Noise From Power Steering

[smitch]

Hi,

 

I am a newbie here and have just purchased a 05 Galaxy TDI 130 Ghia with 64000 miles from a car supermarket.

 

When I test drove it today, there was a noise from the power steering when on full lock at slow speed in both directions. It sounded like a knocking. The dealer told me it was the tensioner for the power steering belt and that it would be replaced before I pick it up on Monday.

 

Does this sound correct and are there problems with this particular model I should be aware of??

[Phil]

Hi,

 

I am a newbie here and have just purchased a 05 Galaxy TDI 130 Ghia with 64000 miles from a car supermarket.

 

When I test drove it today, there was a noise from the power steering when on full lock at slow speed in both directions. It sounded like a knocking. The dealer told me it was the tensioner for the power steering belt and that it would be replaced before I pick it up on Monday.

 

Does this sound correct and are there problems with this particular model I should be aware of??

 

I Believe he is correct, BUT it could also be the alternator as it has a slip system that allows the alternator to spin slightly faster than the engine as the engine decellerates.

There is a thread on this elsewhere on the forum.

 

any other issues im cannot comment as i have a mk1

 

Phil

[smitch]

Phil,

 

Thanks for the reply. Picked the car up today and the noise has gone. I will keep an eye on it as I have seen from other threads that sometimes changing the belt isn't enough and it can come back after two weeks or so. I bought a years AA warranty with it so hopefully that will cover any issues that arise.

 

Can anyone recommend a good place to get a service in the Bracknell area of Berkshire??

[smitch]

Still not happy with the vibration on full lock so going to have have a look at the alternator in the morning and the play in the pulley under load.

 

Having read all the associated threads, am I right in thinking there should be no movement in the pulley or tensioner at all when the engine is running and under load from A/C or steering???

[Phil]

In an Ideal world that would be right, but as we are prone to the outside rules..., it might have some play, that said it shouldn't jump around like mad when fully locked either way, if it does i would say the tension spring has weakened and needs replacing.

 

Phil

[smitch]

Well had at look at the pulley and tensioner this morning.

 

Tensioner was vibrating like a mad thing, no play in pulley but when I did Littledaz's test on the alternator to see if it would the alternator blades would freewheel in any direction, there was no joy. This makes me think that the pulley has seized.

 

Contacted AA Warranty and have booked the car in to be "investigated" on Friday morning. I spoke directly to the garage and voiced my concerns so will see what happens.

 

The only symptoms so far are a rumbling on full lock in each direction at slow speed which can be felt through steering wheel which is worse when A/C is on and certainly nothing like the noise before the belt was changed. There is also a faint rumbling at tickover from the belt area especially if the A/C is on.

 

Hopefully the AA will pay out for the pulley change. Fingers crossed.

 

Is there any official Ford or VW notifications that I can get hold of to highlight the problem to the garage if necessary??

[gregers]

dunno why you spoke to the warrenty peeps,iirc under the sale of goods act the suppyling dealer has to deal with the repairs.for the 1st 28 days its there problem,me thinks they are aware of the problems with the car and hope that the warrenty peeps will pick up the tab.

[smitch]

You could be right there Gregers but as far as I'm concerned, I don't care who picks up the tab as long as it's not me. I want to avoid getting stuck in between a "It's not our problem the dealer should pay" and a "it's not our problem the warranty should pay" turf war.

 

Looking at the dealer literature, it appears that they would try and make a claim on the warranty anyway. Except I would have the cost and inconvenience of a 80 mile round trip to sort it out.

 

That's the problem when you have very little mechanical knowledge like me, you have to put a little trust in the dealer. To be fair, they did change the belt as promised but they were treating a symptom not the cause. It's only because of the wealth of knowledge on this forum that I was able to get to the root cause.

[gregers]

You could be right there Gregers but as far as I'm concerned, I don't care who picks up the tab as long as it's not me. I want to avoid getting stuck in between a "It's not our problem the dealer should pay" and a "it's not our problem the warranty should pay" turf war.

 

 

i can appriciate what you are saying smitch,but once armed with some knowledge the dealer will not argue with the law(well they might but there be bloody stupid to, :) )i agree as long as it aint out of your pocket who cares,but as previously said i susspect the dealer knows what is wrong with the car and were hoping it wont come back to bite them on the arse,ME i would let it bite :)

just for info you have 28 days(iirc)to list all problems with the car and notify the dealer to rectify faults.but plz check this out with the trading standards peeps.

[smitch]

Thanks for the advice, car's going into the garage in the morning so I'll see what happens and take it from there. I'm hoping that it will get sorted with no fuss but then I'm not that lucky so I expect to spend most of tomorrow morning on the phone and arguing. I'll keep you updated.

[smitch]

Car been looked at today. 1st phone call from garage was that the pulley was not seized as it was spinning both ways. I asked whether this was under load ie with belt on and explained LittleDaz's alternator test to the mechanic. He said he'd have another look .

 

Just received a phone call, they are going to replace the alternator as Ford state that you can't buy the pulley separately from the alternator and that AA warranty are going to pay for it. The AA won't authorize a genuine Ford alternator so a new one from a motor factors place is to be fitted. Not one aruguement needed!!

 

I know a pulley can be sourced from VW and I have explained this to the garage but I guess if the AA are willing to pay you to supply and fit an alternator, you not going to argue!

 

All I have to pay for is for a new belt which the AA refuse to cover (

[jkspoff]

You shouldn't really have had to pay a penny as the car is within 30 days of purchase, however as you mention, a new alternator will be a good thing to have for such a low price.

[gregers]

yep tell the dealer theres no bloody chance your paying a penny towards any costs,and if they get nasty tell them there conning gits by throwing the problem at the aa warrenty.well thats what i would do.if your happy then fair play to you.

[turk90210]

Ask them for the old alternator aswell then buy a pully from VW youll have a spare then hahaha

[smitch]

Now that's an idea I like. I imagine the garage will claim that they need to send it back to be recon but it's worth a try!!

[jkspoff]

Car supermarkets..............I learnt my lesson a few years back, never ever again will I buy a secondhand car from one of these wholesale dumps, its no wonder most of them are in receivership, now that people have seen the light they don't go back for another go, unless its to buy brand new in which case there are some good savings !

Cut out the middle man and buy one from an auction.

Edited August 8, 2009 by jkspoff

[smitch]

Had new alternator and aux belt fitted today. What a difference!!!

 

Tensioner is now almost perfectly still on idle where as before it was jumping about like a mad thing and the whole engine is much quieter on tickover. Aircon seems much colder.

 

Would a seized pulley/loose belt impair the efficiency of the aircon???

[stuartrbritton]

Hi there,

 

I have had exactly the same problem with my Alhambra 03 TDI. changed belt and tensioner and problem reoccurred within a few weeks. I have been scratching my head until reading this posting. The alternator pulley was thing I had thought of but not changed. Has the problem been completly fixed since you have changed the alternator a few weeks back?

 

Thanks

Stuart

[turk90210]

In a word YES it would , as the tensioner is bouncing about so much due to the alternator pully being siezed the belt basically is jumping aswell and slipping hense poor air con and I found when mine went the power steering was jerky also. I hear that Fords say new alternator but if you go to a VW dealers you can get the pully on its own