I noticed that my car was making a strange ticking noise a few days back, and yesterday I did a service and fluid change. I was hoping this was all that was needed, but this morning the ticking noise came back.

I was just pulling into work, turned to the right to park up, and the steering wheel just turned solid, I couldnt move it barely more than a couple of inches either way. I popped the bonnet and the front pulley under the alternator (the bigger of the two pulleys) was at a wonky angle and the belt was slack. Engine idles fine, no jumping, and it sounds perfectly healthy.

I called Scoobyteknix's who advise its the steering pump, and they are currently sourcing me a second hand one.

Does this sound right guys? This is my first Scoob, and I've always been lucky before with cars and never had anything let go, so I have nothing to base this on....

Any help appreciated.

 

can you post a picture of the pully and its position pls then i can tell you what one it is. also what year and model this dont make a huge difference but will make life easier.

 

Sorry, Not much info there Ive just realised....

Its a MY97 UK Turbo 2000.

I cant post a pic i'm afraid, I only have access to the internet at work....

If your looking at the engine bay, there is two pulleys with a belt connecting that sit under the alternator but to the side slightly, the pulley is now sat with the top of the pulley almost touching the cambelt casing (I think) or the bottom of the alternator.

It is very wonky and the belt is now quite slack, previously it was very very tight.

Am I making any sense at all? lol.

 

Can anyone help before i pay for this??

 

The bigger pulley under the alternator is the CRANK pulley...the other pulley is the power steering pulley and the smallest being the alternator pulley.....

if the big pulley is wonky and the belt slack... DO NOT DRIVE IS MY ADVICE

sounds like its on a DEATH wobble...

I might be wrong.....

 

Arrgggh god I didnt wanna hear that......

Can some one post an engine bay pic for me with this highlighted?

So whats going to happen if its the crank pulley?

I havent driven anywhere its round the back at work, as soon as the steering went tight, I pulled it over and pushed it and parked up.

 

Yep, large pulley that drives the alternator/power steering is the crank pulley. If it's loose/looks wobbly, then it needs sorting,fast! Worst case scenario, if it has damaged your crank, it's new engine time.
I had a problem with mine when i got the car, the bolt was loose, and the pulley had started to round the woodruff key that locates it. It was a pita to replace the key. The crank was fine, and it did make a knocking noise until it was fixed.

Remove the pulley, check all's ok then refit and torque correctly.

 

Well your right guys, it is the Crank Pulley.....

I'm speaking with Scoobyteknix today to source the new bits I need. The Woodruff key has scored the inside of the pulley, but it looks as though its still intact and hasnt shattered or splintered into the Crank. Well, I'm hoping the case. How much should I be looking at for a new crank pulley, belt and woodruff key?

Thanks for your advice chaps, car hasnt moved so hopefully no further damamge was done after the pulley slipped. Is this a common thing? I've found lots of threads on Crank Failure, but not much about the pulley going?

 

I've heard a few cases of it, the trouble is the pulley often get torqued to the wrong value, and comes loose.

 

Thats my thinking also, Pulley probably wasnt tightened to the right torque and worked loose.

 

*Update*

I finally got the toothed crank pulley off, removed the old knackered key and refitted. I also did the cambelt while we were at it, which was a bit of a bugger, the first time we fired her up she sounded like she was missing, so we re-timed the cambelt and it had jumped a tooth, and is now happily back running better than ever.

That was a brown underpants moment lol.

 

good stuff lol