Doesnt rain but it pours...

So today driving home, after the golf being off the road for 3 weeks with a few various issues…

A tinny rattling sound started at high revs, I thought it may have been some kind of heat shield.

Then boom, big bang, and the noise worsens.

It seems the alternator fins had been catching on the adjuster bracket, and it has snapped a fin off, straight into the underside of the bonnet…

Devastated…

Wow some force there. What's damage inside looking like?

Ouch! How had the fins been catching? Were they bent or something? Hope you get it sorted soon buddy.

Not quite sure how they have been catching.

It doesn't look too bad inside, just 1 fin missing and the rest with wear marks on them, will investigate more tomorrow.

does anyone know

A) can you buy just the replacement fin part for the alternator

b) if runnin minus 1 fin will cause issues?

I have just booked in for paint, and the guy said the bonnet looks great and doesn't need any work…. It certainly does now!

Mike

Not sure if you can buy just the fins but I would've thought that running without 1 fin will eventually ruin the bearings because it will be spinning out of balance.

Guessing bearings gone and shaft can move allowing fins to catch? I wouldn't want to run the car knowing that's something's badly wrong.

I did wonder if it may been bearing related.

It's had the timing belt done etc so the garage have been messing around there, when I got it back, the belt was chattering on the casing, so the tightened the alternator belt and all sounded fine.

Just seemed strange that it only made the noise at high revs (until it lost its fin).

It was at a certain rev range it rattled, hence making me think some type of eat shield.

Like you say, probably better to be safe and put a new alternator on her.

Mike

Sorry to see what it did to the bonnet…must be pure bad luck as |I have never heard of that happening before.Sounds like the garage may have damaged it?
As suggested, get a new/second hand alternator asap.
Bonnet is going to need sorting, feel for you buddy.

There is an engine related whine around the area, reading into it, it may be the alternator on its way out anyway.

So I'll replace, and have to instruct the paint guy to do the bonnet too… hey ho.. Whjo said owning a Mk1 was easy

nunny said

There is an engine related whine around the area, reading into it, it may be the alternator on its way out anyway.

So I'll replace, and have to instruct the paint guy to do the bonnet too… hey ho.. Whjo said owning a Mk1 was easy

I know that feeling. But when it all comes good their the best thing there is  

Ouchies, and I thought that this was going to be the ubiquitous holey roof thread.

I have heard of that happening as when the belt is over tightened can cause the bearings to fail.
I have also heard of similar things when the lower pivot bolt loosens and the alternator can wobble in the mount.
There isn't much clearance between the thing running.

You didn't effect timing as the timing belt is robust.
You do need to source a new fan, as they are to a point Balanced.
I have bought about 4 alt's two came with pulleys and one pulley was for a non a/c rabbit which I should of kept as they are worth a pretty penny over here, and if yours is a 60A alt, you can upgrade it to a 90 for only a few monies more.

On the pivot mount, there is a allen that pushes in a bushing that centers and squares the alternator.  When you replace the alternator smack that bushing back towards the fender.  if as you tighten it you see that the blades and belt aren't running true, you can use washers on the rear of the mount to keep the alternator more towards the front of the mount.

I have a how do I do that in the newbie section.

 

So an update……

I took the bracket off and grinded it down slightly to give a little more clearance, which did stop the alternator fouling, i didn't realise but the alternator had been making a whining noise (only 3 yrs old).

When i looked at the alternator when it was being revved i could see the fan was moving away from the block, which was causing the fouling.

Needless to say, we now have a new alternator in hand, one of the last on the shelves like for like replacement, which we will be fitting tomorrow when the car comes out with its shiny new hood.

Then its off to the body shop to fix the bonnet

 

Briano1234 said

Ouchies, and I thought that this was going to be the ubiquitous holey roof thread.

I have heard of that happening as when the belt is over tightened can cause the bearings to fail.
I have also heard of similar things when the lower pivot bolt loosens and the alternator can wobble in the mount.
There isn't much clearance between the thing running.

You didn't effect timing as the timing belt is robust.
You do need to source a new fan, as they are to a point Balanced.
I have bought about 4 alt's two came with pulleys and one pulley was for a non a/c rabbit which I should of kept as they are worth a pretty penny over here, and if yours is a 60A alt, you can upgrade it to a 90 for only a few monies more.

On the pivot mount, there is a allen that pushes in a bushing that centers and squares the alternator.  When you replace the alternator smack that bushing back towards the fender.  if as you tighten it you see that the blades and belt aren't running true, you can use washers on the rear of the mount to keep the alternator more towards the front of the mount.

I have a how do I do that in the newbie section.

 

Ill be sure to take a look at the thread before fitting the new alternator, thanks for the heads up

Mike

All good advice as there was a cause for the other one doing what it did- and you must be sure of what that was before you fit the new one…
Good luck though and hope its all great from now on.
Marcus.