alternator problem?

[chris gregg]

Ok, so I couldn't stand it, and went outside and looked with a flashlight. I'm 99% positive there are like 3 pulleys that should have a belt on them that dont. 

The big crank pulley of course is in the middle, and then I assume the alternator is on the left (looking in from the front of the car) and the (compressor?????) I'm assuming is on the right of that crank pulley. 

I did hear a funky sounding little clunk noise every once in a while earlier in the night which I am assuming was my belt slapping against something before completely coming off. 

SO, now my question is, how hard is it to put that belt on? It would be easy, but it seems like you have to take the whole front end of the car off to get at it : /

Also, where can I find that belt?

Thanks again guys,

-Chris



----- Original Message ----
From: chris gregg <loxxrider at yahoo.com>
To: 200q20v at audifans.com
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 2:01:21 AM
Subject: alternator problem?


Well tonight I ran into my first real problem with the audi.

I haven't had a chance to look at anything yet, that will come tomorrow morning, but I still wont have much time to check it out because I am packing everything up to drive up to school. I figured I'd ask here in case I can get a quick response. 

So...tonight I was driving to our local VW/Audi meet, and like 1/4 of the way there, the ac compressor stopped working (stopped blowing cold).

Everything else was fine though. 

Then after the meet, two lights came on. One was battery light, and one was ABS OFF light. I am assuming all of the above issues are from a dying battery. 

The question is WHY is the battery dying. 

Here are the additional clues to the problem. When car is running, lights dim and certain things fail to operate (like the cd changer lcd screen), when windows are rolled up, etc...voltage was sitting around 10 volts, and with windows in action, it probably dropped to about 8.25 volts. IMO, it cant be just the battery thats the problem if its dropping while the car is running. 

So my question is, are the other issues all related to the battery dropping so low...(I am assuming this is correct), and what is the deal with the alternator. (I'll probably figure this all out tomorrow, but I'd like to ask anyhow). I figure its either got a loose/bad wire, belt came off alternator..?, or alternator is bad. 

What do you think?

-Chris