First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone on this forum, have been of great help.

I had a timing belt skip on me yesterday, and did alot of search on this forum which helped alot in deciding which route to take. However, I do have some questions that are lingering.

1999.5 A4 1.8TQ 5spd.

This ordeal began a couple weeks ago when I was hearing a clatter on startup in the mornings which appeared to clear up once the car warmed up. Once driving everything felt normal.

Then...yesterday I was in a parking lot, pulled out of the space and drove about twenty yards under 5 mph and she cut off with what sounded like alot of scary clattering noise coming from the engine. Pushed her back in a space and tried cranking one time, sounded so nasty I did not try again. Flatbedded to house.

Took a little peek in thru theTB cover and saw that the belt was loose.[] OS! It appears that the tensioner gave out and the belt probably skippped.[:@]

So I have a few questions.

1) Is there any chance that the valves are not damaged?

2) Is it best to put a new TB kit in then try to see if it cranks? and if it doesn't, I guess all have to come back off. Which is no problem, I have become good at fixing stuff in the front end of this car.

3) Is there any other way of telling if there is damage to the valves or pistons?

3) Is there any performance mods that can be done to the head if I was to take it off that do not require a host of other relative mods (i.e. new ECU etc.)

Your help would much appreciated.

[sm=thanx.gif]
George

 

its possible that the valvesare ok, but i would check them out anyway...... just to make sure

 

Yep,

I think my plan is to put a new TB/Tensioner and see if it cranks. If it does I guess that would mean that the valves are OK? and I wouldn't need to pull the head.

Thanks for the feedback. Any more help would be appreciated.

Are there any vendors that are better to go with on a timing belt/tensioner quality wise?

 

Have the head pulled. With the timing belt off it should be easy.

www.ecstuning.com

 

Take the head off first to check for damage before you drop $200-300 on a TB/tensioner. Its very rare that nothing is damaged.

 

Crazyhawk 96audia4 thanks. I think you're right. It is probably best to go ahead and pull the head and inspect it. It will probably needrebuilding. There has to be some valves that have been affected at least to a certain degree.

Is there any performance mods that can be done to the head since this surgery is inevitable?

 

Port and polish the head.

 

Started to take everything apart. The roller was woreout at the ball connection, the belt stayed on and did not break but was looseish.

Took the intake off-looking thru the intake holes I am looking at 12 valves and really cannot see where anything is bent. At least not drastically.

Could the valves be slightly bent? not really visible to the naked eye?

 

You'll be fine.

change the t-belt and tensioner. Line up the marks on the crank and cam. You can rotate the engine around a few times by handto make sure everything still lines up. if you rotate the engine, and dont hear any metal to metal banging, you are fine.

I had a similar situation as yours, I replaced the t-belt and related components, now it runs like a champ. I wouldnt bother pulling the head unless you heard noises, but you already did. if nothing looked bent, put it back to gether, do the t-belt, and get on with life, you'll be fine.

 

I'm starting to lean that way. The noises I heard sounded nasty but I wasn't sure of exactly where they were coming from.

The condition of the tensioner is broke and the roller is really loose where I can see it making alot of clattering noise.

If I did replace just the belt/tensioner and started it back up.. if there was a problem with the valves would that mess up the tensioner/roller?

thanks.