Alternator Pulley

[PassSPORT]

I am getting the alternator warning-light and battery light coming on.

I got the alternator belt off today, and found that the alternator pulley rotates freely in both directions.
It is my understanding that this is not right, and the clutch in it is bust.
Is this correct?
I can't find anywhere that sells the pulley, and it's hard to get the removal tool.

I phoned up our local VW parts man and breaker, and he doesn't keep it.
He just recommended buying one off him secondhand for £60, but I only have 96,000 miles on my car, and allot of his stuff has higher mileage.
So my thinking is I would be better fixing mine.

[martin1810]

The pulley should only free wheel in one direction. A dealer should be able to get you a new pulley. Laser do a cheap copy of the original tool. You need to check which one you need as there are two. One is a torx and the other a spline (If I remember correctly)

[PassSPORT]

O.K now im totally lost,
I thought I found the problem as my pulley freewheels in both directions.
But today I checked the mates passat which is the same as mine, and his does exactly the same.
He had his replaced 6 weeks ago new, which I could tell by the new condition it was in.
So it mustn't be the case that it's not supposed to move freely in both directions.

[martin1810]

To test the pulley you have to make sure the armature inside the alternator isn't turning. Jam it carefully with a screwdriver through an air vent. Then gently try the pulley wheel. Not all alternators have a free wheel pulley. The free wheel pulley usually has a dust cover over the end.

[PassSPORT]

To test the pulley you have to make sure the armature inside the alternator isn't turning. Jam it carefully with a screwdriver through an air vent. Then gently try the pulley wheel. Not all alternators have a free wheel pulley. The free wheel pulley usually has a dust cover over the end.

I never jammed it, I will go and do it now.
Mine does have a metal cover on it, does that mean it should free wheel then? Thanks.

[PassSPORT]

To test the pulley you have to make sure the armature inside the alternator isn't turning. Jam it carefully with a screwdriver through an air vent. Then gently try the pulley wheel. Not all alternators have a free wheel pulley. The free wheel pulley usually has a dust cover over the end.

I did what u said, and it does only rotate one way.
The good thing is that the warning hasn't come back today at all.
Maybe just the cars time of the month, I hope.