Torn V-belt (VW Golf 1)

If the red battery charge indicator light suddenly flashes while driving and you hear a strange noise in the engine compartment, this obviously indicates that the V-belt is broken. In this case, you need to stop the car and check. If the suspicion is confirmed, do not drive any further! Since the water pump is no longer working, the circulation of the coolant has stopped. Therefore, you need to immediately install a new V-belt or tow the car.

Emergency belt

A nylon stocking or tights can help you out before the car is towed, if your lady companion agrees to such a sacrifice.

Stretch the stocking lengthwise with all your might, don't be afraid, it won't tear.

Then pull the stretched stocking as tightly as possible over the three pulleys - crankshaft, water pump, generator.

(The original can be seen on the portal: vwmanual.ru)

Pull tight again and tie the ends carefully into a knot.

Trim the protruding ends, but not too short, otherwise the knot will come undone.

Start the engine and observe how smoothly the water pump and generator rotate.

If necessary, try to tighten the stocking belt further.

If this fails, place the emergency belt only around the crankshaft and water pump pulleys. You can drive to the nearest workshop without a working generator.

In this case, the stocking should be tied especially tightly, since you do not have the opportunity to pull it further.