What part is this?

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

I hope you are all ready for a good laugh. 'Cos I am about to ask a monumentally stupid question. Even more stupid than the ones I usually ask.

Ready? ....

I have just replaced the front end engine seals on my S2. Took far longer than expected, I've skinned one finger and got oil and grot in my hair and it wasn't much fun.

AND, when I got to the end of the job, I found I had a spare part left over. It looks like this;

Can anyone shed any light on what it is?

I think it's something to do with holding the power steering pump on - and that assembly must have been designed by a Frenchman as it is such a weird thing - as the broader bit is exactly the same size as the two slugs that hold the power steering pump in place, and it came from that part of the car. But the pump is now back in, just as it should be as far as I can tell, and this part is still spare.

So, all suggestions welcome as to what this is. (And whether there are going to be any dire consequences from driving it with this bit missing ... )

Thanks.


Oli.

ETA: Apologies for the fact that the photos are all rotated wrongly ...

 

[JamesO]

Your not doing it right if theres not a bit left over. Pretty sure your right and its off the pas pump mount, mine is also missing, doesn't seem to affect it

 

[robwright]

Oli it is the insert for the PAS pump mounting bracket.

 

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Thanks for the answers. Looks like it is from the PAS pump (as I suspected).

Snag is that the pump seems to be attached fine, with no need for this part; there is a dowel in the front and rear of the mounting, the one at the front held in with a nut on the end of the hinge pin, the one at the back with a bolt that goes into the end of the hinge pin. The pump seems to be securely held, such that the pulley lines up with the drive pulley on the crankshaft, and there is no (apparent) play in it.

The parts diagram on PET isn't very helpful in this area. And, having googled, I can't find any photos of a pump attachment.

Can anyone give me a description (or diagram, or photo) of the PAS pump mounting arrangement on their car to show me where this bit fits?

Thanks,


Oli.

 

[George Elliott]

Oli
The pump material is aluminium as you are aware, and from memory I recall that a steel bush is used to mount the pump. This takes the pressure off the softer material, and also I think allows the pump to swivel slightly (while the mounting bolt is tight) as the belt tension is adjusted. The pump mounting is not totally rigid if the bush is used. Its a while since I was in there, but thats how I remember it.
George
944 T

 

[rcsalmons]

I think its from the alternator belt tensioner, body end (smaller bolt) not alternator end.

Rich

Just to add "I think" it sits on the inside between the engine and the tensioner screwy thingy to keep things square.

 

[zcacogp]

George, Rich,

Thanks for your suggestions.

I *think* Rich may be closest to the mark; I can't see any sign of this part on PAT anywhere near the power steering pump (although that is also where I thought it was from), although I can see this (part 30):

... which is in the alternator tensioner system, as Rich described. BUT, I checked this pretty carefully before I put it back together and it didn't seem to fit there either ...

I think I need to take the undertray off again and have a good look at the way the world works under there. I know that the power steering pump belt isn't as tight as it should be - it squeals under full lock when parking (is this related to the part I have left over? I don't know!)

More later. Hopefully when I have a place to put this pesky part!


Oli.

 

[frankydoom]

it goes were the powersteering pump is mounted - either front or rear ------ follow the bolts this thing sits in the flange bit .......... grrrrrr cant explain better
and no its not on the pat printout above - have you got a pic with the Powersteering pump showing - i could tell you then (i think)

 

[zcacogp]

Frankydoom,

I don't have a picture of a mounted PAS pump, and there isn't much on t'interweb either.

Best I can find is this:

Any good?


Oli.

 

[frankydoom]

Yes - thats what i mean - there are 2 of them - check were the bolts go into the pump there should be one on ech side - i can see one clear from here and on the left site i cant make it out ? - the bolt to secure the pump will have to go through and sits in the flange bit of the actual pump fittings on the car - greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[zcacogp]

FD,

Ummm, I see what you mean, but the parts which I think you are talking about are dowels - tubes (with thick walls), and which are already present.

They are different to the mushroom-shaped thing which I have left over.

(Or have I misunderstood your explanation?)


Oli.

 

[frankydoom]

nahhhhh sorry - youre right i meant those - 2 off ..... i have a look under my car in a minute and have a think

 

[zcacogp]

OK ... if you could take some photos of the underneath of your car while you are there I'd be really grateful. Both of the bits you talk about holding the PAS pump on (I am not yet convinced that it's not from there), and of the tensioner for the alternator belt.

Thanks!


Oli.

 

[TTM]

I was fiddling with this the other day as the bolt holding the lower tensioner to the alternator - the alternator on my turbo is on the low position as it doesn't have A/C anymore - continually came loose.

It is indeed part 30 in PET, but the way it is shown oriented works only with cars with A/C, with the compressor at the low position.
On cars without A/C, it has to be put the other way around, and ahead of the tensioner, not behind, otherwise, the tensioner won't be perfectly perpendicular between the engine and the alternator, and the bolt will come loose as it happened to me.

I hope this poor picture I just took will help

 

[Northern924]

having had the atl and p/s belts off the other day, the only place I had one of those was on the engine mounting end of the alt. belt tensioner

 

[rcsalmons]

Can you see it?

Rich

 

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Superb! It looks like we are getting there and I am very grateful.

TTM - from your description and your picture I am guessing that your car doesn't have Air Con? If this is the case, what purpose does the part serve? It just spaces the head of the bolt away from the tensioner, but given that there is no restriction on the bolt insert depth then I can't see what purpose it serves? I guess that it does also sleeve the bolt to the right size for the end of the tensioner ...

Rich - thanks. Looks like you were definitely right all along. From your piccie, I'm guessing your car does have Air Con?


Oli.

 

[rcsalmons]

Sorry Oli no air-con, why do you think it has?

 

[zcacogp]

Rich,

Your picture and TTM's picture show the mystery part on opposite sides of the adjuster (yours in front, TTM's behind) and TTM's post suggests that the positioning differs depending upon whether the car has Air Con or not.

(I could have it the wrong way 'round - if yours doesn't have Air Con then TTM's does. OR I've just lost the plot - which is quite possible.)


Oli.

 

[TTM]

My car does not have air con.

It had air con before, with this part installed as illustrated on PET (Part 30), but installing it the way it is shown in PET didn't work when replacing the compressor with the alternator, as the alternator sits slightly backwards compared with the compressor.

I first installed the alternator with this part as shown in PET and the tensioner was not perfectly perpendicular between the engine and the alternator, eventually causing the bolt on the alternator side to loosen over time.

If Rich's car does not have air con then I don't understand how things could hold together fine the way it is shown on his picture, as in my case it came coming loose. Either the tensioner is not perfectly perpendicular between the engine and the alternator or Rich uses an aftermarket alternator which is offset slightly frontwards compared to the original alternator.
(Also, I don't understand the purpose of the other washer below the head of the bolt on his assembly).

In my case then yes, my picture suggests there should be no need for this part, however there is a difference in diameter between the tensioner "eye" and the bolt itself, whence the sleeve function of this part.