My 99 A6 Quattro wagon has logged 65,000 miles. Been well cared for, not abused or hot rodded.

My question is when should the timing belt and pump be replaced? I have received "now" (from dealer) and "they are good until at least 100K miles" (mechanic). What are the members experiencing?

One mechanic stated I should replace the valve cover gaskets because they all leak sooner or later when I do the TB. Mine do not leak right now.

Thanks

 

Do it before winter. Replace the cam and crank seals, water pump, thermostat, tensioner(s), hoses, and valve cover gaskets at the same time. Do a coolant flush before refilling. There might be other things depending on what engine you have.

 

Agreed, It's a rubber belt, sooner is better. I wouldn't let mine go past 60K. The valve cover gaskets are easy so while he's in there. They will start to seep soon anyway. Also have the Vacuum lines replaced they are rubber too and should be starting to get brittle. Don't let anyone tell you to do just the belt do everything Jim listed.

 

Your probelm is now age, not mileage. Rubber ages. 10 years is long enough. Get it done if you like the car.

On the other hand, the value of the car is getting down there, so you might be better off running the car until the belt snaps, then sending it to the junkyard.

Bob

 

SHAME ON YOU --- He needs to do the timing belt - I purchase vehicles like this, do the TB when needed and drive them to 300K miles with a little work.

 

If that was the case, my 87 Mercedes TDwagon would be long gone, truthfully built better then any of today's trucks and considered fairly low mileage 294,000 for the year and model..runs like new but I've maintained it, but nothing more then regular normal service. Rubber ages but a car that's maintained using silicone on rubber components,leather conditioners etc etc you can prolong a nice car almost indefinitely..a well built car such as his Audi IMO just needs TLC so changing belts, hoses and TB is just part of it.. not driven into the ground/junkyard. Heck you can buy a new car today that's almost ready for the junkyard when you drive it off..everything about many of them is beyond cheaply made and purposely.

 

an Audi is not a Mercedes -- We Audi people pride ouselves in our ability to take a seemingly simple task and make it complicated. If something can be done on an ordinary vehicle for $20 we can find a way for it to cost $200. Add the Audi dealer and the cost goes to $2,000. If something lasts 200K miles on an ordinary vehicle Audi has figured out how to make it break in 75K miles and do significant damage. It's the price we pay for driving something with 4 overlapping rings and a bit of German mystique on a vehicle that is not named after somebodies daughter or is an abreviation of a motor works place in Beer country.

Long live the pain in the butt that I drive... LOL