Hi guys,

I'm thinking about buying a kit and doing my own timing belt (I have plenty of tools and mechanical experience).

I know there are plenty of DIYs out there, but I'm wondering:

1. Why does the engine have to be at TDC if nothing (important) is going to move w/o the belt on?

2. Realistically: How many hours and how much frustration is involved?

Thanks in advance.

1.) It doesn't necessarily have to be, but it's just good practice because all you have to do is line up 2 marks when it's at TDC. It also prevents the cam from turning from the force of the valve springs, at TDC the cams are in a spot where they won't turn unless you turn them yourself.

2.) A 1.8t timing belt is cake, after you take the front off it should take less than an hour to swap the belt if you don't run into any issues.

What about a 2.8 timing belt? I've read the write ups but never seem to see a realistic time frame.

The hardest part for doing a 2001.5 timing belt job is definitely getting the tensioner set right. Audi changed to a different tensioner setup for 2001.5 vs. 2001, and it requires more "finesse". It took me something like 3 tries (two times of having to re-compress the hydraulic tensioner) to get it set right. And I had done an AEB timing job a couple years prior.

There is the option of using the timing belt tensioner setup for a 2001.0 on your 2001.5, which is easier to work with (as Mad Cow describes it). I opted to go with what originally came on my car.

Depends. If you've never pulled the front of that car forward, that alone can take an hour the first time. I'm down to about 20 minutes now, maybe less. After that's done, the whole thing takes me half a day...but I've done that a few (not a lot) times on various Audi V6's.

Thanks!

Does the fact that my 1.8 is a 2001.5 have any bearing on anything, or does that apply to the V6 only?

Thanks again.

He's talking about the 1.8. The V6 is a whole different process. There are no timing marks.

As for not putting a motor at TDC, his advice applies to all motors. Never assume the previous guy had it timed perfectly. Always do it by the book or you get a copy of a copy of a copy.....

Gotcha.

Is there a checklist for things that should be inspected while the front is torn apart? Are there things that should be replaced at the same time?

Always do the tensioner pulley, idler pulley and water pump. If one of those fails, a perfectly good timing belt might as well be broken. And the thermostat is right there, gotta do it while you're there. The front cam seals are also right there. To do the V6 properly, you pull the cam sprockets any way so you're 5 minutes from the cam seals. They're what......$5 a piece?

I'm making a list, thank you kindly.

There isn't a premade checklist is there? I own a BMW as well and the forum I frequent has a wikipedia link with everything a person could ask for with maintenance involved and lots of common modifications.