Big freaking vent against Audi

[Bhatti, Mohammed]

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Wow, I don't like the sounds of this especially since I bought a 97 A4 1.8t=
q with 72k miles just a week or so ago.  Already I've determined that I nee=
d to replace the ignition switch and the oil warning light comes on when I =
start the car even though I have plenty of oil in the car.  I can't figure =
out why put in a rubber t-belt and not a timing chain if these things are s=
o prone to failure.  Replacing a t-belt in itself is not trivial, right?  A=
nd you know that a local wrench or dealer is going to rip you off.

Already having second thoughts about my purchase.  I was hoping that what I=
 have is somewhat reliable and backed by a good dealer network but what I'v=
e read over the years on this forum is contrary to what I expected.

Also was checking www.rb.com  (?) (Bentley Publishing) and they have a Audi=
 forum.  Lot of issues with t-belt, control arms, ignition switches etc.  W=
ould'nt mind hearing some feel good stories about the A4 to restore my conf=
idence in this beast.

mohammed
97 A4 1.8tq

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Andrew,
Sorry to hear about the car - that sucks.
If you check on Audiworld and the alt.autos.audi newsgroup you'll find all
sorts of folks whose t-belts snapped resulting in major engine damage.
Someone noted that Audi was not permitted to sell their cars in California
(?) with a short t-belt change interval - thus, they re-engineered the
owner's manual instead. 100k+ miles is WAY too much to expect from such a
vital part of the engine - and that has been oft-repeated here and in the
other forums.  The timing belt is not like a wheel bearing - it gives littl=
e
warning (if at all - visually, almost none) before failure, fails
catastrophically and almost always results in major engine damage.  AoA
appears to be handling this like they did the BOSE rear speaker bonfires
(replace, with hassle, one by one until a recall is called after the
grumbling on the web becomes a roar) - they should have a recall - if only
to change the handbooks to admit that the page with service intervals was "=
a
typo" (=3D "OOPS!!!, Sorry! Fired the proofreaders.....") and deal with the
fallout in Cali.  It shouldn't be the rule that only those closely followin=
g
the traffic on the enthusiast web sites are saved from a major repair bill.
Maybe you should do a search on the usenet and Audiworld, contact owners wh=
o
have had difficulty, get their names together for a class-action suit - if
not only to pressure AoA to cover your expenses (you did get receipts for
the towing and cab, right?) as well as the repair.
In the meantime - to all Audi owners who think their timing belt can go 60k
miles or more before replacement - CHANGE YOUR TIMING BELT EARLY AND
OFTEN!!! (pass it on...please)
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ - 10k km on t-belt
1980 Audi 5k - due for t-belt replacement (from age)
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - t-belt?.....camshaft???
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
BTW - as an aside, I learned to drive in an '81 Honka C!v!c wagon - yeah, i=
t
was a cheap, plastic laden tin can of a car, but when it was 13 years old,
Honka replaced the rear springs and the gas tank under a recall - hell, the
car was sold for $40 at a yard sale a couple of years later, new
springs/tank and all.  My wife bought a CRV last year - it's already had a
couple of things done under recall - the latest being today when they
replaced the shift cable because it "may become hard to shift in areas wher=
e
deicing salt is used" - oh, if only Audi cared as much about our e-brake
levers.....
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