W124 Estate - 300te Question

[brucemillar]

Folks

Should my 124 Estate have an engine undertray?

It currently does not. So when it rains (Unusual for this country) and largish puddles cause the power steering belt to slip. This can lead to some butt clenching moments on windy country lanes.

The belt is good (recently replaced) and the tension appears good. I have sprayed it with Belt Dressing.

So the running order tends to be: Puddle, splash, Squeel, Steering goes heavy for a few seconds then all OK again until the next puddle. I am assuming that that my belt slipping theory is good. Any ideas?

 

[balge]

Hi
both my estates - TE and TD - have had under-trays.
Never noticed the belt slipping in rain when I have run them without trays, but it sounds plausible with your symptoms? Unless the water is shorting your ignition or something equally stupid?

Btw, pretty sure the manual advices against belt dressings fwiw

Tensioner spring could be weak I suppose?

cheers

 

[grober]

Yes it should afaik. Having said that the standard fitment is light plastic and may well have been damaged on some "off road " excursion. Other possibility it was fitted with the very substantial-and heavy proper Mercedes sump guard which was retained by a previous owner. The thin plastic guard should be obtainable from your local MB dealer- you might also have to buy the 2 thin front support arms that are fastened to the front chassis rails if they are missing.

 

[Dieselman]

Bruce's car is a 4-matic, do they still have undertrays due tot eh front driveshafts and taller spring setup.?

 

[brucemillar]

Yes apologies. I should have mentioned the 4Matic bit. These front springs are a real work of art and should be on display.

 

[mika]

Hi Bruce
hope you get this sorted , i dont like the sound of the steering tightening up at all
is this likely to happen 4 matics only ...
or have i got something else to worry myself with

 

[LawrenceMB]

I seem to remember them having the quite heavy gauge metal undertrays - they were quite a weight! - especially the 4-matics.

 

[brucemillar]

Hi Bruce
hope you get this sorted , i dont like the sound of the steering tightening up at all
is this likely to happen 4 matics only ...
or have i got something else to worry myself with

MIKA

You can avoid puddles. They are heavy to turn without the power steering but not impossible. It only last for two or three seconds and the belt squeel is your early warning.

There again if you have an undertray on your car let me know your address and I will come round and steal it.

 

[mika]

MIKA

You can avoid puddles. They are heavy to turn without the power steering but not impossible. It only last for two or three seconds and the belt squeel is your early warning.

There again if you have an undertray on your car let me know your address and I will come round and steal it.

Bruce this is the real reason you invite me around !!

I will avoid puddles

i suppose it will just be like driving my old MGB

 

[balge]

Looks like one is/was available for 4-Matic, can't get a part number unfortunately....

cheers

 

[grober]

The part no I have for that BIT 44 is A1245242630 the heavy duty steel sump-guard is ---A1245202042 but unless you go offroad there's a considerable weight and cost penalty for that . Best to check against your chassis number at the dealer if ordering.

 

[d w124]

Am I wrong thinking the tray was optional?