I can make pigs fly Posts: 14851
Joined: 12/14/2006 From: No longer Ohio Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: beachchair
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ORIGINAL: P1800toTT
Five years or 60,000. I'm having mine done next week at 30,000 miles. The car is eight years old.
This is misinformation and is the kind of answer that causes confusion. We are all so tired of seeing this question, that no one noticed it. Replacement is based on mileage. It would be rediculous to think if I had the car in storage for several years, that the timing belt should be changed. It is easy enough to check the belt periodically for wear.
If its not stored well or parked outside and rarely driven the belt alone with other rubber parts like vac lines can rot. But like you said, its still should be checked before driven if its been sitting for a period of time.
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FACTS > followers 197whp and 292wtq with no chip on stock ic, airbox and catback AEG crank +Scat rods + 83mm Wiseco pistons = CincyTT Version 2.0T For sale - 20mm wrist pin pistons and rods $175 + sh
...It is easy enough to check the belt periodically for wear.
Actually, most of the timing belt failures are the result of failed tensioners. I'm not sure wear is an issue. The imminent failure may not be apparent.
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2004 Audi TT 225Q GIAC, Forge 007, Neuspeed 19mm RSB, 42DD DP, BoostMachine, Haldex Blue, Devil's Own WI 1999.5 Audi A4 1.8TQ Neuspeed 1
I can make pigs fly Posts: 14851
Joined: 12/14/2006 From: No longer Ohio Status: offline
The 3 causes are the tensioner like you said and the others are blown water pump and skipping teeth. The tensioner slipping is probably about 1/2 the failures if not a little more with the other 2 splitting the rest of the TB issues.
The pump should have some tell tell signs before it causes massive damage and you can kind of check for a worn belt to prevent skipping teeth.
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FACTS > followers 197whp and 292wtq with no chip on stock ic, airbox and catback AEG crank +Scat rods + 83mm Wiseco pistons = CincyTT Version 2.0T For sale - 20mm wrist pin pistons and rods $175 + sh
Posts: 513
Joined: 12/21/2007 From: South Florida Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: JettaRedII
quote:
ORIGINAL: beachchair
...It is easy enough to check the belt periodically for wear.
Actually, most of the timing belt failures are the result of failed tensioners. I'm not sure wear is an issue. The imminent failure may not be apparent.
Of course wear is an issue. Inspect belt for: Seperation - Chunking - Oil/Grease Contamination - Missing/Damaged cogs - Tension - Cracking - Wear on edges - Fraying. Tensioner should be inspected also.
from experience....The time it broke on me 87k miles...pissed me off cuz i just got the kit like the day before it broke. not sure but the belt got its teeth ripped off like 9 in a row...then after 6months of storage during a cold winter with no heated garage my only guess is the tensior froze up when i started it up and caused it to jump two teeth causing a CEL and etc so i changed the belt and found i had a plastic water pump in there and it was broke....i should be good now for 4-5 years before i do that again...all new parts including a metal pump in there now... either the audi mech who rebuilt my head didnt change the waterpump like i asked and paid for or the one he used from audi was indeed a plastic....if thats the case you people paying someone to do your timing belt MAKE SURE THEY USE A METAL WATERPUMP...
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225TT-AEMintake,R1 DV relo, Apexi TT,Samco TIP and boost hoses,dogbone kit,Awe boost gauge,RS4 rims,3.2 rear,SPEC 2+ clutch&steel FW. APR 93 chip,APR FMIC,19mm sway,Blueflame 2.75.Votex chin,Devils Own W/M,034 mounts and coilpack cover,4bar fpr,mofo,BM
Rubber breaks down and gets brittle over time. Add to that a climate that can be 100 degrees in Summer and -20 in Winter. Anyone into vintage cars knows not to run old tires even if they have never seen pavement. I'm changing mine at 30,000 and eight years. $700 vs. ??? I will have the shop save my belt and give a report on the condition.
Posts: 513
Joined: 12/21/2007 From: South Florida Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: P1800toTT I'm changing mine at 30,000 and eight years. $700 vs. ???
That's your choice, but Here's the question: What mileage should you change the timing belt? Here's your answer: Five years or 60,000. Once again replacement is generally determined by mileage, not time. There are always extenuating circumstances and freak examples, but going on this site and telling people to change their timing belt every five years only confuses the issue more. There is already enough confusion. My Audi maintenance manual suggests replacement at 105,000 miles. The more knowledgable members on this board choose 60,000 miles which is safe and conservative. You are free to do what you want, but it does not apply to everyone.
My Audi manual says to change my belt and tensioner at 75,000 miles. I have a 2004. So, you need to check your specific car. However, everyone agrees that it's more prudent to change the belt before or at 60,000 miles, which is what I will be doing.
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2004 Audi TT 225Q GIAC, Forge 007, Neuspeed 19mm RSB, 42DD DP, BoostMachine, Haldex Blue, Devil's Own WI 1999.5 Audi A4 1.8TQ Neuspeed 1
I can make pigs fly Posts: 14851
Joined: 12/14/2006 From: No longer Ohio Status: offline
By '04 they finally got smart and lowered it. Well i guess that would be printed in '03 after a bunch of cars having TB issues and they couldnt afford paying out $4k for engine replacements.
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FACTS > followers 197whp and 292wtq with no chip on stock ic, airbox and catback AEG crank +Scat rods + 83mm Wiseco pistons = CincyTT Version 2.0T For sale - 20mm wrist pin pistons and rods $175 + sh
Changed mine yesterday on an 04 with 50,000 miles, what a bitch, couldn't get the idle roller fitted due to the belt being so tight, so had to take the water pump back out, fit the roller & then refit the water pump. The old water pump had already started to break up, you could just break peices off it real easy, the belt was like brand new & the tenstion roller looked fine but I think this is the week link that causes the belts to break early. I have the Bentley workshop manual which in my opinion is garbage! This site was far more informative & a godsend!
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RE: What mileage should you change the timing belt? - 
