help..engine woes

[VWKat]

Hi all, summer is on its way and my van has developed a strange grating noise. I'm not sure where it is coming from but I have taken the fan belt off, run the engine for a few seconds and the noise disappears. So, I know its not the engine block thank god. I had something similar to this happen on my old beetle and the generator bearings had gone, I thought it might be the alternator needing to be replaced but I'm not sure, it could be the water pump? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Its a 1.9 petrol wbx 1985

Thanks

K

[CovKid]

You'll soon know if its pump. With belt off, check as: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LghNy400HzI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pulley is off in video but that doesn't matter - you're checking for excessive play/damage.

If it IS pump, see: https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... overhaul_3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - this WIKI was also an 85 1.9DG

Unfortunately a pump swap can present additional problems so be prepared for that.

[VWKat]

Thank you, that helps a lot.

Well I have changed the fan belt over and that seems to have quietened the noise right down..I have a feeling my fan belt was too tight...its been like that for 10 years!.. oh well, we live and learn.

[VWKat]

Hello again,

Well the new fan belt did quieten down the noise for a bit but its still there, I'm still not sure if it is the water pump or alternator. The water pump Lully has a slight amount of play but nothing like that utube clip, and the alternator does not have any play but I'm not sure ifit does even when the bearings go. So my next question is, how long or how many miles have I got?..of course I will keep an eye on the dash, charging light and water temp gauge..its not ideal for me to repair it right now but in the summer would be fine...thanks for any help or suggestions.

[Oldiebut goodie]

What I would do if I couldn't decide which is dive into my stock of various old belts and fit a short one to the water pump only and see if the noise is still present.

[VWKat]

I have thought that, or maybe put a socket on a drill and spin it..might give that ago when I can be bothered.

[VWKat]

I spent yesterday and today replacing the water pump, started the engine and guess what? The rattling noise is still there. Take the fan belt off and it disappears. I checked both the alternator and water pump seperatley, using a peice of string, no noise from either. Added some additive, STP type stuf to the engine,, and the noise has disappeared, except when I turn the engine off, you can hear it rattle on the last few turns of the engine! I'm stumped.

[VWKat]

Just an update but what had actually happened is that the main pulley was separating in two, the rivets were coming loose. So I had a friend put 4 spot welds on the pulley and that fixed the problem, very very simple fix thank goodness! Wasted my time and money changing over the water pump but I suppose, at least that's done now for another 100k or so!