i am buying a 2003 audi a4 1.8t tomorrow with 76,000 miles on it, just as a lil back round.

a friend of mine told me that i WILL have to replace the timing belt very soon after i buy the car. my question is, is there anything that says that the timing belt will go out at a certian milage or is replacing the timing belt at a certian milage part of the schedualed maintance?

thank you for your help in advance

 

I have a 02 a4 quattro and the scheduled maintenance is 80k for the timing belt and water pump, and no you don't necessarily have to do it at 80k but if you want to chance it failing and ruining your head or whole engine, that's up to you.

 

Roll the dice....

Many guys say 60k is plenty enough risk, others claim 90k, some manuals show 105k as the service window.

All comes down to how much you want to chance destroying the top end of the motor.

You can visually inspect the belt, just pull back the clips for the cover and take a look. If you have a manual it will likely show a little more wear. I delayed changing mine until 93k as I had just bought it. At that time was showing signs of cracking at every tooth. If an automatic it probably won't be that bad.

$250 for parts if you can wrench and follow one of the many DIYs on this site, $600-900 if you find a good indy mechanic, $1200-$1600 at the dealer.

Tbelt service also includes water pump of which mine was close to failure at the time.

 

I did mine the past month right exact at 80, water pump went out that was the reason for me to do it. My belt did not look that bad but i still change everything starting from the water pump to the serpentine belt. It cost me like 250 for the parts. If you know what you doing you wont have any problems youll have it done quick but if you dont know it might take you some time.

 

Just the top end? I had a car come in the shop the other day for dropping a valve and destroying that cylinder, hence needing a motor. Don't think that you'll just bend valves, you will but once in a while you'll see it completely break and destroy the motor.

 

Wow thanks every one I'm just change it asap

 

Going to change it asap

 

Would highly recommend that Your service interval at 80k is a timing belt i'm sure of. If you need to go to 85-90k miles before you did this work i'm pretty sure you would be fine.

 

there is a very good audi, vw, bmw.... shop in my town that quoted me for timing belt and water pump, parts and laybor $755+tax and these guys are good. the only cars that were in the shop this morning were porsches audis and vw. what do you guys think of the price? and i was thinking should i do the camshaft and crank shaft bearings right away while there in there or no. there isnt a problem with them or any thing.

 

Do it at 80k. I did mine around 90k and it was in very good condition, but it really is a roll the dice once you get past 70-80k. No need to take the risk when you can drive without fear after a Saturday afternoon, a friend (optional), case of beer (required).

-Chris