2003 Jetta TDI - Noise under hood - battery warning illuminated

C

Crop Doc

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Location
NC Iowa
TDI
2003 TDI Wagon GLS
Made a 150 mile trip on Wednesday, as usual, the Jetta ran great. Got up Thursday morning and started it up - at idle, pulsating-metal grating noise under hood; front of engine, passenger side. Red battery warning illuminated on dash. Decided to park it and take other car.

Started it up Friday morning. Battery light no longer lit, grating noise is gone. Took it up to local repair guy - alternator is producing correct voltage, pulley inspected good, no trouble codes stored.

What's the next step here? I drive the Jetta a lot and have a 1400 mile trip coming up. Any advice? Purchased Jetta new, it has 102,000 miles on it - mainly my "non-winter vehicle". Thank you for your input!
 
STDOUBT

STDOUBT

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2007
Location
Portland, effing Oregon
TDI
dos jettas
Verify the accessory belt and all pulleys rollers etc are working well. Check carefully in the timing belt case.
For the acc. belt (serpentine belt), you can use the 16mm nut on the tensioner to release tension, then pin it (so belt is loose) and check all the rolly stuff including the tensioner wheel.


At 102,000 miles, how old is your timing belt? Hopefully about 15k miles?
edit: the acc. belt kit should be replaced along with the TB, generally.
 
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jokila

jokila

Vendor
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Location
Houston, Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta GLS, Manual
Could be the alternator pulley about to give up the ghost.
Another thing it could be is the alternator shaft bearings can start to make noises and cause the battery light to flicker or come on at times. It will not get better on its own.
 
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J

jasantos40

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2018
Location
EU
TDI
g4 tdi
Put a new belt, its cheap, easy to fit, and it probably needs a new one.

If the symptom persists I would pull out the alternator, check the pulley, if the pulley is ok (not stuck both ways), replace the alternator.
 
C

Cleenlivin

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Location
So Cal
TDI
2009 Jetta TDI Sedan (DSG) boughtback, 2004 Jetta TDI Sedan (Tiptronic), 2004 Jetta TDI Sedan (5 speed)
Alternator...

I just had a similar problem, horrible rattling and metal grating sound from serpentine drive belt area. I initially thought it was coming from under the valve cover...luckily not so. I had replaced the alternator pulley a couple of thousand miles ago. After an initial mis-diagnoses of changing the serpentine belt tensioner and still having the problem, I went to the alternator.

When I got the alternator off, it definitely feels rough when you turn the shaft. Once replaced, the car runs fine again.
 
C

Crop Doc

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Location
NC Iowa
TDI
2003 TDI Wagon GLS
THANK YOU TO STDOUBT!
"At 102,000 miles, how old is your timing belt? Hopefully about 15k miles?"

The timing belt was still the original from 2003. Your suggestion seemed like a smart move to let the mechanics check around that section of the engine compartment. I took it to Nordstrom's just outside Sioux Falls who I have great trust in. When they pulled off the timing belt, there was an idler that was not turning freely and had been slowly rubbing away at the timing belt. You saved me from a major mess...THANK YOU! These guys work with parts manufacturers who say ignore the miles guideline from the car maker, timing belts in our hot-cold climate need to be traded out every 5-6 years. My wife's Subaru is going up their soon for its timing belt kit.
 
jokila

jokila

Vendor
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Location
Houston, Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta GLS, Manual
Crop Doc said:
THANK YOU TO STDOUBT!
"At 102,000 miles, how old is your timing belt? Hopefully about 15k miles?"

The timing belt was still the original from 2003. Your suggestion seemed like a smart move to let the mechanics check around that section of the engine compartment. I took it to Nordstrom's just outside Sioux Falls who I have great trust in. When they pulled off the timing belt, there was an idler that was not turning freely and had been slowly rubbing away at the timing belt. You saved me from a major mess...THANK YOU! These guys work with parts manufacturers who say ignore the miles guideline from the car maker, timing belts in our hot-cold climate need to be traded out every 5-6 years. My wife's Subaru is going up their soon for its timing belt kit.
Click to expand...
I disagree with them on ignoring the mileage component. Some people drive 25-33K miles a year, or more. In those cases the belt would be changed in 3 or 4 years. Waiting until 5- 6 years would be ridiculous.
 
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