Close escape and lesson learn't

[swithin]

If you hear a twang type noise coming from the front of your 20 year old SL, near the engine bay, when flooring it for fun, stop! I hadn't been out in my 99 SL500 for a while so headed for the nearest motorway. On the way back and down the entry ramp I buried my right foot into the plush carpet and heard a faint twang noise. I thought i'd hit something on the road so carried on, but with less vigour, as the noise disappeared and there were no other sounds. Next morning I started the car and the most horrific noise (bit like a lollipop stick on a bicycle wheel spokes). Switched off the engine immediately and called my trusty specialist.

Driving with very very little pressure on the right pedal I got it down to Stevensons. It was the drive belt pulley, if i remember, which had cracked, then split with old age. Fortunately I had taken it very easy to Steve and had only caused a slight groove to be ground into the engine block by what was left of the old pulley. Had I continued to push the car it could have eaten into the block and the repair bill would have hurt.....a lot.

So if you're middle aged, think you're much younger, are a bit too enthusiastic in a 20 year old, push hard, hear a noise near the front, hold back or you'll break something and it could end up costing you a fortune. .

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Guilty ref the third paragraph, although just a tad over middle age.