Alternator strap broken!!

Big rattling from within the engine compartment area. Difficult to identify where it was coming from until I noticed the broken alternator strap dancing all over the place!

Strangely the alternator seemed solidly in place, presumably held by both belt tension and the small bolts holding it to the fan housing??

Even after removing the strap completely the rattling continues, a bit weird.

Just ordered a new stainless strap from Megabug, and daren't use the camper until it's fitted!!

Hope fitting the new strap cures the rattling

 

is this the one that attaches to the heat exchanger (type 4 engine), didn't know megabug did them, I paid a fortune for one on ebay....

 

It's a standard 1600 AS engine, and the strap holds the alternator onto the stand. The strap costs about £10 delivered

 

Your fan is falling off. It may be knackered by now. Ask Purplepantyman (remember him?).

 

Next task, while waiting for the strap to arrive, might be to remove the belt and briefly run the engine to see if the noise is still there.........

It's worrying to think the fan could be "falling off", as the alternator appears firm and the attachment to the fan housing is fine.

 

wrong engine type for me....

 

I rode around for weeks without one [I forgot to put it on] ,it was fine...

 

I had to use a rubber mallet to remove my alternator from its stand as the two pieces had corroded together

 

While you wait for the strap, remove the fan/alternator assembly and have a look. It would take a lot of vibration to snap the strap and it's not uncommon for the fan bolt to come a little loose after which the vibration will play havoc with everything it's attached to.
Reach round the fan housing and have a jiggle of the fan?

 

disconnect the battery first

 

New alternator strap arrived this morning. Took the belt off and it was obvious what the problem was - perished engine bay seal in the fan!! The fan being out of balance must have caused the strap to break. Without the belt taking the strain, the alternator was moving around slightly along with the fan housing, but all has now returned to normal. No permanent damage to the fan fortunately.

The cause of the problem, now removed from the fan housing.



To prevent foreign matter from entering the fan housing in the future, I fabricated a 6mm mesh cover.

 

Common cause of cooking your engine...

 

Probably. Why didn't VW put in a "filter" when they made these engines.... ????

 

They assumed that folk wouldn't have a sealing strip like an old bog roll ...