1.8T timing belt

[TM]

CHANGE YOUR TIMING BELT AND TENSIONERS AT 60K, REGARDLESS OF
WHAT THE MANUAL OR THE DEALER SAYS!!!

I would not take that chance. Also, make sure you check your plugs.

If the belt goes, it would probably necessitate a new cylinder
head, new valves. You're talking about a $2500+ job.


Taka

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com]
On Behalf Of Bhatti, Mohammed
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 11:44 AM
To: quattro at audifans.com
Cc: mcloffs at mac.com
Subject: RE: 1.8T timing belt


>>>>>>>>>
However, I was told that since my car has the improved timing belt
tensioner it's safe to go past 60K before doing the timing belt; he
suggested it be done at 75,000 miles. <<<<<<<<<<< Are you sure that you
have the improved tensioner?  The old one was a ball-and-socket and the
new one is spring tensioned from what I can remember.  I have a 97 A4
1.8tqa and when I did mine it had the old ball-and-socket tensioner.
The old tensioner had a habit failing.  Check the archives at rb.com
under Audi forums and also AudiWorld and you'll see plenty of examples
of failures for the old design.  And it was that the timing belt broke,
but the tensioner broke.

So yes, I'd recommend changing it now unless your mechanic is 100% sure
that it has the new tensioner, but even then, change it now.  This has
been pretty much the list consensus and I wouldn't bet against it.

hth

--

mohammed

97 A4 18tqa