Noisier Golf 1.9 TDI
December 12, 2010 1:11 PM Subscribe
My 2005 VW Golf 1.9 litre TDI has started making an odd noise. It doesn't start until maybe 5 seconds after having started the engine and appears to be loudest around the area near the alternator.
I've linked to a Youtube clip of the noise. Any ideas what it is and how much it would cost to fix?
The noise disappears after a while.
Youtube clip
I've linked to a Youtube clip of the noise. Any ideas what it is and how much it would cost to fix?
The noise disappears after a while.
Youtube clip
Search for your symptoms, or post a question at TDIclub.com . You will get lots of opinions and several very well-informed comments.
posted by TDIpod at 6:22 PM on December 12, 2010
posted by TDIpod at 6:22 PM on December 12, 2010
Sounds like it could be a couple things.
One: A/C compressor clutch
Two: Serpentine belt tensioner
Three: Water pump
The belt tensioner is cheapest. The compressor clutch (if available separately from the entire compressor) should be the second-cheapest. The water pump will be the most expensive since it involves removing/replacing the timing belt to access.
Check www.iatn.net to find a quality VW specialist in your area.
posted by Jon-o at 6:46 PM on December 12, 2010
One: A/C compressor clutch
Two: Serpentine belt tensioner
Three: Water pump
The belt tensioner is cheapest. The compressor clutch (if available separately from the entire compressor) should be the second-cheapest. The water pump will be the most expensive since it involves removing/replacing the timing belt to access.
Check www.iatn.net to find a quality VW specialist in your area.
posted by Jon-o at 6:46 PM on December 12, 2010
I would go with the alternator. The fact that it doesn't kick in until a few seconds after the engine is running makes me think this coincides with the computer turning on the field coil. Plus, it sounds kind of like a scraping noise, which is what would happen when one of its bearings failed.
Or the AC compressor, for the same reason. Turn off the HVAC and see if the noise changes or goes away. Then turn it on and see what happens.
posted by gjc at 9:14 PM on December 12, 2010
Or the AC compressor, for the same reason. Turn off the HVAC and see if the noise changes or goes away. Then turn it on and see what happens.
posted by gjc at 9:14 PM on December 12, 2010
There's a tool that is basically a stethoscope which is designed to help narrow down these kinds of questions. All of the guesses above sound plausible, though it sounds most like a belt tensioner pulley to me.
Note that the belt will fail soon if you don't fix it; since that disables your alternator and water pump, you can't drive any more once it fails - well you can, but you really shouldn't - anyway, you'll be stranded wherever the belt fails. So you should get it looked at ASAP.
Can't help you on price, as I don't drive a VW.
posted by richyoung at 10:01 PM on December 12, 2010
Note that the belt will fail soon if you don't fix it; since that disables your alternator and water pump, you can't drive any more once it fails - well you can, but you really shouldn't - anyway, you'll be stranded wherever the belt fails. So you should get it looked at ASAP.
Can't help you on price, as I don't drive a VW.
posted by richyoung at 10:01 PM on December 12, 2010
The alternator pulley has a reputation for going bad on your generation of VW, but it could just as well be anything else on the belt (tensioner, etc.) or something else entirely. I second TDIClub as your go-to forum for this kind of problem.
posted by ssg at 10:47 PM on December 12, 2010
posted by ssg at 10:47 PM on December 12, 2010
Note that the belt will fail soon if you don't fix it; since that disables your alternator and water pump, you can't drive any more once it fails - well you can, but you really shouldn't - anyway, you'll be stranded wherever the belt fails. So you should get it looked at ASAP.
Also, it isn't so bad - the water pump is on the timing belt, not the serpentine belt, so you can still drive as long as you have enough battery power (though you won't have power steering, etc.)
posted by ssg at 11:26 PM on December 12, 2010
Also, it isn't so bad - the water pump is on the timing belt, not the serpentine belt, so you can still drive as long as you have enough battery power (though you won't have power steering, etc.)
posted by ssg at 11:26 PM on December 12, 2010
« Older Renaming a whole bunch of files at once, in bash | What e-book reader would be best for an older... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jclovebrew at 1:40 PM on December 12, 2010