What is a balance shaft in an engine?
In piston engine engineering, a balance shaft is an eccentric weighted shaft which offsets vibrations in engine designs that are not inherently balanced (for example, most four-cylinder engines).
Can a Mercedes Benz balance shaft engine be repaired?
If you conclude that you have balance shaft engine issues, the repair is very labor intensive, and the engine will have to be removed. There was a lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz USA LLC where the plaintiffs allege that Mercedes produced certain vehicles with defective gears in their balance shaft for the M272 and defective idle gears in the M273.
How do you remove a balance shaft from a car?
1. Remove timing belt, downpipe, transfer case and oil pan. 2. Remove alternator, power steering pump, cross member, front and left motor mount to drop the engine low enough. 3. Remove the front case with the left balance shaft attached. This involves pulling the crank shaft sprocket and everything else over the front case. 4.
Can a balance shaft worn sprocket cause engine damage?
Early signs of this problem are the check engine light and engine noise. If the timing chain fails, the pistons can hit the valves and cause severe damage to the engine. Engines with the balance shaft worn sprocket were Mercedes-Benz 350 models (Example: E350 C350 etc. ) that were equipped with the M272 engine.
Can a balance shaft failure cause engine damage?
Timing chain failures can cause catastrophic engine damage. Early signs of this problem are the check engine light and engine noise. If the timing chain fails, the pistons can hit the valves and cause severe damage to the engine. Engines with the balance shaft worn sprocket were Mercedes-Benz 350 models (Example: E350 C350 etc.
How to check Mercedes Benz balance shaft engine issues?
Go to this page and click on Option 1 or 2. You will be taken to an external site where you can check engine and transmission serial number. Once you enter VIN number hit search and look for your engine serial number. You can also get your engine serial number by calling your MB dealer. The serial number will look something like this.
Can a balance shaft failure cause idler gear wear?
Balance shaft failure or guide idler gear wear. Very expensive repair as it requires removing the engine. Problem #2. Camshaft solenoid adjusters. Electromagnets bolted on the fronts of the engine head are defective and need to be replaced. Go to this page and click on Option 1 or 2.