Hi. Driving to work this morning, the alternator light on the dash came on. As i wasnt far from work i carried on. Once at work i had a look to find that the cooling fan which drives the fan belt was not spinning. Engine was running fine. During my lunch i had a look to find that there was movement in the fan. I tightened the central bolt and all seemed fine. When i left work for home i didnt make the gate before the alternator light came back on. Once again the fan is not spinning again. As i knew i wouldnt make it home i locked the van in the unit and begged a lift home :-( The engine runs ok, the alternator seems free to spin,belt is tight. i just dont understand. I hope i can fix this at work as i dont think the van will get home. It has a 2ltr engine fitted. Any help would be a great. Thanks
Fan hub fits on crank by means of a taper and woodruff key ...you need to remove fan to see what's up ..
Thanks for reply. Have you any idea what i might find i remove fan? Could this turn into a big job , which i cant carry out a work? ( with basic tools)
Is the fan belt tight, probably the outer fan hub rounded off and there's not enough clamp on the belt to spin it, or there's something like a rag jammed I the fan and physically stopping it, or woodruff key as above
The fan hub bolt should be tightened to 3.2 mkg or 23 ft lb according to my VW engine service book. That means it is relying on the Woodruff key to lock the fan and provide the one horsepower of drive to the alternator not just relying on the bolt being tight. I bet you find shards of mild steel behind the fan hub.. where somebody bodged the woodruff key with a thin bit of mild steel.
You'll need 13mm for the fan probably a small extension bar. For the alternator side you'll need a couple of 15mm spammers I think.
Is this an after-market mod I need to be aware of on your van?? Alt pivot bolt is M8, or 13mm spanner, the adjuster clamp is a 6mm allen key... As already said, the woodruff key stops the hub from spinning, it also gives you the correct positioning for timing the engine...
