I was looking up the timing belt replacement guideline for my 1.8T AWM engine. The Bentley manual (which is showing the Audi Maintenance schedule) is showing that the V-Belt needs replacing at 80k miles while the Timing Belt is replaced at 120k miles. Note that the two asterisks ** apply to the 1.8T 4cyl engines. Attached is the document.

What's the difference?

Thanks in advance!

 

the t belt is the one that drives and times the cams. the v belt, also known as an accessory belt, drives things like the alternator, power steering, ect, ect. i think there are two v belts in a awm.

 

the V belt should be replaced every 60-80k, the timing belt should be replaced every 70-80k miles. those change intervals are incorrect in that book. audi even origionally recomended a 100-120k mile change interval for the timing belt but many of them snap at 90-120k causing several tousands of $$ in damage, which is why you want to replace it before it snaps.

 

AWM code 1.8T's have 2 drive belts plus a timing belt. Replace all 3 belts, tensioners, rollers, and the water pump no later than 6 years/80K miles, despite what the Audi info says. Its been re-written several times, but the fact is that the belts are rubber, and they wear out.

 

Is this officially document somewhere? The last time the timing belt + other belts were changed was at 130k miles... We're now at 210k miles... I was thinking that I have 40k miles more to go for the timing belt to be changed.

 

I dunno man I'd be gettin ready to change that **** if I were you. A couple hundred bucks for a t-belt job is much better than a $2k top end re-build

 

Any rubber belt in the engine bay should be replaced every 60k miles because heat causes rubber to break down quicker, going beyond that is just taking a huge gamble. I see people selling A4's with a damanged head because they took that gamble and lost.

 

search for threads about timing belts breaking. there have been several hundred threads about it in the past couple years, probably around 85% of those who have had a belt break had it happen between 80k and 120k miles. every once in a while someones snaps at 65-75k, equally as rarely they last past 120k. but its too much of a gamble to go beyond 60-80k miles, your chances of loosing a lot of money skyrocket. you have 80k miles on your belt, if that were my car i would have it changed immediately.

 

There was a letter addressed to all Audi A4 owners recommending a belt inspection sometime this past year...