Timing belt replacement for Audi A4 B6 model (2002)

alsiet2012

Hello,

My TB is 4 years old now however the recommended interval is somewhere between 60 and 90 K miles depending on whos asking.

BUT, my question to you is, since I have 25K left till i should think about replacing TB, should I get it replaced now as it's 4 years old? I heard that the rubber components deteriorate after approx 4 years anyway. THis seems a little silly really as most ppl wouldnt do 60K in 4 years anyway so replacing the TB every 4 years seems a bit outlandish.

Just thought Id check. Ill be calling Audi anyway for official confirmation but would love to see what the boards.ie brains have to say ?

allinthehead

i would change the belt. dealers are charging about 400 for this with 2 year warranty. a failed belt would cost ten times that amount. audi water pumps are also prone to early failure. i had pump go on motorway last christmas and was lucky i didnt fry the engine, belt and pump had been changed only forty thousand miles previous. i certainly wouldnt go by manufacturers interval if they are saying 80/90k i would change at 60k these intervals given to us by the same people who think its ok to change the oil every 20k. madness

bazz26

Timing belts are made of rubber which degrades over time as well as mileage, get it changed or run the risk of it snapping and doing expensive damage to the engine.

Also it is not unusual for people to drive 60k miles or more over 4 years, that is what a diesel car was designed for. A timing belt is a maintenance item with a determined life expectancy just like tyres and should be treated as such. Manufacturers have now moved to timing chains which in general are more durable and are expected to last the life of the engine.

Nissan doctor

alsiet2012 wrote: »

Hello,

My TB is 4 years old now however the recommended interval is somewhere between 60 and 90 K miles depending on whos asking.

BUT, my question to you is, since I have 25K left till i should think about replacing TB, should I get it replaced now as it's 4 years old? I heard that the rubber components deteriorate after approx 4 years anyway. THis seems a little silly really as most ppl wouldnt do 60K in 4 years anyway so replacing the TB every 4 years seems a bit outlandish.

Just thought Id check. Ill be calling Audi anyway for official confirmation but would love to see what the boards.ie brains have to say ?

Is it petrol or diesel? For petrol its every 4 years and for diesel its every 5 on VAG engines of that vintage, regardless of the mileage covered.

As for a dealer charging €400 for timing belt change on a B6 A4...You'd be doing well, most would charge more then that for a 1.4 Golf and they often don't change full kits and water pumps.

allinthehead

2007 golf 2.0 gt tdi 440 inc vat for kit, pump, coolant. fitted and 2 year parts and labour warranty this is with blackwater motors in fermoy. b6 1.9 should be about the same

Nissan doctor

allinthehead wrote: »

2007 golf 2.0 gt tdi 440 inc vat for kit, pump, coolant. fitted and 2 year parts and labour warranty this is with blackwater motors in fermoy. b6 1.9 should be about the same

Your presumably not aware that a main dealer would be charging quite a bit more for labour on an A4/Passat then a Golf.

pred racer

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Your presumably not aware that a main dealer would be charging quite a bit more for labour on an A4/Passat then a Golf.

Seriously? Surely labour is labour and the car class is nothing to do with it?
You mean a job on a lupo and a job on a phateon would have different hourly rates?
I have never used main dealers for maintenance.
(not having a go btw, genuinely interested)

Nissan doctor

pred racer wrote: »

Seriously? Surely labour is labour and the car class is nothing to do with it?
You mean a job on a lupo and a job on a phateon would have different hourly rates?
I have never used main dealers for maintenance.
(not having a go btw, genuinely interested)

Of course not, thats not what I mean at all. I mean that the actual time involved in changing a timing belt on a passat/A4 is more then on a Golf.

The use the same engines but they are fitted completely differently into the car.

allinthehead

ya a4 can be a pain allright front end needs to come apart to get at belt. replaced mine last year on 1.8t and it took about 4 hours. belt and bits easy, about 3 hours of that taking bumper, lights etc off and getting it back together.

allinthehead

curiosity got the better of me. just off the phone with blackwater motors in cork. €330 inc vat for all parts and labour:eek:

sunnysoutheast

allinthehead wrote: »

curiosity got the better of me. just off the phone with blackwater motors in cork. €330 inc vat for all parts and labour:eek:

Is that just the timing belt or the entire pack - belt, tensioner and water pump?

It's cold starts that damage the belts apparently, according to the place I go to anyway. They've seen a few fail which requires a new engine.

Mine has been changed at 57k miles/4.5 years and 101k/9 years on a 2003 2.0 petrol A4.

allinthehead

ya thats for everything

sunnysoutheast

allinthehead wrote: »

ya thats for everything

Not a bad price then TBH. A lot cheaper than a new engine!

The first change I had in 2008 was about €450 at Waterford Audi.

Nissan doctor

allinthehead wrote: »

curiosity got the better of me. just off the phone with blackwater motors in cork. €330 inc vat for all parts and labour:eek:

How long have you worked for them?:P


€330 is extremely cheap for a main dealer even on a Golf(there is no way that's on an A4). I;d like to see the written quote for full kit and water pump with labour, coolant etc etc.


What an A4 looks like having a timing belt changed:

allinthehead

the only link i have with them is when i'm handing over hard earned cash when fixing the three A4's i've owned. agreed very cheap price for the amount of work involved. quote i got when i phoned was 330 for 1.9 and 325 for 1.8t. ring them yourself if you think "there is no way that's on an A4". anyway change that belt op.