Serpentine Belt Tensioner (A4 ALH) Keeps breaking!!!!!!

Hi everyone!
i am a tdi newbie here.
I don't know how to upload the photo.......
Got a serious question. My Serpentine Belt Tensioner keeps breaking. It is already third times since last Feb. My mechanic checked the alternator pully, they didn't find anything unusual with it. So what causes my Serpentine Belt Tensioner keeps breaking?( the tensioner itself is OEM parts, never bought made in China ones)
Thank you!

Check the alternator pulley again. Make sure it isn't locked in both directions.

Does your mechanic know what a clutch pulley is? Seriously lots of them have never seen one.

Thank you! i will double check the alternator pully!
Seems like it is the time to change to a better mechanic.

jcrews said:

Check the alternator pulley again. Make sure it isn't locked in both directions.

Click to expand...

thank you! i think i will go to another shop to double check it.

jayb79 said:

Does your mechanic know what a clutch pulley is? Seriously lots of them have never seen one.

Click to expand...

I think i need to take it to another mechanic. They don't have much experience with VWs.

rule number one with TDIs. only let people work on them who KNOW what they are working on.

Thanks. The closest TDI trusted mechanic is 55 miles away from my home. I will tow my car to there this weekend.
In bay area, we have more than 100 famous top companies( apple, google, facebook, ebay, chervon.........) BUT we just have 5 TDI trusted mechanics around the whole area! Thank God, now more people are buying TDIs. Hope more TDI mechanics will be available over here.

2003Jetta,

You can check the alternator pulley by looking at the tensioner. If the tensioner is vibrating/moving back and forth, it's the alternator pulley. Either the pulley is bad or it has the incorrect (fixed type) on the alternator.

Eric

Thank you everyone! the car has been fixed! Alternator pulley is locked in both sides. Time to change mechanic!

What's really scary is Nissan, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, BMW, GM, and probably others are ALSO using over running clutched type alternator pulleys now, too. Some have been for years. So I pity anyone that has to rely on that shop for service. They need to get some training in technology of the last decade.