Air con pulley rattle. Tips for replacing? Fitted damper plate?

[F1ux]

I have a b7 avant which has an issue with the air con pump pulley rattling.

How to diagnose it?
Air con off = rattle ( belt tensioner will wobble lots too)
Econ mode=rattle ( belt tensioner will wobble lots too)
Air con on = ok apart from when driving and you slow down ( clutch down) and it rattles
Rev engine and it's quiet.



From a lot of research it seems the rubber buffers inside the pulley wear out and it makes it rattle!
Audi want £157 ish for the pulley.... I found one on Ali express for about £20 and it looks identical ( apparently it's from the actual DENSO factory and Audi rebrand it...)


I also stumbled across this Audi tech bulletin which is for an a6 but same issue..
http://uberlame.com/a6_tsb/Exterior Noises/Rattle noise from engine area.pdf

It mentions a 'damper plate' which basically appears to be posh gaffer tape they used to bodge it while Under warranty. I looked it up on ETKA and it also fits my car... Has anyone fitted one?


-8E0260329insulation plate; (self-adhesive)1

I also have the pulley but my friend is too busy to fit it at the no so might order a 'plate' and see how it goes. I'm guessing the plate will stop the clutch part of the pulley working though?

Has anyone got any tips to fit the pulley. I read that some people just undo some bolts and drop the pump? Doable on a driveway?

 

[F1ux]

Ok so I have done a load of research, I have the workshop manual guide on how to replace it BUT it looks like it needs a special counter holder tool to under the front of the pulley.

A T10001/10 counter holder socket.
It seems to only be in an expensive Audi kit for doing suspension....


It has to go in the 3 triangular holes to unwind it. Can anyone think of an alternative tool to do the job or am I going to have to get a dealer to do this?

 

[ruairi83]

Take it to vw audi specialist rather than dealer. Cost.me part + £20 for fitting from my local vw audi special ist