Took my 97 Audi in for a front wheel check and they couldn't find a problem, they recommended me to have a bunch of "other" stuff replaced (brakes etc...) I couldn't do that at the time. I picked up my car afterhours and started to drive home when the car overheated. I barely drove the car back to the dealer. this morning they said I need a new thermostat. Ironic??? It has 69,000 miles on it. Is it difficult to replace bymyself??? Or have them do it??

 

you can do it yourself - but it requires a coolant drain.
the thermostat is under/inside the water pump housing. Kind of a PITA to change. I did mine when I changed the timing belt. The thermostat itself should only cost about 30 bucks to buy it yourself somewhere.

 

The Porsche/Audi Place wants to charge me $407.00 for two belts and the thermostat replaced. Are they taking me for a ride? I'm pending having it towed somewhere else.

 

Depends on which belts they are replacing.
most of that is labor costs, because to replace belts you must put the car into the service position (ie remove the bumper, radiator, headlights, etc.) Of course they can probably do all that in a matter of 30 minutes.

I think you are being raped. But that is what I would expect from a dealer. If you can find an independent shop you might get that work done for about $250. I'd call around.

The thermo - $35
2 belts - $15-$30
Labor should be no more than 3 hours on that.

I could probably do that myself in 2 hours. I assume one of these belts is not the timing belt??? I ask because you have 69K miles on your car and you might want to think about having that (and the coolant pump) changed also. Its the dreaded $$$ TB maintenance job us A4 owners all hate to deal with...

 

<FONT color=blue>Hello,</FONT></P>


<FONT color=blue>Mycheck engine light was on, so I brought my 97 A4 to the dealer and they said $1000 for the thermostat, pump, and timing belt. Told them to hold off on it because that just sounded crazy. If $407 the person above was quoted is crazy, then what I got is just completely ridiculous.</FONT></P>


<FONT color=blue>I suppose I just have to find another place. My question is, is this urgent? Can I hold off on getting themreplaced for a month, when I will have much more free time, or is it important enough to get it done now? I will probably be driving long distance (about 200 mi) a few times in the next month.</FONT></P>


<FONT color=blue>Thanks!</FONT></P><edited><editID>progressivepand</editID><editDate>38055.5867824074</editDate></edited>

 

no no - the timing belt job at the dealer is much different. It will cost you between $800-$1000 at the dealer. The timing belt job is more than just the belt. Includes the TB tensioner as well. requires all that I mentoined in the above post, plus AC pullies, TB tensioner and a bunch of other stuff to happen. Not to mention that the TB parts will cost you over 300 from the dealer.

Depends on how many miles you have on your car... Normally the belt doesnt break. Its the tensiopner that fails and throws the belt - or the water pump fails and shreds the belt (only on a 1.8t... the belt runs the WPump - on a 2.8 it doesn't)

BTW - your check engine light does not indicate you need a timing belt change. It it telling you something is already wrong with your car - or about to go wrong. There is no warning when a TB is about to go.If you have the courage, you can do your own Timing Belt change. That still cost me $300 (and a couple days w/ no car) when i did it myself - just for the parts and a couple tools I didn't have.
<edited><editID>brrman</editID><editDate>38055.5926041667</editDate></edited>

 

<FONT color=blue>I have a 2.8 with about 55,500 miles. I don't think I can do this myself, so I will probably spend that $1000.</FONT></P>


<FONT color=blue>So the check engine light was a warning about the thermostat, and the mechanics saw the problem with the timing belt and pump while checking out the thermostat?</FONT></P>