Audi A4 questions

Thu Feb 17 14:13:00 EST 2005

The timing belt on the 1.8t cars doesn't use the water pump as a roller until late 00 model year. The water pump on the AEB and ATW engine is driven by a v belt from the crankshaft. 

Most premature timing belt failures are related to a defective relay roller.

----- Original Message -----
From: Tyson Varosyan <tigran at tigran.com>
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2005 12:23 pm
Subject: RE: Audi A4 questions

> Depending on where you live, I think the car price may be a bit 
> too high.
> Then again, if you LOVE the car (colors, etc) it may be worth a 
> few $k to
> get what you want. Use www.nadaguides.com to check the value for 
> your area.
> I found them to be very fair and accurate as they use tax records 
> to base
> their prices. KBB IS NOT A CAR VALUE BOOK! ITS AN INSURANCE VALUE, 
> which is
> different.
> 
> Far as the car, we have an '05 A4 1.8TQ. In Sport mode the shifts 
> should be
> felt. You SHOULD NOT hear any CLUCK sounds at it shifts at any 
> time. Check
> tranny fluid level and if it is low, assume it has a leak. Fill 
> the fluid
> (worth of few $ to spend before you buy) and try the car again. 
> Make your
> own decisions based on what you feel.
> 
> Far as the timing belt, I have never heard of a belt failing on 
> this car
> that was not due to failure of the water pump or another roller in the
> system. The belt itself can last 60-90k without a problem, so if 
> the pump
> had been replaced recently, don't sweat it. The pump is a major 
> concern on
> these cars! DO NOT leave a water pump in your car for more than 50-
> 60k at a
> time. The center shaft on the pump is PLASTIC and if/when it 
> breaks, not
> only does the engine overheats very quickly, but it also causes 
> it's pulley
> to get jammed and as a result tare/melt the timing belt which in 
> result will
> destroy your valves and damage your pistons (read: new engine). It 
> makessince that when you change the water pump, you also get the 
> all the pulleys
> and the timing belt too at the same time, but it sounds like you 
> will be set
> for a while.
> 
> Oil is also a major concern on this car. Sounds like previous 
> owners only
> did the factory recommended changes. They have been proven to me 
> as being
> insufficient due to the high oil temps that this car sees. I would 
> suggestto go on a 3-5k cycle (change closer to 3 than 5) and to 
> switch to a fully
> synthetic oil. Mobil1 works well and has been tested, but if you 
> want the
> ultimate protection for only $1/qt more, get RedLine. RedLine may 
> be harder
> to find, depending on where you live - in my area B&B Auto carries 
> them.Their lubricants are CRAZY and outperform EVERYTHING on the 
> market by leaps
> and bounds. They are more sensitive to being not changed in time 
> though - so
> if you are not good at remembering to change oil, use something else.
> 
> Other than that, you need to make up your own mind.
> 
> Tyson Varosyan
> Technical Manager, Uptime Technical Solutions LLC.
> tyson at up-times.com
> www.up-times.com
> 206-715-TECH (8324)
> 
> UpTime/OnTime/AnyTime
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com
> [quattro-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of attila pallos
> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 10:37 PM
> To: quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: Audi A4 questions
> 
> 
>  Hello guys,I am turning to you again because you havehelped me 
> and have
> only given me good advise and usefull answers in the past.The 
> reason I am
> writing is that I would like to purchase a 99 A4 1.8T quatro.I 
> found one
> with 58k miles one owner well maintained for $12950.It belongs to 
> an older
> cuple and I think the lady was driving it.I have driven it and it runs
> great.But you can feel pretty well when it shifts(automatic 
> transm) driving
> it uphill.It has an oil leak at the valve gasket but they said 
> they are
> willing to deduct the amount of the repair from the price.(the dealer
> estimated the repair at $665.0).I have been to an audi service and 
> the guy
> told me that these cars need the timing belt replaced at every 50k 
> mi which
> he said it will be an additional $800 if it needs the waterpump 
> replaced as
> well.I looked the car up by the vin no.(as did the guy from the 
> audi shop)
> and it didn't come up as having any problems(waterpump replaced 3 
> times-but
> I heard it's a common probl
> em with
> these Audis-or is it not?).(and it shows the oil was changed 
> every 5k mi).I
> think I could get it for $12k or 11.5.What is your opinion about 
> this car
> and deal(is the price good?) and in general about ' 99 A4 with 1.8T
> engine.Should I be aware of anything in particular can you think 
> of any
> essential questions I could ask the owner?Or if you have an A4 how 
> does it
> drive.I am paying the car with a loan so that's with all the 
> concern and I
> could probably get a cheaper car same year but other make but as 
> we all know
> an Audi is an Audi.I have an 100E,I know. So thank you for any 
> advice you
> can give me.
> 
> 
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