Alternator Workshop message & crunchy steering??!

[loulou1971]

Hi there - have recently purchased a 2004 VW Passat TDI auto with 43000 miles on it. It's in good condition with recent service and timing belt replacement just before I bought it and has been driving fine for a couple of months.

Yesterday however the Alternator Workshop message came up on the dash plus pic of battery flashing. I got it home with this message beeping for about 5 minutes and as I was parking it into a tight space the steering sounded really grating and crunchy as I turned the wheel. It started fine this morning - I didn't drive it just tried the ignition.

Anyone have any ideas what may be wrong - I'm going to try and get it in the garage tomorrow but would be grateful of any ideas/ballpark figures of price of repair I may be looking at! Some google searches have come up with new PAS pump and tensioner belt which would explain the weird steering noises - forums say the car gives the alternator message as though it's not necessarily the alternator it's linked in some way to the steering......sure you all know far more about these things than me!!

Many thanks,

Louise

[VAGMAN54]

it could be the belt or the tensioner they do suffer with problems if you run the engine and check it the tensioner could be bouncing causing the belt to slip and not charge,i have had these where the tensioner has broken and the cause being the clutch on the end of the alternator,let us know your findings

[loulou1971]

Many thanks for suggestion - my other half wanted to have a look last night but wasn't sure how to remove the big plastic cover over the engine and was worried he wouldn't be able to get it back on! Is it straightforward to get it off and on again?

Thanks!

[VAGMAN54]

iif there is three round covers on top of the cover take the plugs out and undo the nuts (10mm)socket size .....you should be able to see the belt without taking the cover off tho,just dont put you fingers in or (his):biglaugh:

[loulou1971]

So - this afternoon's update! Had look at belts with engine running - other half said belts look ok but - and apologies for the female version - the big metal arm thing with the nut/bolt (??) on it in the middle at the front of the belts seemed to be moving up and down a bit as they were running. (Whatever this thing is would apparently need an open-ended spanner to tighten it...). Apart from that he said the fan belt looked a bit tight but as it's years since he worked on his own classic car maybe it was different on modern cars. He didn't want to mess with this arm thing in case he did more harm than good and it's meant to move up and down - but it seemed like he didn't think it should be bouncing like that.

Took it for a 10 minute spin - no messages up on the dash but a new symptom - a slight squealing noise coming from under the bonnet......revved it up too to see if that brought the alternator message on but it didn't. And fan/radio etc all working so he doesn't think there's anything wrong with the battery, ooh and it didn't do the crunchy steering noise thing today.

My god this is possibly the most untechnical message you'll ever see on these boards - I do apologise!

Will take it to the garage this week when I can get it in anyway but if you have any more thoughts feel free to share!!

[Imran]

Have you checked to see how much power steering fluid you have? My steering recently started to squeak, thought here we go, time to raid the piggy bank, turned out it was just low on power steering fluid, bought some, been nice and smooth ever since :)

If you can find someone local, who has vagcom, and will do a diagnostics for you, if something comes up at least you will have a better idea to it :)

[loulou1971]

Thanks for all the advice! Took car into garage today, mechanic had a quick look and reckons it needs new alternator pulley, tensioner and fan belt. He said it's quite a common problem in Passats and Audis and isn't a huge job so it's booked in for Weds to get the work done.

The squealing today was magnificent and made me wince when I started the engine but then a strange not-too-loud clunk and it ceased as I drove to the garage!

If it turns out to be anything different I shall let you know but thanks again for all the input!

[Sincaj]

I’m having the same problem, first the alternator warning light with the battery light flickering. This went away, then when driving home form work the v belt snapped (not fun at 70mph when you suddenly realise that you no longer have power steering and there is a round about 50 yards ahead). Took it to the garage and they put a new belt on. Then after a day got the squeal of death (my neighbours hate me now as I’m the first to leave in the morning about 6:30). Took back to the garage, they then told me the power steering pump was seizing and that’s why my belt went in the first place. Got a second hand power steering pump fitted and a VW V belt (not the cheap one) and it was fine for a day.

Still squealing and there is a knocking/ticking noise when idle. Under load the noise goes away.

Loulou1971 did it go away when you got the parts replaced. I bought a beautiful car and it now sounds like a banger!

Thanks in advance!!!
Andy

[loulou1971]

Hi Andy - yes the problem did go away and the car (touch wood!) has been totally fine ever since!

Dug out the receipt:

"To remove alternator, fix and supply free wheeling pulley and refit alternator"

That fixed the problem for me - hope it helps you!

Loulou

[loulou1971]

ps. the garage did say at the time don't drive it until this is fixed as it can have all sorts of knock on effects on other parts of the engine so I left the car overnight and had it done straight away!

Loulou

[ddave05]

I’m having the same problem, first the alternator warning light with the battery light flickering. This went away, then when driving home form work the v belt snapped (not fun at 70mph when you suddenly realise that you no longer have power steering and there is a round about 50 yards ahead). Took it to the garage and they put a new belt on. Then after a day got the squeal of death (my neighbours hate me now as I’m the first to leave in the morning about 6:30). Took back to the garage, they then told me the power steering pump was seizing and that’s why my belt went in the first place. Got a second hand power steering pump fitted and a VW V belt (not the cheap one) and it was fine for a day.

Still squealing and there is a knocking/ticking noise when idle. Under load the noise goes away.

Loulou1971 did it go away when you got the parts replaced. I bought a beautiful car and it now sounds like a banger!

Thanks in advance!!!
Andy


It sounds like VW don't know what they are talking about. In my experience and when talking to indi mechanics, it's almost ALWAYS the alternator pulley OR the tensioner.

My advice is to do this. Go to your local euro car parts and get the alternator pulley and tensioner. I think both are made by LUK which are a quality OEM brand and a fraction of the cost that VW ask for (£100 for the pulley alone!). Then go to a VW dealership and get another new V belt. Call a local independent VW garage or a garage which you know offeres good service and have these new items fitted. If your problems don't go away, i'll eat my hat.