For keeping your car working in optimum condition you will need to ensure that all the internal parts of the car are working properly. One of the parts the components inside the alternator that has a direct bearing on the engine efficiency and the rotation of the engine shaft is the VW alternator pulley.
This is surely damaged over time and needs repairing or replacement.
In this article, we will be mainly focusing on how to change the alternator pulley and a few other associated topics to the alternator pulley. Let’s begin…
Understanding the alternator pulley and its functions
Driven by the engine’s accessory drive system the VW alternator pulley is a V-shaped serpentine belt for spinning the alternator.
It is made from stamped steel or cast aluminum. Generally in all types of cars, the alternator pulley has two different model variations.
That is-
A grooved style pulley of use with a compatible V-type fan belt
The other one has multiple grooves on it and is used alongside a serpentine belt.
The first variant is seen in the old cars while the second type of variant is seen in the newer model of VW cars. The alternator speed has an optimum size for preventing the overrunning of the alternator when the vehicle is running at higher speeds. Even when your car is standing idle the alternator pulley can create sufficient power for maintaining the battery’s charge.
Advantages of using an alternator pulley
An alternator pulley can increase the durability of accessory drive that leads to an efficient running of the vehicle and reducing the fuel consumption of the vehicle.
There is an internal spring that dampens the vibration of the engine
The overrunning feature prevents squishing due to sudden engine deceleration or even the serpentine belt from slipping away.
The VW alternator pulley acts as a type of cooling fan for the alternator thus preventing internal wiring systems, bearings, and brushes from overheating.
When to change the VW alternator pulley?
Generally depending on the model or version of your car along with your engine performance and other parameters of your car such as the general condition of internal engine systems and the alternator your VW alternator pulley can be required to change few months to a few years.
Why is it important to change the alternator pulley?
As you can understand that with time and general wear and tear a VW alternator pulley may affect the normal working of the vehicle. Thus it is necessary to check, maintain, service, repair, or re-install a new alternator pulley when the one already installed is damaged.
A damaged alternator pulley will not be able to transmit the desired power to the alternator. It will also not be able to sufficiently dampen the vibrations of the primary engine leading to somewhat bumpy rides.
Not running at efficient speeds means that it might also lead to the serpentine belt slipping away. This will also naturally cause overheating of the alternator and lead to damage to the internal wiring systems and bearings.
Removing an alternator pulley wheel
For removing the VW alternator pulley you need to use the ½” drive impact wrench to loosen the nut. While using a hand glove hold on to the alternator pulley firmly. Make sure to remove the alternator pulley with sufficient caution and the fan blades when spinning at high speeds can pretty much rip off your fingers. We recommend also wear protective eye gear.
Look at the front of the alternator and keep rotating the threads in a counter clock-wise fashion for removing the frontal part of the alternator.
Sometimes the thread locking fluid may rust in between the shaft and the pulley. In such cases, you have to slightly heat the pulley to remove it.
Replacing an alternator pulley
Replacing a VW alternator pulley can be easily done in three simple steps provided you know them. Here we have jotted them down for your reference.
We recommend hiring a maintenance expert if you do not have the right set of tools to replace an alternator pulley.
It is advised to use the right set of tools to bear maximum precautions.
So step one is the right step of tools and protective gear.
Different models or versions of vehicles will have different sizes of the alternator pulley. You need to only find a compatible one for your car model. You need to know that the same type of new alternator pulley is reinstalled as the earlier one.
Solid pulleys having one-way clutches with alternator decouplers are not generally interchangeable.
So step two is to use the right pulley size and configuration depending on your car model.
After the old damaged alternator pulley has been taken out re-install the new one. During installation, the standard amount of torque required would be 65 ft-lb/ 90 Nm. This concludes the final step in the process.
