Screeching and poor acceleration

[Dan1605]

Any help on the following is very much appreciated.

One the way to work today i could hear a flapping/light tapping coming from the front of the car around the radiator. I did a visual inspection on the belts ect but all looked normal. Since then it's developed a loud screech on startup and continues untill the car moves.(Rac man moved it).I've noticed over the last couple of days that fuel consumption has been slightly less then the norm and there is a slight lack of power. the RAC said it could be waterpump of alternator pulley but wasnt able to do anything as its a VW Passat V6 and the engine is pretty much enclosed.

Any help is much appreciated

[Hometune]

Probably the only way to find this is to remove the belt and spin each tensioner, guide pulley, component pulley in turn and feel for play and roughness. Depending on which engine you have (2 belts on the diesel), there are a lot of pulleys to check. Screeching usually means a belt is slack so perhaps the automatic tensioners are losing their spring.

[Dan1605]

Many thanks for your help Hometune as usual you are spot on!

The fan belt had become slack and the pully had somehow collapsed.

Repair bill is £180 labour + parts