Stranded and paranoid

TheTomCutler

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So I’ve broken down and waiting for the recovery truck, damn. Noticed a slow turn over the other day and hoped it’d be fine, not fine.

This evening I’d gone out and the battery light flickered, occasionally to start with and progressively becomes more on than off as the journey progressed.

I pull over and stop the car and restart it, which it just about manages and I point it back home. After a mile or so the number plate light warning starts wailing uncontrollably and then the most worrying thing, which whilst I sit in the quiet is troubling me, is some horrible popping and clonking coming from the engine bay. When I put an ear under the bonnet it doesn’t seem to be coming from any particular area, it’s all over like it’s got giant popping candy in the coolant. Anyone had this sort of thing before on a 3.0tdi?

Tom




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Sounds like it’s just cooling down to me, normal in any engine. As long as it’s not bubbling, pings and such are normal.
 
As above, sounds like the alternator has decided it's time to give up. The belt that drives the alternator also drives the water pump and power steering / AC so of that belt had gone you would have felt the steering being very heavy. The popping was hopefully the engine cooling down
http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_350.pdf
If it is the alternator that's duff I would probably change the battery as well if it's an old one. Failing battery's put a greater load on an alternator and will themselves eventually fail. Varta silver would be my choice.
 
Thanks gents, that's put my mind at rest. I’ll get those bits swapped out and see how we go.


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Yep, definitely alternator on the way out, I had this same worrying situation on the Boxster 986 I had before my Audi.....changed the offending item myself in a few hours but would guess the Audi one will take a while longer to change.... it's always a worry to us car folk when our beloved steeds develop a problem... don't forget when you buy a new one, you can generally get a few quid for the old one as it'll probably only be the coil and plenty of companied offer a "trade-in" for the old ones as they'll refurb them... Good luck...!!!
 
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