Since buying my 96 A4Q 2.8l AFC with 125,000mi on it, it has been relatively good to me. It's now rollin with 210,000. Recently, wear items like the valve cover gaskets and oil cooler o-ring have been popping up and now I'm terrified over the condition of my timing belt. I don't know if it's EVER been done (but it must have been, right?).

Anyway, I want to do it in my driveway and I'm comfortable with that because I've done the alternator in the past. However I'm real tight for cash and considering doing ONLY the belt - not the water pump or roller n such. I know I might as well do those things while I'm there but like I said, cash is tight.

So, any thoughts would be appreciated. Particularly, what are the repercussions of a water pump failure and how long do the tensioners themselves last, etc? Also, how close truly am I to belt failure assuming It's been done once already?

 

The rollers and pulleys are why we change the belt!

It is a rarity that the belt it self snaps.

Water pump failure leads to over heating, blown head gaskets and RIP MOTOR.

After a stock timing best replacement it is suggested to be done c. 80,000

Seems as though you are living on a prayer right now.

 

Thanks Bri. Anyone else whos been around these cars a while have any input as to my odds with all that right now? Its almost time to get to it... still prayin'

One more thing, called around and found it was done once at 70,000 mi by a new Audi dealer

 

That's about 140k miles on that belt. Change it all. I'd rather pay for the rollers, water pump, belt and whatnot than for a new motor.

 

Brie knew what she was talking about back in February. No need for second opinions - as Dylan showed, it's the truth. Do all of it.