Calling vw passat TDI experts?

fatchance

Hi lads,

on my 2004 battery warning light came on yesterday, then "alternator workshop" flashed on dash. Have been noticing a clicking noise recently coming from front right side of car, thought it was cv joints again but had them done last year (120kmiles on car now) and when idling engine sounds rough.

Does this sound like alternator pulley to you?

If so, how much do you reckon to get it fixed?

And most importantly, can I drive for a day or two till I get to garage?

Thanks for help and advice in advance,

Fatchance.

MugMugs

Hey....

Red lights usually mean stop and orange mean ye can keep going.

Your best bet for advice is from Stuart and the boys on the VWAudiForm It's full of VW grease monkeys....

tossy

It could be a Altenator belt,pulley or the altenator itself..

Are you hearing any screeching or squeaking? esp when pushing the engine on?

Also try vagdrivers.net no need to go to the UK for VAG expertise.

fatchance

Not hearing any increase in noise when pushing on, but when I knock of engine
it sounds like the fan is rotating for longer than it should and it sounds rought, if that is what it is.

Fundthementals

Sounds like a seized or partially seized alternator pulley bearing, the clicking noise being the alternator drive belt tensioner jumping under the pressure. Should be easy to see with the engine at idle - the tensioner should only move about a few mm - more than that would indicate a problem. Doubt if battery charge or alternator belt would last for any length of time.
Afaik the pulley bearing can be replaced as a service part.

fatchance

Thanks,

better get it workshop sooner rather than later so.

By any chance would this problem effect starting the car, other than a battery charge problem?

Just replaced glow/heater plugs cus car turning over for a good while before starting, but since i replaced them it still requires more time to start than it normally did. Battery feels strong though, maybe with start glow plugs not getting enough power?

ddarraghh

passat tdi have a one way bearing/clutch in the alternator pully
they are know to give problems,

Darragh29

I've done a few of these OP, the problem sounds like the alternator pulley belt tensioner. The bearing in the tensioner wears and the belt starts hopping all over the place and slipping.

It's not exactly a cheap job to get done either, the tensioner assembly is around 100-150 Euro (defo over 100 Euro anyway), and I think the labour is around the 1-2 hours, between getting in at it and the rest of it. I'd budget in around 300 Euro to get it done and hope you get out of it for the 200 Euro mark if you can find a place that won't go hard on labour...

EDIT: On the other starting issue, it sounds like a separate prob...

Darragh29

Fundthementals wrote: »

Sounds like a seized or partially seized alternator pulley bearing, the clicking noise being the alternator drive belt tensioner jumping under the pressure. Should be easy to see with the engine at idle - the tensioner should only move about a few mm - more than that would indicate a problem. Doubt if battery charge or alternator belt would last for any length of time.
Afaik the pulley bearing can be replaced as a service part.

If you want to check for the prob I've described above, you can see the belt tensioner hopping all over the place when you look down on it with a flashlight...

fatchance

Belt tensioner hardly moving at all and fan belt perfect!

Drove into work today and car started loosing power after a few miles. Crawled into garage and luckily they have it now.

As you described, the battery wasn't being charged at all and so everything started going one by one, power for windows, lights etc till eventually the power started to dip cus i'm sure fuel injection is all synced by electrics and without a charged battery....nothing.

Interesting to see how much fix costs, I reckon alternator is gone, guessing it'll be about
250€ all in.......great, just before x mas too!

ddarraghh

if they fit a new alternator i think it will be more than 250

fatchance

"if they fit a new alternator i think it will be more than 250 "

Ohhh crap! Not doubting you but I really hope you're wrong