Author Topic: alternator pulley broke? (Read 2883 times)

jtanguay · « **on:** January 17, 2006, 01:24:25 pm »

I have a few questions... I have a 92 jetta TD.

is the alternator pulley supposed to be in two pieces? (for adjusting it somehow?)

one piece flew out of my engine while driving down the road and had some nice steam on it... lol the other piece is still hangin on. alternator spins freely and smoothly. My guess is that the nut holding it all together just spun itself off.

good thing it didnt happen too far from my house... bad part is that there is freezing rain out!!!!!!!!!!! aaaargh

*** add that to the list of things i've had to fix on this car.

chrissev · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2006, 03:13:53 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

I have a few questions... I have a 92 jetta TD.

is the alternator pulley supposed to be in two pieces? (for adjusting it somehow?)

one piece flew out of my engine while driving down the road and had some nice steam on it... lol the other piece is still hangin on. alternator spins freely and smoothly. My guess is that the nut holding it all together just spun itself off.

good thing it didnt happen too far from my house... bad part is that there is freezing rain out!!!!!!!!!!! aaaargh

*** add that to the list of things i've had to fix on this car.

Hey: I'm in Oshawa too. Wonderful freezing rain indeed. When I put my new alternator in my jetta (88TD) the pulley was one piece. It was held on by a threaded nut that spun down onto the alternator shaft. So if your pulley is in two pieces...might need a new pulley.

Chris

jtanguay · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2006, 04:14:22 pm »

well at first when i started it at work it was making a noise... and my rpm's went up then dropped down to near nothing but engine was fine... so i thought it was the alternator; but the batt light wasnt flashing or staying on. so i thought it might have been the rpm sensor. I got about 100 feet from my house and heard some nice clang.. piece falls out underneath car with steam coming from it.

I really hope its just the pulley and not the alternator

i love quick fixes!

tylernt · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:00:17 pm »

That's not the alternator for your car, but close enough. A "new" pulley from a junkyard and a socket to fit the nut (22mm on older cars, not sure about '92) and you're in business. Make sure you still still have or obtain the lock washer and spacers from the donor alternator as necessary.

Loosely install the new pulley and washers and nut. Jam a screwdriver into the alternator fan to prevent it from turning and then tighten the nut with your socket a little tighter than you really think it should be. An impact wrench is better but not necessary.

Also, check your belt. The failure of the pulley probably damaged it.

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:02:30 pm »

well i examined the piece that flew off... and it was definitely not attached to the other part of the pulley wheel. It is a two piece pulley wheel that is tightened together. It looks pretty badly damaged, and as well my alternator makes some nice squeaky noises now when i spin it maybe thats why it was getting hard to start it.

The alternator has a shaft coming out of it and is threaded for the nut to hold it on... maybe i'll take some pics of it sometime!

thanks for all your help guys! I'm just going to put on a new alternator + pulley + belt and it will be good as new