks

Hi guys none have tried to help…is my link at least visible for you?
…

Greetings!
Yes, the link works, everything is clearly visible.
I think yours is ok, the belt doesn't jump much, but I can't compare to mine as my engine is hanging on the slipway at the moment.
But, it is better to wait for the opinion of one of the teammates, who may be more experienced in this matter.

Dear Friend
I do much appreciate your message.
Hoping your engine will be soon back in operation into its engine bay
Yes let’s wait some team mate to comment.
Meanwhile yes the belt runs straight my questions was just on the tensioner if its up and down movement is ok as shown in the videos.
Best
Marco

I think that all cars with AC and /or Automatic transmission have this damper. But there are 2 different ones depending on the engine number.

Steffen102992 hat geschrieben:I think that all cars with AC and /or Automatic transmission have this damper. But there are 2 different ones depending on the engine number.

Hello Steffen,

Much appreciated your intervention, indeed my car has AC from factory, then a factory new engine was installed by dealer in 1992; I don’t have this a damper…

Can you please spend 2 minutes to watch my link and compare if your belt tensioner is oscillating like mine.

Best
Marco