timing belt age as a sole replacement indicator

[Walter Moore]

My mechanic quoted me $950 for parts & labor on the timing belt and water
pump. That's a fair amount of money, but nothing like what it would cost to
replace bent valves. A running car's resale value is a lot higher than a
roller, too. It's worth doing whether you have the skills to DIY or not.


On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 11:42 PM, Cody Forbes <cody at 5000tq.com> wrote:

> It varies a little chassis to chassis due to space and ease of access, but
> on my 5000's the timing belt is easy and quick. The bumper comes off with
> two bolts and two electrical plugs, one bolt and two hose clamps to get the
> intercooler out of the way, then a grand total of 4 bolts removes all of
> the timing belt covers. Removing the crank bolt is with a socket with an
> extension, then set engine on TDC, loosen belt tension, swap belt, and
> reassemble. It's a lazy afternoon. Book time is 2.3 hours.
>
> -Cody Forbes (mobile)
>
> On Apr 22, 2014, at 11:15 PM, "mboucher70 hotmail.com" <
> mboucher70 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > This has been an interesting thread.
> >
> > One comment that surprised me a bit was that changing the timing belt on
> the I5's was relatively easy.  Everything I've read about the job made it
> sound challenging (removing front bumper and the rest of the front end,
> loosening crank pulley bolt and the cam pulley bolt, etc.).  If you get the
> job done by an Audi shop, any idea what the job typically goes for, either
> in dollars or in hours?
> >
> > Another surprising comment was from the original poster...only one to
> two hundred miles in ten years?  Ten to twenty miles per year, so the car's
> been essentially parked for ten years?  Was it maintained?
> >
> > Finally, full confession: I bought my 1990 Audi 100 when it was ten
> years old.  I've now had it for 14 years, without changing the belt.  So
> best case, the belt is 14 years old, and worst case, its 24.  That being
> said, I only drive it about 1000 miles per year for the past ten years.
>  Its well maintained in terms of safety (brakes, tires), and it fact it
> runs great with even the original air conditioner working.  If I knew the
> timing belt was a few hundred to change I'd jump at it, but given the work
> involved, I expected it would be closer to $1000.  Given the car's age, and
> the fact that its not a particularly interesting collectible (non-turbo,
> non-quattro), I'd likely balk at any single repair cost over 500.  It would
> be interesting to hear how other thread owners do the calculus of when its
> time to retire their car.
> > MC
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message----- From: Richard van der Hoff
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 8:28 AM
> > To: quattro at audifans.com
> > Subject: Re: timing belt age as a sole replacement indicator
> >
> > Interesting that this should come up. My B5 S4 was in for a service a
> > few weeks ago, and the shop owner pointed out that the recommended
> > timing belt replacement interval was 60 months, or (I think) 60k miles.
> > It was last done over 6 years ago, so I figured I would take a couple of
> > weekends to do the job myself and replace some seals and gaskets while I
> > was in there.
> >
> > Perhaps I'm being over-cautious. Really didn't fancy having to get 30
> > valves repaired though ;)
> >
> >
> >
> > On 22/04/14 12:40, Grant Lenahan wrote:
> >> Rubber dry rots.  So yes, age is a determinant as well.
> >>
> >> But i’m fairly convinced that the belt itself is rarely the issue in
> our cars.  More often it is a tensioner or water pump that is failing,
> placing more drag not he belt, and then poof.
> >>
> >> That said, after 8-9 years, although i will only have  50-55k on my
> belt, I’ll do another nose job on my C5
> >>
> >> Grant
> >> On Apr 21, 2014, at 10:14 PM, DeWitt Harrison <dewitt635 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Some time ago, in fact quite a long time ago, a veteran, very active
> >>> q-lister by the name of Phil Payne expressed the idea that timing
> belts can
> >>> become dangerously damaged by the simple passage of time, mileage
> >>> notwithstanding. The belt on my venerable 5ktq is in that situation now
> >>> with maybe one or two hundred miles of use but several years -- I hate
> to
> >>> think how many: ten? -- on the clock.
> >>>
> >>> I would be very interested to learn what this group thinks about (the
> >>> late?) Mr. Payne's opinion on this matter.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>>
> >>> DeWitt Harrison
> >>> 1988 5000CS
> >
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-- 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
Walter R. Moore --  moorewr at gmail.com

"We would rather be ruined than changed;
We would rather die in our dread
Than climb the cross of the moment
And let our illusions die.”
             W.H. Auden