A4 Timing Belt Change (Was: Big freaking vent against Audi)

[Bhatti, Mohammed]

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Thanks Javad,

I did a little googling and came up with these links on t-belt procedures:

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng31.shtml
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng35.shtml

The following are the same but the second downloads faster.
http://www.tdiclub.com/articles/pdf/a4timingbelt.pdf
http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/willi1gl/VW/DBW%20TBelt%20page/DBW%20Illustr=
ated%20A4%20Timing%20Belt%20Change%20Procedure.htm

I'm quoting from the second set of links:

"Once the cam & crank timing have been set and the Injection pump is positi=
oned you will need to adjust the injection timing utilizing the Vag-Com htt=
p://www.ross-tech.com/ If you do not have this then get it before attemptin=
g to perform this procedure."

Is the Vag-Com really neccassary or is the "mark and pray" method sufficien=
t?  The first two articles didn't mention the Vag-Com tool so I'm wondering=
 can I get by without this.

Thanks again all.

mohammed
97 A4 1.8tq


	-----Original Message-----
	From: JShadzi at aol.com [mailto:JShadzi at aol.com]
	Sent: Tue 9/16/2003 11:12 AM
	To: Bhatti, Mohammed; quattro at audifans.com
	Cc:
	Subject: Re:Big freaking vent against Audi



	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 n=
eed 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 figur=
e 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 Au=
di 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 co=
nfidence 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 al=
l
	>sorts of folks whose t-belts snapped resulting in major engine damage.
	>Someone noted that Audi was not permitted to sell their cars in Californi=
a
	>(?) 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 lit=
tle
	>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 onl=
y
	>to change the handbooks to admit that the page with service intervals was=
 "a
	>typo" (=3D "OOPS!!!, Sorry! Fired the proofreaders.....") and deal with t=
he
	>fallout in Cali.  It shouldn't be the rule that only those closely follow=
ing
	>the traffic on the enthusiast web sites are saved from a major repair bil=
l=2E
	>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 - i=
f
	>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 6=
0k
	>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, t=
he
	>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 wh=
ere
	>deicing salt is used" - oh, if only Audi cared as much about our e-brake
	>levers.....
	><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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	>



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