Audi timing belt change due - how risky to let it go over the rec amt of miles?

worded

Hi,

My car is reaching end of life.
It has near 200 on the clock.

Audi 1.9 TDI.

She has just passed the NCT.
Timing belt due to be done in 6K

So is the manufacturer erring on the side of caution and it will go another 5 - 20K ?

What happens when the belt goes, is there a bang? Can the car stall straight away or will I just loose acceleration and have time to hit the hard shoulder?

Ive always looked after the car with regular services but it may be a bad economy to get it done.

Thanks

TrailerBob

Anything from a clatter with smoke , to a piston out the side of the block. Timing, as well as the right fuel/air mix and intake/exhaust movement, prevents pistons coming into contact with valves on interference engines, if the belt goes, then it's bad news for the engine. It might be ok, but not a risk I would take.

George Dalton

If the belt does fail you have practically zero chance of getting away without engine damage.

More info needed to assess the risk!
What year?
Which model?
Which exact engine? (code would be helpful)
How long since last belt change?
How many miles since last belt change?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

worded wrote: »

Hi,

My car is reaching end of life.
It has near 200 on the clock.

Audi 1.9 TDI.

She has just passed the NCT.
Timing belt due to be done in 6K

So is the manufacturer erring on the side of caution and it will go another 5 - 20K ?

What happens when the belt goes, is there a bang? Can the car stall straight away or will I just loose acceleration and have time to hit the hard shoulder?

Ive always looked after the car with regular services but it may be a bad economy to get it done.

Thanks

Based on the other two bolded parts, why do you think it's near it's end of life?

CJhaughey

Its a roulette, but I have seen cars with no belt change run to 300k.
That said driving style plays a big part, the 300k belt was an oldish guy that is a very easy rural driver.
No hard acceleration, high revs, coming down through the gearbox etc.
Just easy cruising.

worded

George Dalton wrote: »

If the belt does fail you have practically zero chance of getting away without engine damage.

More info needed to assess the risk!
What year?

2002

Which model?

Audi a4

Which exact engine? (code would be helpful)

(Where would I get the code?)
1.9 TDi

How long since last belt change?

I think it was 54K and Mechanic I trust tell me its 6K more to go, so gets changed at 60.

How many miles since last belt change?

Again it was 54 and the recommended life is 60K


My concern is the car stalling in the fast last of the M50 when the belt goes.
If she still rolls but has no acceleration, I can just move to the hard shoulder.

I spend 2K on a steering rack etc last year to get her through the NCT.

She is worth approx. 1K to sell and poss less with a timing belt due.
Perhaps time to scrape 3-5K together and get another car.

Mech tell me of some other poss oil related problem, I will find out exactly what and report back.

filbert the fox

worded wrote: »

Again it was 54 and the recommended life is 60K


My concern is the car stalling in the fast last of the M50 when the belt goes.
If she still rolls but has no acceleration, I can just move to the hard shoulder.

I spend 2K on a steering rack etc last year to get her through the NCT.

She is worth approx. 1K to sell and poss less with a timing belt due.
Perhaps time to scrape 3-5K together and get another car.

Mech tell me of some other poss oil related problem, I will find out exactly what and report back.

I know the feeling - you've just spent two grand and now it seems like you have to go again with the tempting prospect of a replacement car.

I'd spend the €500 odd on getting the belts done. The open market selling price would play tricks with your head as it seem illogical to spend more than the car is worth. HOWEVER you're now considering spending up to 5k on something that somebody else is thinking I'll get rid of this car because it's needing this and that etc.

You've respected your car by looking after it and spending money when needed. Spend a little more and you're free to have peace of mind for another few years.

There's an underlying historical attitude in this nation that considers you poor if you can't upgrade. Personally, I take the opposite view having pride in older well looked after things. (vacuum cleaner Electrolux 350E 1986 model still in service) :cool:

worded

Oil being blown into turbo ...
Engine showing signs of wear ..

Need cheaper tax.
So July 2008 After ...
Late 08 ...

Mechanics favourites ...

Honda > Accord
Mazda
Toyota
Subaru

Next NCT May 2016

So I will solider on and save a few bob for then

worded

filbert the fox wrote: »

I know the feeling - you've just spent two grand and now it seems like you have to go again with the tempting prospect of a replacement car.

I'd spend the €500 odd on getting the belts done. The open market selling price would play tricks with your head as it seem illogical to spend more than the car is worth. HOWEVER you're now considering spending up to 5k on something that somebody else is thinking I'll get rid of this car because it's needing this and that etc.

You've respected your car by looking after it and spending money when needed. Spend a little more and you're free to have peace of mind for another few years.

There's an underlying historical attitude in this nation that considers you poor if you can't upgrade. Personally, I take the opposite view having pride in older well looked after things. (vacuum cleaner Electrolux 350E 1986 model still in service) :cool:

Thanks.

Just bought a house 2 years ago and funds are low.

re mechanic ...

Oil being blown into turbo ... Engine showing signs of wear ..

Im not pissed about spending that 2K I didn't want to go looking for another car then, and if it lasts two years after spending that 2k that's ok. That's what I was hoping for.

So I will just have to start saving I suppose.

Oh lordy .... looking up cars again.

Perhaps I will just save 5 and borrow 5 and get a Honda Accord as they are bullet proof. Save myself on all the repairs.

filbert the fox

worded wrote: »

Oil being blown into turbo ...
Engine showing signs of wear ..

Need cheaper tax.
So July 2008 After ...
Late 08 ...

Mechanics favourites ...

Honda > Accord
Mazda
Toyota
Subaru

Next NCT May 2016

So I will solider on and save a few bob for then

Ignore my last post then!

BMJD

worded wrote: »

Ive always looked after the car with regular services but it may be a bad economy to get it done.

If you're in the market for a ~€5k car, then the chances of having to spend money on it in the short to mid term are quite high imo. If your current car is ok apart from the couple of things you listed, you would be better off getting them sorted out and hanging on to it, 200k isn't that much, especially on the 1.9 tdi engines.

worded

BMJD wrote: »

If you're in the market for a ~€5k car, then the chances of having to spend money on it in the short to mid term are quite high imo. If your current car is ok apart from the couple of things you listed, you would be better off getting them sorted out and hanging on to it, 200k isn't that much, especially on the 1.9 tdi engines.

Oil being blown into turbo ... Engine showing signs of wear ..

What kind of money do you have to spend to get a "decent" car.

I will prob end up saving 5K and borrowing another 5 next year and getting the best poss Honda I can in the UK.

I got that Audi in UK about 7 years ago.

Only prob now is Sterling is a very bad rate to be buying

BMJD

worded wrote: »

Oil being blown into turbo ... Engine showing signs of wear ..

What kind of money do you have to spend to get a "decent" car.

what kind of money are you looking at to fix those two problems? Engine wear is a pretty broad term...

I'm not saying a €5k car won't be decent but it's going to need the same maintenance sooner or later (timing belt, set of tyres, brake discs/pads, etc.)

You just need to consider whether it makes more sense financially to get your current car repaired before you buy another.

George Dalton

There is a very strong belt setup on those engines, should do 80k miles no problem.

ShaunieVW

Does it make sense though to need to borrow a further 5k to save a couple of hundred euro on cheap tax?

slimjimmc

worded wrote: »

My concern is the car stalling in the fast last of the M50 when the belt goes.
If she still rolls but has no acceleration, I can just move to the hard shoulder.

If the belt goes you can lose all engine power and power steering, and if you use the brake a few times you can even lose brake assist.

You will still be able to control the car just not as easily and if you're out in lane 3 you'll have to navigate across 3 other traffic lanes with no ability to accelerate or even maintain speed. How are you going to manage that in heavy traffic?

worded

If 80 is poss I might run her to 70 / 75

Would like to get a car with less probs

Will save what I can and see what to do in a year

debabyjesus

The original book of my 2004 AVF 1.9 says 80k miles for the belt. I think the earlier pd130's were 60k and later ones pushed out to 80k.

68 lost souls

worded wrote: »

Again it was 54 and the recommended life is 60K


My concern is the car stalling in the fast last of the M50 when the belt goes.
If she still rolls but has no acceleration, I can just move to the hard shoulder.

Well that would be impossible, there is no fast lane.

There's an overtaking lane and you should only be in it when doing such so if you are in the appropriate left most lane it should be no hassle sliding into the hard shoulder.

Rant over

Sh1tbag OToole

68 lost souls wrote: »

Well that would be impossible, there is no fast lane.

There's an overtaking lane and you should only be in it when doing such so if you are in the appropriate left most lane it should be no hassle sliding into the hard shoulder.

Rant over

:pac:

trabpc

OP Accords are generally reliable but not without their issues. At your budget of 5k you won't get an 08. 06 maybe achievable
They do hold their value. 1st major thing to check that the Timing Chain was replaced. Most were covered by Honda.