Battery Light On/Lost of Power Steering

**mariabrg5** · 16-03-2008,09:26 AM

Hi

Please help! Last night I was driving along and heard a noise from the engine. I stopped the car and had a quick look at front of car for flat tyre etc.- nothing. Started up car and the battery light was on continuously and the steering wheel was hard to move. The noise from the engine continued. I was on a slip round to a major roundabout so decided to move the car. I managed to limp the car home slowly and with great difficulty steering.

I know nothing about cars. I have a R Reg Passat (old style). What has happened? Can I take it to any garage to get it repaired? (like one that specialises in tyres/exhaust/servicing or do I need to take it to VW dealer? Reading on this site, I think it could be something to do with a belt. Is this likely to e expensive to repair and can I drive it to a garage on Monday?

**TheMadhatter** · 16-03-2008,10:08 AM

The Alternator and the power steering pump are both driven by an accessory belt, the same one. Have a look at the front of the engine and look for a broken/missing belt.

**mariabrg5** · 16-03-2008,02:03 PM

Hi thanks for your reply. Examined the front of the engine. The belt there is shredded. Is this a specialist repair and is it expensive? Will it have lead to other damage?

Thanks

Maria

**kenney** · 16-03-2008,03:53 PM

Hi In ansewer to your question (Will it have lead to other damage?)it has happened that the shreded poly V-belt (accessory belt) can get into the timing belt and the result can be very expensive.If you intend driving the car to the workshop i strongly advise you to take the time and rmove all the shreded parts of the belt.

**mariabrg5** · 16-03-2008,06:51 PM

Unfortunately the car wont start today. I can't see any evidence of any belts still in place at the front of the car. The car will have to be towed to the garage now. As its a R Reg model and looking at the worst case scenerio do you think it is worth getting it fixed? I have no idea of what charges to expect for the towing or repair of the belts.

All help is really appreciated.

Maria

**Fourbears** · 16-03-2008,07:06 PM

I guess it won't start because the battery is flat as it wasn't being charged hence the battery light being on. Yes it is worth getting it fixed as it sounds like it just needs a belt to be replaced which is an easy job. You'll then get your steering back as wellas charging your battery. Since you drove home it sounds like there's no other problems. The belt will cost between £6 and 15 roughly (according to the GSF website), a bit more from VW. Hope it all goes well!

**TheMadhatter** · 18-03-2008,12:20 AM

It's worth investigating why it broke these belts normally last a very long time. It might have just been worn, but a faulty belt tensioner or free wheel on the alternator can lead to premature belt death.

**jgreenwell** · 18-03-2008,12:24 AM

Originally Posted by TheMadhatter

It's worth investigating why it broke these belts normally last a very long time. It might have just been worn, but a faulty belt tensioner or free wheel on the alternator can lead to premature belt death.

Sure!! See my topic, tensioner bolt snapping!! Not sure if your engine is the same setup, I am sure you will find out soon enough though, fingers crossed for you
Jonathan

**Hex69** · 18-03-2008,03:16 PM

It's always worth keeping a spare belt in the car together with a spanner that fits the tensioner, it's then a 5 minute job to replace at the roadside.

Hope this helps, as I've had vto do it myself a couple of times with my '98 1.8 20v, (216,000 miles!)

**mariabrg5** · 22-03-2008,10:58 AM

Thanks for all your replies! Car has been in the garage a week now! Both the alternator and power steering belts were shredded. The garage still couldn't get the car to start, only with the diesel start. They did a diagonisic test which showed the diesel fuel pump problem. Having a further look they discovered alot of belt shreds in the cam belt. They tried pulling them out but couldn't get them all. The timing had been affected. They felt the cam belt was showing signs of wear. Quoted me £350 + Vat to replace the cam belt. But the whole job is likely to come to £425 + Vat. Rang local VW dealer and they quoted £400 all in. Some the garage doing the work seems to have priced this job quick high! What do you guys think? Also they had my car since last Monday afternoon (3 days) before bank holiday and VW dealer said the change of cam belt they allow 3.5 hours of labour.

Any comments greatfully received.

Maria