A5 3.0 TDI crank pulley broken

[Walter Sobchak]

Went to drive away yesterday and the steering was very heavy, battery not charging warning on, had a look under the bonnet and it looks like the crank pulley has come off and the belt is fked. How big of a job is this to do?, if I can turn the wheel enough is it driveable for about a mile and a half to get to the garage or would I be best off having it recovered?.

[jimdollar]

This happened to me last year on my 2005 A4 3.0 tdi. Parked it no problem and it broke as I restarted it. I drove it maybe 2 miles home but probably shouldn't have as the water temperature rose a fair bit, had it relayed to a VAG specialist, bill was about £260.

[sprinterjk]

Happened on my 2008 A6 3.0 TDI a few years back while parked at my kids nursery. Started the engine and felt a thunk as it went. Managed to drive it a couple of miles to a local garage with no power steering etc. In retrospect I should have been more concerned about the water pump not running, however it was winter and no issues.

I seem to recall it costing around £500 to replace the tensioners, belt etc. Believe they had to strip the whole front down to do the job.

[annodomini2]

sprinterjk said:

Happened on my 2008 A6 3.0 TDI a few years back while parked at my kids nursery. Started the engine and felt a thunk as it went. Managed to drive it a couple of miles to a local garage with no power steering etc. In retrospect I should have been more concerned about the water pump not running, however it was winter and no issues.

I seem to recall it costing around £500 to replace the tensioners, belt etc. Believe they had to strip the whole front down to do the job.

You can do it without completely removing the front on a C6 you have to put the front in service mode, not a small job. But there are much worse on that engine.

E.g. alternator, which is a pig of a job.

Depends how it failed, but pulley, plus belt and tensioner kit will be about £400 now plus fitting.

[Mining Subsidence Man]

Had this on my A4 3.0tdi.

They had to take the front of the car off. Bloody thing.

[Walter Sobchak]

Got it sorted, was a pain of a job but all ok now, and yes most of the front had to come off!.