Ac pulley or alternator clutch pulley

[clag]

Hi all.

Ive got a mk1 tdi fr which has had a maze of issues. Mostly sorted.

Ive got a hell of a deep rattle near idle seems like its coming from the LHS of the engine. The tensioner is bouncing like crazy so ive ordered an alternator pulley.

The reason i thought it was the alternator pulley is because i can shut it up by varying the electrical load, such as turning the lights on, heated rear window etc.

It wasnt until this morning when i realised i hadnt heard the rattle as bad. The aircon was on. I turned it off and the rattle came back.

Its always the same at idle. If i move the steering slightly while at idle that shuts it up too.

Would appreciate any advice.

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

Try varying the pressure on the belt tensioner with a 16mm spanner whilst it idles.
This can help to determine where it's from.
Also, you can check the operation of the alternator pulley wheel by removing the belt off of it and holding the armature still with a long screwdriver through the body of the alternator.
You should be able to rotate the pulley wheel in one direction and not the other.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[clag]

Thanks for that. I think im nearly there to a decent car at last XD

While driving home i tried different things. It seemed like any load i placed on the parts on that belt changed the noise so im confident its nothing to do with the cambelt side of things.

If i place a heavy electrical load like all of the lights and heated rear screen, turn the ac on or slightly turn the steering wheel enough for the power steering pump to have to work it shuts the noise up.

When i pulled up i turned off all of the electical accessories one by one, and there was a definite increase when i took the loads off.

When i did a search on here it seemed that the ac pulley issues normally result in ac not working but mine works fine.

 

[clag]

Well my alternator pulley is knackered. Its locked in both directions so whether it shuts the noise up or not it needs changing. Bloody hell is that thing tight. I got the sealey alternator removal kit and its that tight that i cant undo it even using another spanner locked over the splined socket. Its starting to look like ill have to take the alternator to a garage to get it done.

Ive soaked it in penetrating fluid so hopefully its soaked in by morning and i can undo it.

Thanks for your advice.

Edit: Job done. Got the bonnet torch out and a 1/2 inch breaker bar and it came undone. Literally a 5 minute job after that. Car is as silent as a tractor can be.

It was tight for access. I pulled the washer fluid pump out and it made enough space to work

 

[mty12345]

Glad you got it done mate, i've had the same fight with the alternator before!

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

As above, good to hear it's sorted. The rattle drove me mad!
By the way I lost significant knuckle skin getting my poxy pulley loose as well.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[clag]

I found it far easier when i pulled the washer pump. My pulley was insanely tight i just couldnt undo it using 2 spanners.

Once i popped the pump out i was able to get the 1/2 ratchet in there and it came undone in seconds. New one went on with no issues at all.

Ran it around a bit yesterday and i can hear nothing but a healthy diesel engine

Next job is simplifying the vacuum hoses to eliminate the egr and anti shudder valve piping because ive fitted a delete kit