My friend has an Octavia with a 1.6 TDI CR engine. When cold there are creaks/ squeaks from alternator etc drive belt area. They go when the engine warms up. Only started happening after few cold mornings.

I thought it might be the drive belt but the man at the garage says it could be the alternator freewheel clutch

Didn't know there was such a thing. Car is out of warranty but only done 24000 miles.

Anyone had one of these go and is it a big job to replace one?

Had this on my mkI Octavia and a few pd engines. Pulley starts to seize and kills the tensioner which then makes the noise you describe.

Change the pulley, tensioner and belt.

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Had this on my mkI Octavia and a few pd engines. Pulley starts to seize and kills the tensioner which then makes the noise you describe.

Change the pulley, tensioner and belt.

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Thanks. Sounds expensive!

Belt is about £10, pulley and tensioner should both be less than £30. Assuming no drastic difference from the PD engines.

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Whilst the belt is off you can try and spin the alternator pulley both ways, it shouldn't make any clicking noises especially when spun backwards. I had this twice on my last octy, it originally sounded like the bearing in the alternator was on its way out.

Whilst the belt is off you can try and spin the alternator pulley both ways, it shouldn't make any clicking noises especially when spun backwards. I had this twice on my last octy, it originally sounded like the bearing in the alternator was on its way out.

My thanks to all respondents. I will tell my mate. Sounds lot easier and cheaper than I thought. Will let you know .

When it's started from cold and making the noise carefully pour a cup of water over the outer surface of the moving belt.

If it cures the noise it's just a dirty belt.

Repeat with the inner surface of the belt which is trickier.

If it stops the noise, again it's a contaminated belt.

Pour some hot soapy water over the belt with engine running to clean it and rinse well with clean water.

I don't know as yet if the auxiliary belt on the Octavia has an automatic tensioner or just a manual setup.

If cleaning the belt doesn't help perhaps the belt requires tightening, the noise you hear is the belt slipping until it warms up with friction.

There is the possibility of the belt being fine but as previously mentioned the alternator and associated pulley etc could be at fault.

If in doubt garage it.

I would go with the dirty/slack belt first.

It does have an automatic tensioner. What tends to happen is the pulley kills the tensioner which is what actually causes the noise.

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It does have an automatic tensioner. What tends to happen is the pulley kills the tensioner which is what actually causes the noise.Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Tried some of the tricks above. Noise came back after time.

Taken to independent workshop.Turns out it was the belt tensioner. Total cost with new belt and tensioner £157

Thanks to all respondents

Tried some of the tricks above. Noise came back after time.

Taken to independent workshop.Turns out it was the belt tensioner. Total cost with new belt and tensioner £157

Thanks to all respondents

I would put money in the fact that the pulley has had it. That's what killed the tensioner.

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Tried some of the tricks above. Noise came back after time.

Taken to independent workshop.Turns out it was the belt tensioner. Total cost with new belt and tensioner £157

Thanks to all respondents

 

Sounds about right. I had to have this done on my 2.0TDI PD140. Just a small dip in the ocean compared to the £2000 gearbox and DMF replacement!

Just replacing the alternator freewheel pulley on my 2008 Mk2 1Z5 1.9 Tdi.  The squeal starting suddenly and trashed the roller bearings so much that I could twist off the outer whilst leaving the spline on the shaft.  Got it off with 50 torx and mole grips.  Everything went back together fine, and it's not trashed the tensioner.  I may well end up with a spare splined tool which someone could make use of.

 

FYI - the correct pulley for my car is INA F-553470 or equivalents (I was sent one for a Citigo which obviously does not fit - F-576346 or equivalents).

 

This is probably one of the easiest jobs to do on the Octy as the pulley is easily accessible after removing the fuel filter housing (which sits on top of the engine without removing any hoses).

 

Cheaper and easier doing it this way than going for a new alternator.

 

Pulley was Gates (INA) - £22.  Tool was £2.62 from Temu.  I had a 50 Torx.

Edited 1 September, 20241 yr by beezera10
Omitted info