Do it yourself
Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles
Car tutorial (Do it yourself) Motorcycle tutorial (Do it yourself) Frequently Asked Questions

Auxiliary Belt Replacement

Model: Mercedes Classe M W163 - Years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Part: V-belt

See other generations:
Video tutorial

The auxiliary belt (or service belt) is driven by the crankshaft pulley and operates the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, water pump, and cooling fan via the viscous coupling; it is located at the front, just behind the radiator: it may be necessary to remove both the radiator and the fan to replace the belt; before removing the old belt, take note of the routing around the various pulleys (with a photo or sketch), then loosen the tensioner; check the conformity of the new belt (length and number of grooves), route it through the pulleys, and then tension it using the appropriate tensioner.


Updated on 18 February 2026 by ScegliAuto


Related tutorials

Replacement of Auxiliary Belt Tensioner
Replacement of Auxiliary Belt Tensioner
Mercedes Classe M (1997-2005 / W163) On Volkswagen Audi engines, it is quite common for the auxiliary belt tensioner to fail, becoming particularly noisy and producing a sound that may s…
Adjusting the Tensioner Pulley
Adjusting the Tensioner Pulley
Mercedes Classe M (1997-2005 / W163) If you hear a squeaking noise from the front of the engine while it is running, it may be caused by a pulley driven by the auxiliary belt. To confirm…
How to Replace the Auxiliary Battery in a Mercedes ML 350?
How to Replace the Auxiliary Battery in a Mercedes ML 350?
Mercedes Classe M (2011-2018 / W166) To replace the auxiliary battery in a Mercedes ML 350, open the rear hatch of the car to access the components inside the boot. On the right side, th…

Other guides you may be interested in

How to Remove the Rear Seat of a Hyundai Tucson?

To remove the rear seat of a Hyundai Tucson, follow these steps. Start by moving the front seats to their most forward position to gain space. Next, locate the release lever on the underside of the rear seat, near the floor. Press this lever down while pulling the seat upwards to unlock it from the anchor pins. Once unlocked, tilt the seat upwards and forwards to remove it from its position. Repeat this process for both sides of the rear seat. Be careful of any electrical cables or components that may be connected to the seat during removal. Once the rear seat is removed, the disassembly is complete.

Watch the video!


by ScegliAuto

More videos