Pre holiday Holiday Saga

[Dean Fletcher]

Hi everyone,
Haven’t been on for a while been overrun with work and just been on holiday (toyoung for a saga holiday).
Admittedly the car doesn’t get used as often over the last few year BUT still causing me issues, I average 2k a year in it.
Anyhow the Friday before I went away I topped the car up, checked tyre pressure etc. All seemed good to go ready for the early drive to Manchester airport.

Saturday woke up, kids in car suitcases in boot and wife (not together however tempting it was) . Turn car on tried to pull away the steering very stiff then big old battery red light on which indicates battery not charging. After kicking the car arguing with the misses will all piled in here VW polo.

On returning this morning I was straight at it I found the serpentine belt not attached. Initial thought stretched belt finally came loose, then perhaps broken pulley. So…….I’ve found a leak what looks like oil coming from the water pump Pulley, no coolant is leaking. The pulleys itself is slightly loose and moved slightly side to side.
My diagnosis is the pulley is goosed, oil dripping onto belt which has made it slip off the tensioners (belt is also at least 6 years old so probably needs replacing as well).

New pump and belt?

This photo is top side of the water pulley.

Any advice always appreciated

 

[Blobcat]

What's the tensioner and idler like on the belt run?

 

[Dean Fletcher]

What's the tensioner and idler like on the belt run?

They seemed ok ish. I put the belt back on and ran the car, when running it in the tensioner I could see where it was slowly sliding to the end of the pulley. Is this because it’s loose and doesn’t have the teeth side to keep it in check?

 

[Blobcat]

I'd have the belt off and check each by hand for notchiness and end float. It should run smoothly without any sideways movement

 

[Dean Fletcher]

What's the tensioner and idler like on the belt run?

The pump pulley if definitely needing replacing. It’s loose and making a funny sound. That’s the lifespan of a pump? Mine maybe done 25 to 30000 miles since being replaced last time.

 

[Blobcat]

The pump pulley if definitely needing replacing. It’s loose and making a funny sound. That’s the lifespan of a pump? Mine maybe done 25 to 30000 miles since being replaced last time.

Should last many miles longer than that

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Should last many miles longer than that

I thought that. Further investigation I think

 

[Dean Fletcher]

 

[Dean Fletcher]

I took the belt off and inspected further, the pulleys all seem really solid apart from the pump. thoughts?

 

[Dean Fletcher]

also video of the belt back on and running, squealing pulley and also the belt on the guide pulleys don't seem to sit great.

 

[Blobcat]

I took the belt off and inspected further, the pulleys all seem really solid apart from the pump. thoughts?

Pump is Donald ducked… tensioner looks to have a bit of play as well, although I couldn’t see you wiggling it as much

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Pump is Donald ducked… tensioner looks to have a bit of play as well, although I couldn’t see you wiggling it as much

I tried moving the tensioner but it didn’t seem to move. Question is would the dodgy pump cause the belt to come off? Or is it a tensioner job as well?

 

[Blobcat]

I tried moving the tensioner but it didn’t seem to move. Question is would the dodgy pump cause the belt to come off? Or is it a tensioner job as well?

Yes it would if it goes out of alignment. Give the tensioner a bit more side to side action and spin it feeling for any notchiness - same for the idler.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Perhaps the tensioner has placed too much tension on the belt and that's why the pump has failed earlier than expected. I'd be tempted to replace the tensioner as well as the pump, as they seem to be a common failure, especially on cars that aren't driven much.