[s-cars] timing belt woes

[steve powers]

We had a similar experience recently. We had the timing belt on our
95.5 S6 Avant replaced last summer. This was done by the University
Audi in Seattle, where we have all of our non-performance work done.

Fast forward to late February this year, when my wife is traveling
down the freeway at 70 or so. She hears what she thinks is a loud
car passing her. She feels some vibration in the floorboard and
suddenly there is no power. The timing belt and much more is wasted.

Root cause was alternator bracket failure, induced by improper
tightening of the mounting bolts. The serpentine belt did its
self-tightening job and tightened the moving alternator into the
timing belt cover, through the cover and destroyed the belt. As
a result, we bent 16 valves and cracked the head.

The dealer stood behind this 110%. They paid for all of the parts,
labor, loaner car and even provided free labor on a seat heater
replacement.

Now that the car's back, it is noticeably more powerful. I suspect
that a fresh top-end, de-carboned pistons and a well broken in
motor all contribute. 2nd gear doesn't last long now.

Steve Powers

> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Bob Rossato
> Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 5:18 PM
> To: Richard Molk; S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> Subject: RE: [s-cars] timing belt woes
>
>
> Over the last couple of weeks, I too have been wondering what
> the outcome was on this car.  I was over at Hoffman's not too
> long ago to get something or the other and noticed a red S6
> parked out back.  Is that your wife's car perhaps?  In any
> case, glad to hear that this long painful ordeal is finally
> getting resolved.
>
> Bob
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
> > [mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Richard Molk
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 7:27 PM
> > To: S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> > Subject: [s-cars] timing belt woes
> >
> >
> > Hello Gary, and all:
> >
> > The wife's S6 is still at the dealer. It has only been 4
> 1/2 months,
> > so it is probably classified as a rush job. The DMV got
> involved, sort
> > of, and agreed with me that the offer to repair the two valves was
> > insufficient. However, he said the way CT law is for the
> DMV, as long
> > as any offer is made to fix the car, the DMV closes the
> case. He said
> > he might have to give a verbal reprimand, kind of like what your
> > mother used to do.
> >
> > Called the Attorney General's office, and the gentleman there could
> > not have been more understanding. After numerous phone calls to the
> > dealer's lawyer (she was a bit slow returning his calls),
> the dealer
> > offered to just charge me about $650 for the non timing
> belt repairs.
> > You know, a tuneup. They also offered a warranty with deductible. I
> > told him I still wanted to sue, but my wife wanted to get
> out of the
> > mess and out of the car. Figuring my time without the car
> as worth a
> > hundred or so a week, they agreed to fix the car at no
> charge and give
> > a transferable non deductible warranty on the whole powertrain. I
> > agreed, depending on what condition the car is in right now. This
> > week, I will head down to the dealer to look things over
> and sign the
> > papers if all is ok.
> >
> > My favorite part of this is probably the response I got
> from Audi of
> > America after I sent a RRR letter to Len Hunt, VP of something or
> > other. After he fobbed it off on some other lackey, the
> response I got
> > was that Audi stands behind its dealers and is sure they
> will fix the
> > car properly. My question is" How far behind the dealer??"
> As far as
> > possible, to be sure.
> >
> > Anyway, the boss of the S6 wants it fixed, then she is
> going to sell
> > it. It will have the rebuilt head and a one year
> transferable warranty
> > on the drivetrain. It is bone stock. When it is finished, I
> will post
> > it to the list first, then elsewhere. It should be fairly
> reasonable,
> > as she wants out, and I am ordering her a new car to take its place.
> >
> > That's right, it sure as s... won't ever be another audi.
> >
> > I'm heading to NYC to join in a Volvo day that's coming up.
> Sweden is
> > sending over a bunch of V70R's (300hp five cylinder) with
> some driving
> > maniacs (instructors) and if you can get a ticket on the
> internet, you
> > get to join them for a driving school in the Shea Stadium
> parking lot.
> > As the last time I was at Shea was to see the Mets lose to
> the Braves
> > in the first half of the first inning after spending three hours in
> > traffic to get there and then four hours getting home (had
> to stay to
> > the bitter end, 12-1, aw Dad we can't leave early maybe
> they can still
> > win!) I was a bit mixed about signing up. But what the He..
> I did and
> > actually got a ticket.
> >
> > Anyway, my experience has taught me a lot about the dealers...don't
> > ever trust them until they earn it. After seeing the youngster who
> > attempted the repair on the better half's S6, I know they
> just looked
> > at the age of the car and the mileage (87000) and figured
> it would be
> > a great learning experience for the kid. Then they looked
> at me as I
> > drove up in my pickup truck and plow and figured they could push me
> > around any way they wanted after they broke the car. For
> them, it was
> > just another sale type encounter, and that is what they
> specialize in
> > controlling. I firmly believe you'd better meet the mechanic who is
> > going to open your car and definitely use word of mouth if
> you can. I
> > should have listened to the little voice inside and never
> gone for the
> > timing belt repair at the dealer, but it was the easy way,
> and a time
> > saver.
> >
> > How many months so far for that time saver?
> >
> > Thanks to all who have offered to much help over this adventure,
> > especially to Ron Tomlinson, a shining euro headlight in
> the mist of
> > dealer mistrust. Rich Molk
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > S-CAR-List mailing list
> > S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> S-CAR-List mailing list
> S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s> -car-list
>