Alternator pulley tensioner - need new alternator?

[PaulyJ]

Hello everyone,

On our 2015 T6, after having a new auxiliary drive belt tensioner fitted, we now notice a squealing/screeching belt sound when we have the steering wheel at full lock.

Our garage reckons it has shown up a problem with the alternator pulley tensioner.
Now saying that we can't just replace the pulley but have to replace the whole alternator and quoting over 800 quid for supply/fitting a VW one.

Seems over-kill to me - there's nothing wrong with the alternator itself. Can we really not replace only the alternator pulley?
I'm wondering whether to just leave it but of course don't want problems later.

Any thoughts appreciated please!
cheers
Paul

 

[Big Al]

You can buy the freewheel pulley as a separate item so no need to replace the whole unit. You do require the correct tool to remove it. Maybe that is why they quote a whole new unit as they don't have it! Extortion. Don`t buy a new alternator if the pulley is identified as the problem.

 

[Loz]

Full lock puts lots of load on the hydraulic pump so it can make the belt squeal. I wouldn't jump to an alternator change.

 

[DXX]

Pulley removal tools are very cheap, I think it’s a 33 spline tool, but you need to check.

Idle noise which goes when accelerator is pressed

Hi, can anyone help diagnose this issue? There is a noise when the engine is on idle (cold or warm), but the noise goes when the accelerator is pressed, but then comes back when the revs return to idle (see video). Belt tensioner has been replaced so it isn't that. The noise is like a...

www.t6forum.com

 

[PaulyJ]

Thanks everyone! The garage reckon they were told by VW themselves that the whole alternator would have to be changed. Will have a look at spline tools. The pulleys themselves look quite cheap. Wondering now whether to attempt this myself.....

 

[DXX]

Out of interest what’s the milage on the van?
I’m probably going to do a preventive maintenance renewal myself at some point as a failed aux belt can foul the timing belt with ££££ consequences.

 

[PaulyJ]

It's high as it was ex-rental, about 150,000!

 

[Ads_Essex]

It's high as it was ex-rental, about 150,000!

Who's done the most miles in their T6?

Got my T6 150 Kombi back in September 16. Have now just passed 36,000 miles in it. What mileage are you all on now? Anyone passed 50k yet?

www.t6forum.com

This might be worth a read

 

[Johnboy57]

Years ago I bought my father in laws Audi 100. It squealed like hell on sharp corners and whenever it went to the garage, they fobbed him off with a bit of WD40 type story.

I am sure I got the car cheap because of the squealing !! I concluded that all it needed was to tension the belt to the power steering.

So I upped the bonnet, got my spanner out to slacken the lock screw of the tensioner only to find that it was missing. Easy fix I thought.... just get another 6mm screw and fit it - problem solved. HOWEVER I could not fit this screw because the original had been sheared off and the stub was firmly stuck in the engine casing. Now it was a major job because there was no way of accessing the screw without major dis-assembly. Luckily I did manage to sort this out with some significant ingenuity using a hacksaw blade !!!!

Once I had managed to refit the screw the problem dis-appeared. The car had only been to main dealer for servicing all its life...... so they had snapped it and spent the next 4 years fobbing him off because of the amount of work needed.

 

[PaulyJ]

Thanks everyone, does anybody know what the spline tool is and where I can get it from?

 

[DXX]

Thanks everyone, does anybody know what the spline tool is and where I can get it from?

Plenty on ebay

 

[Sharrie]

You can buy the freewheel pulley as a separate item so no need to replace the whole unit. You do require the correct tool to remove it. Maybe that is why they quote a whole new unit as they don't have it! Extortion. Don`t buy a new alternator if the pulley is identified as the problem.

Hello please can you tell me whether you managed to sort your issue out as I have the same problem. Cheers

 

[PaulyJ]

Hello please can you tell me whether you managed to sort your issue out as I have the same problem. Cheers

Hello, I have now bought a new alternator pulley but not got round to having it fitted yet. Will ask next time we're at the garage!

 

[Worty]

Just done this job on an 2008 Octavia. You need the 33 spline special tool which can be as little as a couple of quid on Temu. You also need a long 50 Torx. Once you have the old one off, clean everything up and put the new one on. Holding the alternator shaft with the Torx 50 that goes through the splined tool, you then tighten it up. I belted it up then tried torqueing to 80Nm, but the spline began to slip before reaching torque (might be my torque wrench needs calibrating). In any event, it is TIGHT and ain't going anywhere. Hopefully, if it needs to come off again, the splines will be ok in the opposite direction. Really easy job, only real fiddle is slackening the tensioner to get the belt back on the pulley. Check all is in line and give it a spin. On the Octy, there's plenty of room to get to the alternator in situ, particularly if you move the fuel filter (which sits on top of the engine without any need to disconnect hoses).