1990 Mercedes 560SEL - Changing Belts

Update: These belts are terrible! I can’t recommend them. Today, the alternator belt ripped apart. It didn’t last 10 months. Spend the extra money on quality belts.
Time to change all 5 belts on the Mighty Mercedes W126! Monkey Wrench Mike goes elbow deep to show you how to change the power steering, alternator, a/c compressor and air pump belts. This is easy... IF you remember one very important thing!

[@sugarandpennythepooh1211]

I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL MIKE, AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR!!! 🙏🏻😊❤️ Joanne

[@1gatomon]

i love my old truck.. Has two easy to replace belts. One for alternator and one for Power steering..

[@franzelademir]

I have got a 560 SEC, so i have learnt with you a lot. Thanks Mike...

[@daveking7212]

your getting good at this car stuff Mike

[@KylePetersonDmaster223]

I love your attitude and sense of humor Mike, never lose sight of that!

[@aceautonewportky]

Don't worry Mike we like you. Wow five belts. Great job!!

[@beauhambleton2656]

This video helped me a lot! The Alternator V-Belt broke on my 1988 560SL and I discovered the rest were all pretty rotten and needed replacement. Replaced them all in a couple of hours no prob. I appreciate the ‘know how’ thanks for posting this!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Very welcome Beau! Glad the video helped. Cool name you got there. I always wanted a son and we would have named him Beau Brooks.

[@montyholland3357]

Loving the mrm graphic logo. I'll buy a hat or t-shirt with that on it

[@santoscardona1]

One of my favorite channels..

[@45AMT]

Yep Murphy's law the belts that need replacing are always in the back! Good job Mike! Enjoyed the walk around with you and Randy! Take care!

[@MercuriusBristophiles]

Thanks for the wrench sizes for the compressor tensioner

[@yukon4511]

Great video Mike! I changed my belts yesterday with the radiator and fan installed. Can't say it was a lot of fun, but it's doable.

[@colinblankenship2401]

Nice work. Thanks for sharing

[@MichaelSmith-wb1es]

Thanks Mike. I have been trying to figure out how to tighten the power steering belts on my r107 for a while. Gonna give this a try tomorrow

[@sergiop2207]

Really nice video Mike! Thanks for sharing it! Casually, i was looking how to change the belts on my w126! Now, i know how to change them 😄!! Thank you ! God bless you!

[@NewBeRVer]

Really like the new logo!

[@marcusbland4180]

That MB is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

[@Bootneck-RMC]

Very educational Michael, thank you.

[@ianturner6954]

Love the belt Change Mike and a big thumbs up for the new logo love it!!

[@lewisu2088]

Need MOAR Mercedes content lol. Love the channel Mike

[@4791issoY]

At 9:05-9:15 reminded me of Chach and Chong's Santa skit with the "magic dust"...

[@paultatalovich8233]

Great video many thanks.

[@waynehayes8237]

Enjoy your videos. Looking forward to the radiator replacement.

[@bwolper]

Great tutorial.

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

Oh that looks like fun mike.

[@garyashdown5376]

Aah back to working in the confines of the garage, finding out you can still get your foot round the back of you head trying to get to a bolt underneath the car. 10 out of 10 for delivery and content Mike super job. See you next time honey bunch. Gary...... England 🇬🇧

[@eddiegossett8218]

great job

[@denniswade3429]

Thanks a lot for the great informative video!!!!

[@davidturney9813]

Ok its Fri hope this warm weather didnt ruin your day.

[@tonywalker9837]

Great time to do this with the radiator leaking and needing replaced :)

[@johnulrich5572]

Nice tutorial, Mike. I remember life befor serpentine belts, especially with European cars. It seems that for every accessory there was a separate belt. Cars going to different markets had different accessories like powere steering, air conditioning and air pumps. My first three cars had only one belt apiece...Renault 4cv, VW Bus, 62 Ford Galaxie (the Ford was plane Jane, no power steering, no air conditioning...just a belt to drive the water pump and generator. I think MB had 2 power steering belts for redundancy. You wouldn't want to lose power steering at 130MPH on the autobahn.

[@jimmydeen58]

Job Well Done!!

[@Ridgeroader]

Great channel Logo

[@attilamerter6410]

I know you like old school but where are the electric wrenches Randy gave you. still keep up the good work and have fun.

[@jimnielsen4076]

Hi Mike! Your camera work was good. Great car!

[@chadcarter9581]

Nice work!!

[@zenjamin6262]

I did mine not long ago and I orderd the expensive continental belts tried not to over tighten the double belt on the power steering it burned up one and about took the other out. Best advice I found was tighten till you can just turn the belt sideways but no more. If it give a a squeal at any point tighten them or they will self destruct !

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

I was thinking this episode looks like one of those that takes way longer then how long the video is. Then I heard wrong parts. That sentence is almost as bad as “every 20 min project is one broken bolt way from becoming an 8hr one.” I hate when that happens 👍 but you always have a great attitude and I appreciate that

[@mikebaz7843]

I was stung with continental PS belts (one being an older design, but the same part number) and the noise went away when two of the new style were fitted - doh!

[@mexicanspec]

For ease of use, I like the way the adjustments were designed into the car. I don't know if that was the Germans admitting they were weak as a people. On an old American car you need brute force to tighten an alternator belt. Pull that pry bar with one had while tightening the nut with the other.

[@mikebayliss2003]

Thanks for the info real helpful. I noticed on a earlier video about the back seats on you w126 and your definitely right how rare they are i did a national search and couldn't find one. Do you think that was a special order not a option?

[@zenjamin6262]

Only dictators/mafia could get those rear seats...

[@mikeys1stphone191]

Great work sir🙌❤💪💪💪💪💪💪💪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@georgetheamg8505]

Oh God

[@Sandra-sm5iq]

Great time to get the belts all done when you're already in there

[@russellharris3423]

I don't know if anyone else has looked closely at your footage of the 6mm Allen bolt but it shows that it is a TORX bolt. Good luck.

[@sonnyblazer5504]

CLASS DISMISSED! The lesson on belts, not Mike (he always has CLASS). Anyway, thank you for another well presented explanatory video of yet more to know about the MB. They really ARE such nice cars but why are they such a PIA to work on? (Well, I guess for me not you!) That one is the keeper and a beautiful car. Thanks. Sonny (CT)

[@KeiNovak]

I think there is an app that can check the correct tension of the belts by the frequency it vibrates at when you strum it. Samcrac showed it on his channel a few months ago for his Ferrari

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Let us know how the Master-Pro belt works out on the AC compressor. I tried cheaper belts on mine but ultimately bought a Mercedes belt for the compressor to keep the chatter down. Good luck !

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

Oh man tightening that makes me feel like a man with a third arm design this

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

As soon as I finish typing that you said that’s him it’s him right there I was like what guy the guy with three arms😂😂

[@kellyspeppers]

That is an old very grimy engine to work on. I understand this is not a good idea with all the new complex electrical connectors but on an old car like this before I do any work on the engine I spray it with engine cleaner and hose it off.

[@gbowne1]

Belt changes are fun. Those dont look good at all. Mine are all pretty badly dry rotted and cracked straight through.

[@Hugo_Furst]

Thanks for the step by step info. First video I've found that actually shows how to R and R the AC fan belt on a MBZ 126. It's a bitch getting a wrench on the 17mm? bolt on the idler arm. (My 380se has a 19mm bolt). Using a 22mm wrench placed on the pulley arm to gain leverage to tighten the belt by lifting the idler arm and pulley was the info I needed. Thanks so much.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Very welcome!!

[@Hugo_Furst]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike I am unable to loosen 19mm nut on the ac idler arm pulley because I cannot get any leverage to loosen it. How did you get it loose? Did you remove the idler pulley to have better access? Did you loosen the nut coming up from underneath the car? Thanks for responses

[@abufaisal2199]

Is there any way to upgrade the belt system to the newer belt " one belt for all pulleys"

[@robertbrady9597]

hi Danville pa

[@richardkafka5625]

WAY too much work, but great video Mike. Now get back to Copart with Randy!!!! lol

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I know, right??

[@juan-cz1zl]

How do you put the power steering belts back on? I can’t get the new belts wrapped around the pulley on the left

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

You can nice the power steering pump up and down by a bolt . It’s included in the video. Good luck!

[@garycook2355]

you had to really cinch up your belt (s) for that one. did you put some more jb weld on the sel's radiator? that has always worked for me.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Installed a new radiator. Video coming soon!

[@garycook2355]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike I anxiously await.

[@davidbantly5078]

I couldn't get the 6 Allan to break loose. There's just enough room to torque it.. she wouldn't budge

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Use lots of penetrant!

[@Djwally13]

"Bow chick a wow wow!" 😆👍

[@jaysmith5084]

Cool radiator you got there 😂 My question is on the water pump pulley where is the studs that hold it on or is it a press fit ?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

There are 4 bolts that hold the fan on. I figured people would know how to loosen 4 bolts- lol

[@mexicanspec]

I think he removed the fan when he took the radiator out.

[@jaysmith5084]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike 👍

[@kevinvandevelde9789]

I'm not a Merc. fan but how many belts do we need. LOL . Wonder what flat rate is, I always hated flat rate. Fun vid.👍

[@bryanlail613]

DAMN I love that car. Are you going to keep it, or sell it?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Keep it... unle$$ $oneone throw$ lot$ of ca$h my way. Lol

[@rafaelshkembi2315]

Did you remove the body from the trunk?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Still haven’t got it open!

[@travisburch6970]

I hope there's not going to be a quiz on this 🥺🥺🥺

[@TZakPol]

Hi, any idea what would the labor be at the shop for the replacement of all five belts?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

No idea, but it’s something you can do with basic tools! I have a video showing you how.

[@TZakPol]

I think that’s what I will do. Thanks

[@TZakPol]

Mike, one more question how long this job took you approx and I’m assuming there is now way around without removing the fan? Thank you

[@TZakPol]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike Hi Mike, I finally did the belt replacement and your video did help me for that I subscribed. BTW- it took be 4 hours and couple of beers LOL Thanks

[@dereknicholson4831]

And THAT'S why they eventually switched to a single serpentine belt!! :)

[@gregcromer8406]

There are more belts in that heap than Dolly Parton's brassiere.

[@GHELM-wp5yj]

That other guy that works on Mercedes has a uniform and special tools.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

And many years of experience! Lol

[@RasSosa]

Mike, you should of put that vehicle on the front of the ramps??? Good work, sorry, not criticizing :)

[@1978punisher]

Like that way you talk To your strap dont stop your that best you past randy easy

[@RobertMememe]

How many anchors does it take to put on a belt? LOLOL

[@fahrfromrunnin]

Brother: when you do those, you have to get a 'Matched Pair' of belts, otherwise they make noise when they run. '83 300TD has the same set up, don't ask me how I know... :-(

[@MrBeeradb1]

You forgot the bolts on waterpump pulley.

[@someonejaw]

were the bm trouble you mike i would like to see it on the road with brakes i bet your mom and mr honest are missing it

[@geraldcoe1123]

I learned it is still best for me to take my car to a certified mechanic when it needs to be serviced!

[@jonsmith1259]

Like the logo! Though, Monkey Wrench Mike holding an open end wrench?? Randy has my contact info, I know of a Benz you might go ape over, price right now is a steal, but might go up. (NO, NOT a Co Part car) Do not want to say any more about it her, obviously....

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

[e-mail]

[@chrissiano381]

I see some oil leaks that need tending to. LOL

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Lots of leaks!!

[@tony_25or6to4]

Mike needs ratcheting wrenches

[@matthews1026]

Might be a leak somewhere in that motor...maybe

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Maybe??!! Lol

[@JackSparrow-hk6su]

Or you could cut all the belts off, replace them all at once and save time

[@SuperVstech]

F.Y.I. the Allen bolt on the air pump is 5mm, not 6… hat might be the problem you had with it.

[@SuperVstech]

That's cheating starting put with the radiator and cooling fan and shroud removed already...

[@nikoboy5337]

mick go buy a truck take a back from car`s

[@Ahmedtofik64]

Do not repair mercs you have agood job