Hey everyone, I'm new around here... I just bought a 2001 A4 1.8t for my girlfriend. At 156k miles, the ever-popular timing belt service is keeping me up at night. I have had no luck determining whether or not it has been changed. I bought the car at a wholesale auction so the only info I can get on the car is from Carfax (and they're pretty much useless when it comes to.... well, just about anything).

I was able to dig up the service history on this car, and I even gave the dealer that it was originally purchased/serviced at a call. They offered just about zero help as well. All I wanted them to do was call the previous owner up and relay my phone number to him... Is that too much to ask?

I'm apprehensive about having the t-belt replaced because it may have recently been done, and frankly, I'd rather spend the $900 elsewhere.

I removed the timing cover and took a peek. Upon visual inspection of the belt, well it looks like any other belt. I did notice wrench marks on a large (16mm?) bolt near the bottom of the belt, that might mean something, eh? Is there any way to tell when the belt was replaced? Possibly a date code on the belt itself? Any way to determine wear? Is this just a gamble that any used Audi buyer has to take?

Thanks for any help...

 

i would get it done anyway to be sure. if your good with german cars you can do it your self for about 300$ or so

 

My BMW taught me to appreciate a DIY job, haha. I found the parts on ebay, but I dont know if I want to trust them. I saw a couple vendors on this site, is there a quality difference in the replacement parts?

 

Not worth chancing it. Even if it was done at 100k, you'd only have another 20kish miles before it should be done again. Just get it over with.
www.blauparts.com has the best timing belt kit for the price that I'm aware of. It includes the cam and crank seals which most kits don't.

 

yea for like 270 or so you get the parts, then all u really need to do is find a tool rental shop rent the tools u need and you saved about 1000$ doing it yourself

 

+1 blauparts has the best possible price. i did the Timing Belt job at 106,000. Good kit.

 

awesome, thanks for the help guys... So how hard of a DIY is this? I have read that the whole front end (bumper, radiator, etc) needs to be removed...

 

You don't need to remove the radiator. The whole front "carrier" slides forward into service position enough to get to everything. You still need to disconnect the radiator hoses, bumber shocks, etc.
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng35.shtml

 

i found a kit for 225 http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/p...oducts_id=1013

 

great find, thanks!

sooooooo, anyone in Nothern CA wanna help me tackle this? There's some cash and lots of beer in it for you....