HI ALL COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE A SKODA OCTAVIA 2000 I HAVE HAD THE BRACKET SNAP 3 TIMES ON ME AND DONT KNOW WHATS CAUSING IT PLEASE HELP ME I DONT EVEN KNOW ITS SNAPPED UNTIL I LOOK UNDER THE BONNET IT IS THE BRACKET AT THE TOP THAT LOOKS LIKE A PISTON CONNECTS TO THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.

I wonder if the one way pulley on the alternator has seized and the vibrations are damaging the bracket. Either that or it's not fitted correctly.

I wonder if the one way pulley on the alternator has seized and the vibrations are damaging the bracket. Either that or it's not fitted correctly.

hi thankou for that it has happened 3 times now so will renew alternator this could be the reason for it not starting last winter cheers mte

The pulley is separate.

Hi and welcome aboard.

Hello and welcome to Briskoda

HI ALL COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE A SKODA OCTAVIA 2000 I HAVE HAD THE BRACKET SNAP 3 TIMES ON ME AND DONT KNOW WHATS CAUSING IT PLEASE HELP ME I DONT EVEN KNOW ITS SNAPPED UNTIL I LOOK UNDER THE BONNET IT IS THE BRACKET AT THE TOP THAT LOOKS LIKE A PISTON CONNECTS TO THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.

Hello and welcome to Briskoda, I have had exactly the same problem as you & changing the alternator clutch does seem to have cured it, please make sure you check the long narrow coolant hoses that are situated next to the tensioner piston as when the bracket snaps the loose section flails around & digs through it. Even if it looks ok it can wear a thin groove & burst under pressure.

The bracket is part of the Auxillary belt tensioner system. When I purchased mine, it was already snapped, the Auxillary belt was slipping & the hose was partially worn thro. As the belt also runs the A/C & the A/C clutch had snapped off, I assumed the

clutch had seized & overloaded the belt causing the tensioner bracket to snap. WRONG! lol, I replaced the A/C clutch, both worn hoses, the bracket & the belt. 4k miles later it snapped again & I deicided to give it to the local Skoda specialists to do, they replaced one of the hoses, belt & bracket & it lasted 3k miles before going again. This time I was checking it regularly & it didn't have a chance to damage the hose or belt. We changed the bracket & the alternator clutch thanks to some great advice from techs on here & that seems to have cured it. Apparently the clutch can momentarily run off centre & overstress the belt. You only have to change the alternator clutch, not the whole alternator.

Good luck!

Hi just had to replace the tensioner as the cast had broken (bit that holds top of the damper) I purchased a replacement tensioner from eurocarparts and then spoke to several dealers who said that it was probably just normal wear (has done 180,000 miles) but after speaking to independant garage advsed that they replace 4-5 alternator pulleys every month on VW's and was simple to check.by twisting pulley fast ,and one way it should 'slip' but when I tested mine it was solid both ways, but did have a bit of luck in that local dealer said they would change pulley for me if i removed alternator; took it to them with the new pulley and a packet of biscuits !

The alternator is quite tight to remove after removal of the pas pulley and pump also the pas metal pipe clip but eventually the alternator came out with a lot of wiggling!

Dont forget to release the tension from the old tensioner before removing it,by placing a pin in the casting (as in the replacement) or you will get a nasty suprise on removing the last bolt

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread. My wife mentioned a funny noise from the engine today and sure enough the damper was flailing about on the top pulley. Do not know how long its has been like that! Any way a passing mechanic who seemed pretty switched on suggested that a lot of vehicles fitted with this type of engine have had the damper removed and his recommendation was to removed the flailing damper and shut the bonnet. Obviously not the best engineering solution but what is anyone's experience? If I did want to do the job properly what is the part I need something link this http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Octavia_1.9_2000/p/car-parts/engine-parts/belts-chains-and-tensioners/tensioners-idlers-and-dampers/?326440460&1&9a79504358e2995de2de4bd391ba6376a46ea58e&000112. Vehicle is a 1.9 octavia SLX tdi 110.

As you stated it is an SLX, I assume it's a 2000 or earlier with AHF engine (options label under boot carpet or service history book). In that case it is the correct part. Change the belt too. Make sure you check the one-way alternator pulley before you do anything else.

Will do thanks.