I live in Toronto, Canada and I recently bought a 2001 jetta TDI(alh). When I had bought it, I was informed that the power steering fluid was leaking. Most likely from the steering rack or hard lines, but that it was a pretty bad leak.
Now I'm not too knowledgeable about cars yet, and so I brought my cousin who is a HUGE VW guy. He told me the alh is EXACTLY what I want in terms of fuel consumption and that the engine looked "immaculate" for the year it is. He said that for $1000CAD it was a STEAL. And so I took a chance and bought it.
Not 1 code came up when scanned and the only other known issue was a leaking tire aside from basic maintenance(plugs, brakes, etc.) And so I drove it "as is" for a few months until the power steering pump's spool had snapped.
We replaced the pump and filled it up and for a few more months I hadn't noticed any issues. Would top up fluid every so often but only as needed more or less.. and it was nowhere near running perfectly. But it got me from A to B.
Then a few days ago I was idling while having a smoke with a friend and I heard/felt a hiccup from the engine. While wondering what happened I noticed smoke coming through the hood and when opened up, noticed it was from the powersteering pump/serpentine belt area. I could hear the snowflakes sizzling as they hit the pump.
I checked the reserve and it was running dry so I topped up what fluid I had left and got up to the "MIN" line and decided to head straight home. About a 35 minute ride hitting a max of about 70km/hr.
When I got to my area I heard a squeeling sound as I was coming to a stop(on the brake pedal) but when I released the brake it stopped. I then noticed that my battery light had come on and assumed my serpentine belt had somehow snapped or fell off which would mean my alternator wasn't charging the battery anymore.
And when I got home I had realized that the power steering spool had this time bent about 45° and the belt had jumped off the track. I then tried to free the belt when I realized the belt had pinched itself between 2 of the spools below. (Water pump and either tensioner or alternator) can't remember the exact layout sadly.
But now I'm at the point where I'm wondering if it pinched first, causing the belt to bend the spool if possible. Or if the pump just heated up so much that the spool bent which loosened the belt to come off. Either way, a steering rack is looking like $3-500 and another pump is like $250. Looked into a power steering delete kit or hardline replacement kit.... both around $100 but atleast a 2-week delivery time from a company I'm not 100% sure is legit. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or ideas?!
Now I'm not too knowledgeable about cars yet, and so I brought my cousin who is a HUGE VW guy. He told me the alh is EXACTLY what I want in terms of fuel consumption and that the engine looked "immaculate" for the year it is. He said that for $1000CAD it was a STEAL. And so I took a chance and bought it.
Not 1 code came up when scanned and the only other known issue was a leaking tire aside from basic maintenance(plugs, brakes, etc.) And so I drove it "as is" for a few months until the power steering pump's spool had snapped.
We replaced the pump and filled it up and for a few more months I hadn't noticed any issues. Would top up fluid every so often but only as needed more or less.. and it was nowhere near running perfectly. But it got me from A to B.
Then a few days ago I was idling while having a smoke with a friend and I heard/felt a hiccup from the engine. While wondering what happened I noticed smoke coming through the hood and when opened up, noticed it was from the powersteering pump/serpentine belt area. I could hear the snowflakes sizzling as they hit the pump.
I checked the reserve and it was running dry so I topped up what fluid I had left and got up to the "MIN" line and decided to head straight home. About a 35 minute ride hitting a max of about 70km/hr.
When I got to my area I heard a squeeling sound as I was coming to a stop(on the brake pedal) but when I released the brake it stopped. I then noticed that my battery light had come on and assumed my serpentine belt had somehow snapped or fell off which would mean my alternator wasn't charging the battery anymore.
And when I got home I had realized that the power steering spool had this time bent about 45° and the belt had jumped off the track. I then tried to free the belt when I realized the belt had pinched itself between 2 of the spools below. (Water pump and either tensioner or alternator) can't remember the exact layout sadly.
But now I'm at the point where I'm wondering if it pinched first, causing the belt to bend the spool if possible. Or if the pump just heated up so much that the spool bent which loosened the belt to come off. Either way, a steering rack is looking like $3-500 and another pump is like $250. Looked into a power steering delete kit or hardline replacement kit.... both around $100 but atleast a 2-week delivery time from a company I'm not 100% sure is legit. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or ideas?!
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