Timing Belt Replacement

I'm getting conflicting info of when to change the timing belt on my 98 A6. I've got 66,000 miles and my mechanic says now, other say 75,000. I have a quote (not Audi dealer) for approx. $800 for the timing belt, serpentine belt, water pump, tensioner, and thermostat. Is this reasonable?

sounds resonable...you should change belts around 60,000 even tho the manual and dealers say otherwise.

Everyone is going to tell you different numbers. The dealer says not until like 110k or something crazy like that. Timing belts (or tensioners or waterpumps, etc. have been known to go as early as 60k miles. This is why people say to play it safe and do it then. A safe range is 60k miles to 75k miles.

Your quote is on the higher side of a private mechanic. I was quoted 600 for the job. The parts are only like 250 bucks, and it shoulnt take more than 6 hours for a mechanic.

thanks for the info. is there anything else that SHOULD be changed while i'm having this stuff done?

the Snub mount could probably stand to be changed. They usually start to crack about the same time.

Factory and engineering (Germany) says A6 timing belts have to be replaced at 75000 miles (120.000km) or earlier...
Unlike many other cars breaking of the belt will cause the engine to be stopped automatically... but you always can be unlucky when the belt snaps and causing other damage...

Any companant in the system can cause the belt to snap too. For instance if the water pumps bearings go out, and causes the belt to jump off.

That price seems reasonable.

I just spent 3000 repairing my 98 A6 with 71K miles. Got the full 60K maintenance and also got new brakes all belts, water pump, thermostat etc...

Half that was under warranty. Car drives like NEW!

Too bad I just got a company car (Grand prix) so the audi will not be used as much. Wife wants me to get rid of it, but it aint gonna happen!

I'm having my water pump and timing belt replaced today on my 2000 A6 2.8L. It's costing me $857 at the local Audi Dealer. Seems high to me but I've got no choice. Car just passed 50K. Dealer told me the water pump was bad and so it's a good idea to change the timing belt now too since it probably got wet. Just two weeks ago the car was in for a brake fluid change and they changed the serpentine belt then. Wish they had noticed the water problem then.

Just had my timing belt & water pump changed last week here in the UK, at a local Audi dealer. The price was £650, which translates , at the current $/£ rate to about $1100!!. Sounds steep I know but I looked around at independent dealers and VW main agents (as they can do the work too) and the Audi dealer came out best for price. Naturally I got a free loan car too and great service and it was peace of mind as it was all main agent guaranteed.

This was particularly relevant as the day after the job, the engine started cutting out, especially when cold and the timing seemed slightly out. The engine noise was also louder than normal. I took it back to Audi and they diagnosed a fault with the new belt tensioner they had just replaced. This meant they had to do the whole timing belt replacement again, which they quickly did with apologies all round from them because of the faulty item. After this experience I would definitely return to the Audi main dealer for any similar major repair work, as it pays in the long run.

Incidentaly the A6 is a 2002 Diesel 2.5 TDI Sport...with the belt/pump changed at 91,000 miles (the book suggests 80K)

now runs as new and will go for another 100K!!

(Nice forum by the way)

I bought my '97 A6 Quattro at 97,000 miles. And I had it maintainced right after I got it and had the timing belt changed along with another belt. Good thing cause the guy said it would've broke around another 5,000-10,000 miles. It was pretty worn. He said changing it at every 65,000-75,000 miles should be fine for the car.

Thanks for all the input. I had all the goodies (timing belt, serp. belt, water pump, thermostat, tensioner, roller, cam seals...) done on Wednesday. Looking at the old belts, I think I did this just in time. A chunk out of the old wallet, but better now than later! Thanks again.

I'm in calgary and had a quote from the Audi dealer for $1,200.00CND to replace the timing belt, rotors (tension alignment), water pump, and thermostat. The service department separated out the water pump and therm at $300. The reason for the timing belt change is that Audi recommends changing it at 140K. I don't know exactly what that is in miles. The reason they recommend the water pump and therm is because its 4.5 hours to pull the front off to change the belt, and they simply figure you might as well change the pump and therm because its not their money and if you ever have to change them then you'll have to pay 4.5 hours to pull the front off again.

A suspicious person might think they would do something funky to the water pump or therm when changing the belt, if a person chose not to have this work done; so that a month down the road ... lo and behold, somethings wrong with the water pump or therm!!!

My experience with this dealer is nominal (one visit) but it was a good visit in all regards: inexpensive, right work, no push to get other work performed.