Big freaking vent against Audi

[JShadzi at aol.com]

Do the timing belt in your A4, ASAP, its much cheaper than the alternative, these have been known to go with under $50k miles.

Javad

>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>--
>Wow, I don't like the sounds of this especially since I bought a 97 A4 1.8tq with 72k miles just a week or so ago.  Already I've determined that I need 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 so prone to failure.  Replacing a t-belt in itself is not trivial, right?  And 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've 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.  Would'nt mind hearing some feel good stories about the A4 to restore my confidence 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 little
>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" (= "OOPS!!!, Sorry! Fired the proofreaders.....") and deal with the
>fallout in Cali.  It shouldn't be the rule that only those closely following
>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 who
>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, it
>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 where
>deicing salt is used" - oh, if only Audi cared as much about our e-brake
>levers.....
><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>--
>[ winmail.dat of type application/ms-tnef deleted ]
>