danielalves
Active member
My serpentine belt broke and upon inspection, I found the pulley on the alternator about to come off. I spun it around and the shaft of the alternator seemed to spin very smoothly. So, I took it to Smitty's here in Gainesville, FL to replace the pulley and they came back with this:
Your alternator is bad and your idler pulley is on it's way out. We need to put in a rebuilt bosch for $375, an alternator pulley for $73, idler pulley for $60.
This is my first time using a mechanic and this shop came recommended from folks on this site.
I asked why they need to buy an alt. pulley if the alternator comes with one. They replied that the alternator doesn't always come with the right pulley and they have to order the right one.
I also asked about the alternator being bad and that it turned smoothly in my crude test. He said that he used a stethoscope to listen to the alternator and heard clicking and that the bearings inside were bad.
Back up to what happened, driving down the interstate and ps and ac cut out and battery light came on all at once. The only noise I heard was the serpentine belt breaking.
Can someone tell me if this all sounds right:
1. that the alternator would have broke at the same time the pulley caused the belt to pop?
2. That they need to buy a separate pulley.
3. Would it be assholish to ask for the pulley that they don't use?
2003 Jetta TDI wagon w/ ~90k miles
thank you so much,
Daniel
Your alternator is bad and your idler pulley is on it's way out. We need to put in a rebuilt bosch for $375, an alternator pulley for $73, idler pulley for $60.
This is my first time using a mechanic and this shop came recommended from folks on this site.
I asked why they need to buy an alt. pulley if the alternator comes with one. They replied that the alternator doesn't always come with the right pulley and they have to order the right one.
I also asked about the alternator being bad and that it turned smoothly in my crude test. He said that he used a stethoscope to listen to the alternator and heard clicking and that the bearings inside were bad.
Back up to what happened, driving down the interstate and ps and ac cut out and battery light came on all at once. The only noise I heard was the serpentine belt breaking.
Can someone tell me if this all sounds right:
1. that the alternator would have broke at the same time the pulley caused the belt to pop?
2. That they need to buy a separate pulley.
3. Would it be assholish to ask for the pulley that they don't use?
2003 Jetta TDI wagon w/ ~90k miles
thank you so much,
Daniel